“I know. But you’ve got a lot of people behind you, Lacey. We’re all worried about this update,” says Kai.

River sticks his hand out to me. There’s a pass inside. “Carter told me to give you this. Good luck. You’d better hurry. I don’t think we’ll be able to keep the protest up for much longer. Rumor has it they’re bringing the police in to shut this all down and clear the bakus.”

I take a deep breath, taking the pass from River’s hand. He grips my fingers as we touch. “Don’t worry, you got this,” he says.

“And if I don’t?” I ask, swallowing hard.

“It’s not all on you. We’re behind you. They can’t ignore us, Lacey.”

“I know. You’ve done your part. Now I’ve got to do mine and reverse this update once and for all.” We shake hands properly this time, as if we are generals on a battlefield. Ashley gives me an enveloping hug. Then, they turn around and walk back toward the sea of frozen bakus. I take another moment to admire it. This is what a lot of tiny drops of concern can raise: an ocean of protest.

There’s a nudge against my boot. I look down to see Jinx at my feet.

>>Everything is ready.

You have your army?

>>I have them in place.

Good. Let’s do this.

>>I have found an unobserved entrance you can use.

My heart skips a beat. You mean, we can use?

>>I must go a different way.

So I have to go in alone?

>>You won’t be alone for long. I promise.

What if Eric finds me first? What if we get lost or separated or it’s too late.

>>We won’t.

I crouch down, staring into Jinx’s shining dark eyes, the eyes of the little creature who has stolen my heart. Once again, perhaps for the last time, I have to trust him. I close my gloved hand tighter around Carter’s pass, programmed from his baku.

The side door is much more low key than the front, a staff entrance that might go unnoticed to the untrained eye. If Jinx hadn’t pointed it out to me, I don’t think I would’ve found it on my own.