Evan turns around as Caleb, Matt, and Owen close in. Oh God, Evan, move!

They stop a meter behind him, and Evan tilts his head to the side. A slow grin spreads across his lips.

My mouth falls open. “No…”

“Come here, Piper,” Evan says.

I shake my head, my vision blurring with tears.

No, no, no, no.

My heart falls to my feet. This can’t be happening.

“What the hell is going on?” Lucie asks.

“He’s with them,” I whisper. All this time, he’s been one of them. “I don’t understand...”

How can he be with them? He went in those rooms; he did one with me; he was there for me. Caleb beat him. He sat there and took that. This can’t be real. Why would he do all of that?

What is wrong with him?

“Babe,” Evan says, holding his hand up. “Don’t be mad.”

Caleb chuckles behind Evan.

Don’t be mad!

“You’re… How?”

Hazel reaches out and puts her hand on my shoulder.

“I like you,” he says.

“You don’t even know what that means.”

“Our Evan here gets bored easily. He’s a genius, but he’s not happy to sit back and observe,” Owen says.

Evan’s eyes darken. “I wanted to experience it. How could I create something and have it succeed if I didn’t put myself—”

“Stop talking!” I snap, my heart tearing. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Piper, you are the reason I came into the room. I wasn’t going to. I was just going to do room zero.”

I look away.

Evan continues. “But the second I saw you, I knew I had to break my own rules.”

“You’re sick,” Theo growls. Lucie leaps to him and grabs his arm.

“Caleb,” Evan prompts.

I open my mouth to scream, but I’m not fast enough. The gun goes off so fast, two shots, both ringing through my ears, and Theo falls to the ground, followed by Lucie.

“Oh my God,” I murmur, my eyes wide and fixed on their lifeless bodies.

I drop to my knees, and Evan uses the opportunity to his benefit. He rushes forward, grips my upper arm tight and drags me to my feet.

“Get off!” I scream, squirming in his grip. I yank my arm, but his grip is too tight. “Evan, let go! Get away from me! You’re sick, I hate you! Let go!”

I want to get back to Priya and Hazel. They’re huddled together, standing over Theo and Lucie’s bodies, sobbing. I don’t belong with Evan. I belong with them. I have to get away from Evan.

“You’re not sitting on the ground with them,” he snaps, holding me close to his chest.

“I hate you! How could you do this?” I thrash in his grip, but he tightens his arms around me until I can barely move.