“Oh good, you’re awake,” says a nurse, who bustles in with a poodle baku conveniently trotting at her heels. Little Picchu immediately heads toward the poodle, his tail connecting with the poodle’s shiny black nose.

“What’s he doing?” I ask, frowning as the chinchilla flashes a blue light.

“He’s just updating me with your vitals.”

“Oh…I thought he was being friendly.”

The nurse laughs. “He is. But he’s useful too. And so is Catcher here. He’s able to monitor all the patients on my ward at the same time and—if there’s a crisis—he can move a lot faster than I can. Very helpful, these bakus.” She hands me a juice box, which I gratefully take a sip from. The liquid soothes my scratchy throat.

“Oh right, we learned about that at the academy,” I say, followed by an embarrassingly loud slurp.

“A Profectus student, are you?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” I reply, feeling a blush rise in my cheeks. Profectus is the top school in the country, a science-and-technology-focused academy. Its graduates end up with top jobs at Moncha Corp, the company that manufactures the bakus. It’s always been my dream to go there, and now it’s reality.

“Well, great news, Lacey—Picchu’s data shows a marked improvement. In fact, your vital signs are normal and healthy.” The nurse pats Catcher on the head. “I think we’ll able to get you out of here in time for the Christmas break.”

I sit bolt upright, a searing pain streaking its way across my forehead.

“No, no, still not time for any sudden movements,” she says, gently placing her hands on my shoulders and guiding me back down into a resting position.

“But…but Christmas break? That means I’ve been out for…”

“Almost a whole month. It’s the strangest thing. You’ve been in and out of a coma we can’t explain. No obvious head injury or other wounds, except a little bruise on your arm.”

My head spins with that information. A whole month out for the count? A coma? What happened to me?

The last thing I remember is…

Is…

Just a blur.

I squirm in the hospital bed. “Where’s Jinx?” I ask the nurse. “Where is my baku?”

Before I know it, Picchu is back, curled up around my throat. I can feel my muscles—which had tensed up so much I feel like an elastic band stretched and about to ping—relax.

“I know you have a lot of questions, my dear. Visiting hours are coming up, and your mom will be here. She’ll be so pleased that you’re awake and healthy. If things continue like this, you’ll be home before you know it—and your baku will be returned to you.”

I calm my breathing. Jinx is okay.

My desire to see Mom is suddenly overwhelming. I want her arms around me.