My life is in there. My clothes . . . my bed . . . my entire holo-show collection.

Room 5 was where Eva had dreamed up countless plans of how she was going to find others, just like her, and bring them back safely to her home. Friends and family would live with her and Muthr in the Sanctuary, just like the picture depicted on the WondLa.

Another explosion rocked the kitchen.

“Eva, I need you focused and alert,” Muthr said, handing her the Omnipod. “Remember what we have studied and all that you have learned.” The robot lifted up the grate and began screwing the bolts back in. “Trust technology, and do not return unless you hear word from me. Understand?”

Eva nodded as it dawned on her what was happening. Her eyes started to sting. This scenario wasn’t on any list. Sure, she had wanted to explore the surface, but not this way.

Not alone.

“Room six fire sensor has detected smoke,” reported the Sanctuary. It might as well have been greeting Eva, its tone of voice was so calm. “Please seal off the room and begin extinguishing sequence.” Static fuzzed over part of the announcement. Despite the growing heat from the fire outside, Eva’s entire body trembled as if she were chilled.

“Muthr! You . . . you have to come with me!” yelled Eva. The smell of smoke now drifted into the kitchen. “Please!” She panicked. “There’s room for you in here! I can help you up! Don’t leave me!”

Muthr put her hand on the grill. “Eva, listen. Listen very carefully to me.” Eva curled her fingertips around Muthr’s, gripping so tightly that the blood rushed out of them. The robot continued, “I have shut the exhaust fan off, but it is on a timer. It will restart soon, so you have to hurry. When you get to the top of the vent, there will be a wheel. Turn it counterclockwise to open the hatch and climb out.”

Smoke wormed its way into the kitchen from under the door, carrying a nauseating stench of smoldering metal and melted plastic. Outside, Eva could hear a loud hum followed by a piercing sonic vibration. The kitchen door buckled from the explosion, but did not open. Muthr spoke in that slightly distorted melodious voice. “Eva, I love you very much, and I hope that I will see you again,” she said, “but you must go, NOW!”

Muthr moved away from the grate. Eva pounded on it, screaming, “No! No! No!”

A metal covering slid down, sealing the exhaust vent shut. Eva could hear a tremendous explosion and the kitchen door blow open. Frightened, she sat frozen at the bottom of the vent for the longest minute of her life. She listened to the rummaging and pilfering going on beyond the grate covering in what had once been her kitchen—what had once been her home.

Eva thought of Muthr. She thought of her old friends hiding in the secret corridor.