What’s ‘Fortune’? Nora asked. Kyle leaned in and quietly clarified that 4chan was a messaging board website, which didn’t seem to do much to clear up her confusion. Emily motioned to Nora that she didn’t understand either.

It’s way above the government, Damian continued, sitting back down on the edge of his chair. I’m talking about the small cabal of power brokers who run everything.

Oh god, Shawn moaned, this is some Protocols of Zion shit.

They’ve known about the Resonance for centuries, Damian continued, ignoring Shawn.

Damian, look at my nose, Shawn said, pointing.

And they’ve used its power to secure their place at the top of the pyramid.

Do you see my nose?

This is bigger than the government, or the military.

Don’t go there, Shawn warned him.

Damian finally turned to Shawn—It’s not just the Jews.

Oh not just, okay great.

Shawn’s heckling would’ve normally cracked me up, but I felt too enervated to laugh.

And they’re listening to us right now, Damian continued, they’ve been listening to us this whole time, and trust me, they are going to move in on us.

Move in, Emily said, indignant.

Because we know their secret. They’ve been hiding this shit from us for centuries, but we are on the verge of unlocking it.

Damian—Howard made to intercede, but Damian pointed at him.

And they got you fired, Howard, from Virginia Tech, don’t think they didn’t, Damian said, before trying to face me. You too, Claire.

With as much patience as I could muster, I replied that I somehow doubted F. G. Saunders Secondary was on the radar of the Stonemasons or whatever.

It’s the Illuminati, Claire, Shawn joked. Eyes Wide Shut.

And now your house is being cased, Damian said to me.

I never should have brought it up. I had only done so to explain why I looked so wan and tired that morning. The others seemed startled to see me as I arrived. Mia said I looked haunted. I hadn’t meant to set Damian off.

We don’t know that, Jo said, holding up her hand to Damian.

And Mia’s computer’s been hacked.

What? Jo asked.

Howard turned to Mia—I didn’t hear about that.

Mia nodded—I called Damian the other night because I know he used to do cyber-related stuff, and um—

Why, what happened? Howard pressed.

Well. The cursor, on my screen, began to move on its own.

That can happen, Howard said.

What do you mean that can happen? Damian retorted. That means someone’s hacked into her desktop and is watching her.

Howard exhaled, exasperated—Or the thumb pad could just be broken.

But it’s not, Damian fired back.

That’s the thing, Mia said. It’s brand new.

A cursor moving on its own—Howard began.