But I laughed. For the first time since I was taken, I laughed. A lot.

It’s so nice to feel human again. My heart is a fraction lighter, my mouth curved into a smile. It’s an odd feeling considering where I am, but for now, I’m enjoying it.

I lean back in the seat and throw my cards into the center of the table. “I’m awful!”

Evan chuckles. “You really are. I’ve taught a lot of people how to play, but I’m throwing in the towel with you.”

I shake my head. “Sorry.”

“Evan to the waiting room,” Caleb says over the crackling speaker.

Evan’s smile falls. He’s only just come in here. What if they keep him away for months again?

“No,” I whisper.

Evan covers my hand with his and my heart falters. “It’s okay. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

He’s only been here a little over two days, I’m not ready for him to go yet. He made me laugh!

“Whatever it is, you can do it.”

“Piper to the waiting room,” Caleb calls next, his voice musical.

Evan looks up at the camera in the corner and scowls.

“Piper, not again,” Hazel says, gripping my arm. Her eyes are wet with tears.

I can’t see that right now. There is no room for weakness where I’m about to go.

“It’s okay, Hazel. I can do it.”

Evan moves his hand, but only to hold onto mine. “We’ve got this, Piper.”

Standing with him, I try to smile as my stomach churns with nerves. It’s too soon, I wanted more time after room five.

Oh God, we’re going together, what if Caleb wants two people in there again? What if Caleb wants two people in room zero?

Nope. Nope. Don’t think like that.

I walk with Evan, not missing the wounded look Theo gives us. I don’t have the mental capacity to even go there, so I don’t. We stop at the door until it clicks.

Evan is the one to push it open.

The speaker crackles again.

“What the…?” I mutter as Mozart is played into the room. This is a new song. They’ve not played this before.

“Music?” he asks, squeezing my hand.

“They didn’t play music when you were in here?”

He shakes his head with a frown. “No, that’s new.”

There seem to be a lot of new things.

I bite my lip and then say, “Well, it doesn’t matter. Let’s just get through this, okay?”

Click.

The door at the end is unlocked.

“Evan…”

He looks back as he starts to walk into the empty room in front of us. “Yeah?”

“If it’s room zero?”