BooksBarbecue
Back Unleashed Save as PDF
Chapters (56)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Part One
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. Part Two
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. Part Three
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. Part Four
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. Part Five
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. Epilogue
  54. Acknowledgments
  55. About the Author
  56. Back Cover

Tobias sighs with relief. I look up at him, and his whole face lights up, as does mine. I’m so grateful to see Monica alive and apparently healthy. She even still has her signature haircut, those triangular bangs. She’s wearing a beige uniform of long, loose trousers and a flowy tunic top, almost like hospital scrubs. And with his long arms draped loosely around her neck, connected to her leash, is the same sloth baku I remember from underneath Moncha HQ.

“Hello, can I help you?” says Monica Chan, not an ounce of recognition on her face.

Kai, Tobias, and I all stare at her, and I’ve never been more grateful to have them by my side. If I was alone, I’d be terrified. But they don’t look terrified. They look…awestruck. I think they would drop down to their knees and bow to her, if they weren’t so shocked at the fact we’ve actually found her.

Then I realize: it’s the first time they’ve met her, this woman who has been at the center of our lives. Jinx curls around my ankles, staring at Monica too.

I know they’re all waiting for me to speak. I’m the one who’s met her before, after all. “Monica, do you know who I am?”

“No, I don’t think so. Have we met before? I’m really sorry; my memory is terrible these days. But I assume you’ve come here to join our wonderful community? You’re just in time.”

I swallow, my mouth suddenly feeling very dry. “Just in time for what?”

30

“Why, it’s almost time for our annual celebration!” she says, a grin splitting her face in two.

I sneak a sideways glance at Tobias and Kai. Kai’s mouth is wide open. Tobias is calmer, but I swear I see a bead of sweat drip down his temple.

“Monica…” I say, and her head turns to me so slowly, she almost doesn’t seem human. It nearly makes me forget the second half of my question. For a second, I wonder if Eric Smith’s plans have taken a step further, and Monica is now a total automaton. What would that mean for her? For the company?

But then she looks at me, and I know the real Monica is deep down somewhere. She’s just locked up in a different way. She’s been updated.

What if it can’t be reversed? says a tiny voice in my head. What will that mean for her? And Mom? Will they be updated forever, losing more and more of themselves…

I can feel the panic rising in my chest, but I try and push it down. I can’t worry about that now. One thing at a time.

“Do you recognize Jinx?” I ask. I gesture to the cat baku at my feet, and he leaps up into my arms.