I tear my eyes away from Eric Smith and search the crowd of Moncha-zombies for my dad, taking a final look at him. I have one final spark of hope that he will recognize me, but it’s quickly dashed. “I’ll come back for you,” I whisper, before allowing Zora to half-drag me out of the door of the dome where there’s a private car waiting for us. I feel the shock of the cold air around me as we leave the fake sunshine and warmth for the real world.

“That was unbelievable,” says Mr. Baird, once we’re installed in the car. “I’d heard rumors about a test facility, but to see it in person…”

“You mean the place where my dad has been imprisoned, and which was used to develop an update that has changed my mom?”

Mr. Baird shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Lacey, of course that’s what I mean. It’s horrendous. How he thought he could get away with this. But don’t worry. We’re not going to just leave your dad. I’ve let my superiors know where this place is; the police will be there soon.”

“So Eric won’t be able to push the update?” I lean back in the car seat, relieved to have a piece of good news.

“He won’t. Everything is in motion to stop him in his tracks. It’s not just the authorities we will notify. We’ll push this out to the media too. Moncha Corp and Eric Smith are through,” says Mr. Baird. He instructs the car to take us back to the BRIGHTSPRK offices in Toronto. It won’t take long.

I wrap my arms around my body, my head spinning with everything we’ve learned. I feel like my heart is torn in so many different directions.

Finding Dad alive—but zombified.

Finding Monica—but not being able to set her free.

Watching Jinx run away from those security bakus—and praying he escapes capture.

Being able to stop the update from going out wide—but not being any closer to knowing how to reverse it.

I need my mom back. The un-updated version.

“Lacey, what you and your friends did today—it was incredibly brave. My mind is still trying to process it all.”

I’m trying to process a lot too. “Thanks Mr. Baird. But wait. How did you know where to find us? I tried to get in touch with you a few days ago.”

“I was deep in hiding, I’m afraid. It was a condition of my BRIGHTSPRK contract. But your friend here managed to get word out to me.” He nods at Zora.

“How did you manage it when we couldn’t?” I ask my friend.