The driverless car pulls up, and we hop in, grateful for both the warmth and the way we’re able to speed through the empty streets of the city. I’d forgotten it was Christmas Eve. Most people would be at home with their families. Updating…

When the car pulls up to our apartment building, Zora rushes to the elevator, with me following swiftly behind.

“Miss Chu, Miss Layeni, Merry Christmas,” says Darwin, our building’s porter, cheerfully oblivious to our panicked state.

I divert my run to his desk. He has a level two baku, a ferret. “Darwin, tell me you haven’t updated Treasure yet.”

“Why, of course I did! Just a few moments ago. It’s the best decision I’ve made this year.” He grins widely at Zora and me. It’s like he doesn’t even register our sweaty faces and wild, windswept hair, let alone the panic and worry in our eyes.

I groan loudly, and Zora is mashing the elevator call button, now even more desperate to see her family. Finally, there’s a ding as the elevator arrives, and we rush inside.

“Let me know how they are,” I say, when it reaches Zora’s floor.

She grabs my hand and blocks the elevator door from closing with her foot. “I know this is hard. I know it seems like the complete end of the road, and that Eric has anticipated our every move. But we can’t be the only people in the world who believe the update is wrong. We’ll find supporters. We’ll tackle this together. I just have to check on my family first.”

“Of course,” I say. “Go!”

I slump against the handrail as the doors slide shut again.

Going to see Mom now, knowing she is already under Moncha control, wanting to tell her about finding out where Dad is after all these years and yet knowing she won’t understand what that means… It will feel like my heart is breaking over and over again.

Part Five

The Army

36

I needn’t have worried so much. Despite my dread, when I let myself into the apartment, there’s no one there. Mom must be working.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a worse Christmas Eve. I plop down on the one of the stools in our kitchen, leaning my head against the counter, too tired to even think about making myself anything to eat.

Then, I hear a quiet tapping. I leap to my feet and rush to the window. I throw it open as fast as I can. Jinx squeezes in through the frame. “You made it! You’re okay!”

>>Of course I’m okay. Did you think they could catch me?

A swell of emotion overwhelms me at the sight of him, and tears pour down my cheeks. Jinx is okay. At least one thing we did today has gone right.

“Have you heard what Eric Smith did?”