Once they’re out of sight, I dart down the hallway. It widens out into a mezzanine-type space, with a set of sofas to one side, and small hammocks for bakus to rest in. I have an eerie jolt of recognition as I realize the map is leading down toward the arena. I stare down at the paper again, rereading the directions and checking myself against the landmarks Carter has identified. I’m going the right way. Eric is holding Monica and the other Lake Baku prisoners in the team rooms of the baku battles arena.

And why not? They’re the perfect hiding place. Quiet. Secure. Private. Large enough to fit all of them in.

I take a deep breath before I open the door. Jinx…I hope you’re coming.

40

The team room is still set up as I remember it, with the names of the baku battle team captains on the doors. Gemma, Dorian, Pearce, Elektra…and Tobias. Each in their own, specially chosen font. My paper sign is gone.

It’s a stark reminder that those battles were only a month ago, and yet so much had changed since then.

I shake my head. I can’t be dragged back into nostalgia. I need to get to the arena.

But the door opens before I even touch the handle. “Who let you in here?” barks a familiar voice. My heart sinks, and I close my eyes. I was hoping to have found Monica by now.

I open my eyes, slowly, willing with every movement for this to be a dream. But it’s not.

Eric is standing there, with Monica in tow, surrounded by a security team with their sophisticated panther bakus. The sloth, Pardem, is draped around her neck again—she’s still under the influence of the update.

“It’s over,” I say, although my mouth is almost completely dry. “I’ve come to reverse the update.”

“No one can reverse the update,” Eric says. “Now move out of my way. Monica is going to make a statement to the press herself. It’s time to show the world that all of Moncha supports this update. Then everyone will fall in line.”

“But it’s not true,” I say, attempting to stall him, darting out in front of his path to prevent him from leaving the team room. His red panda baku bares his teeth at me, but I stand my ground. “Monica, please listen. You can’t allow Eric to do this. This is your company, your life’s work.”

But she just stares at me blankly, the ghost of a smile on her face. “The future of Moncha Corp is safe in Eric’s hands,” she says, with all the charm of a drowned rat.

Eric doesn’t waste any time. “Get her out of the building. She’s trespassing.” He signals to his team, who grab me roughly beneath the arms. They half drag me back through the door.