She gave me a small smile and sat on the bench beside me. “That wasn’t as helpful as I’d hoped, and clearly you feel the same.”

I groaned. “I hate this feeling . . . like literally everyone is relying on me and I’m blind.”

“I understand how that must feel. And while it’s not untrue, it doesn’t mean we expect a miracle right away.” She squeezed my shoulder, then stood up. “Sit. Flip through those pages. I’m going to grab you food and find a person I think can actually help you. Don’t move.”

“Thanks, Constance.” I flipped the book open. “I appreciate you.”

Her cheeks flushed. She nodded and walked away so I turned my attention back to the book. While it’s not untrue. My stomach rolled and bile shot up my throat. Any hunger I’d felt before was gone. Constance had confirmed for me that everyone was relying on me, but they also knew I was flying blind. That was both a relief and a torment.

Focus, Franks. They need you to inhale this knowledge Matrix-style. I started flipping through the pages, but the words were all gibberish, so I was mostly just looking at pictures and diagrams. I’d flipped halfway through the book before I realized the whole thing was written in the ancient language, which I understood when it was spoken to me, especially now that Tegan had given that back to me post-coma, but reading it hurt my brain.

“Oi, where you at, wanker?” a boy with a British accent thicker than Jackson’s yelled into his phone from the table in front of me. “I’ve called a bloody thousand times, mate. Answer your phone.”

“That Donny you ringing again?” another boy with the same accent asked as he sat down beside the first kid.

“Yeah, he should be getting home from uni right now⁠—”

“Fancy a zoom?” the girl next to him said with a worried tone in her voice. “I haven’t heard from his sister either.”

“They’re probably on holiday and thought not to tell us since we’re here and all,” another student sitting by them said with a calm smile. “Give it a day or so. I bet they’ll ring back⁠—”

“Frankie!”

I gasped and jumped, slamming the book shut simply on instinct. But it was just my friends. The relief I felt at seeing them was alarming. It meant I was more stressed than I was letting myself believe. Though as they sat, I noticed they weren’t as cheery and high-spirited as usual.

“Hey, guys.” I forced a smile as they all sat down around me with trays of food. “I’m glad you found me.”

Ava sat diagonal from me with Float laying in what looked like a sling. I must’ve made a face because she giggled. “People carry puppies in these carriers. Why can’t I carry my fat loaf of a rabbit?”