Tobias studies me, his eyes searching my face. Whatever he was looking for, he doesn’t find any answers, and his shoulder slump. “I still have nightmares about that night,” he continues. “When I realized I couldn’t follow you and Jinx, I freaked out. I waited for you in Mr. Baird’s car, just around the corner from Moncha HQ. I sent Aero out to scan the streets to try and find you. That’s when we spotted you passed out in the cold, so I ran to get you. I was so scared.”

“You’re the one who found me?” I ask.

Tobias nods. “I brought you to the car, and Mr. Baird drove us to the hospital.”

I close my eyes, willing more memories to come. But none do. I feel disappointment settling in my bones. I haven’t been very helpful. I know Tobias, Mom, and the doctors had been waiting for me to wake up so I could provide some sort of explanation. But I can’t.

When I open my eyes again, I change the subject, unable to bear the disappointment in Tobias’s eyes. “The nurses say I’ve been in here for almost a month. What…what have I missed?”

“Well, with you in the hospital, Mr. Baird said we didn’t have enough evidence to go to the authorities about Carter or his dad. I mean, all we know is that his dad was trying to take back your baku, and since it was Moncha property to begin with.” Tobias shrugs.

I nod. “And what about at school? How’s Ashley? And Kai? And River! Are they okay?” They had been with us, fighting off Carter’s security bakus inside the headquarters. I hope none of them were hurt.

“They’re cool,” he assures me. “They’re worried about you. Ashley has been taking notes in all your classes; she said she’d drop them around as soon as you’re back home. You’ll catch up quickly, though.”

“And the baku battles?”

His smile slips a little. “Gemma and her team… They won the final round.”

“Oh Tobes, I’m really sorry.” I know how much Toby had wanted to win. The baku battles were a fiercely competitive Profectus tradition, an opportunity for students to show off the skills they learned in class. As the captain of the winning team, Toby would have earned a summer internship at Moncha with Monica Chan herself—the founder of the company. It would have placed him on a par with his older brother. His parents, who also worked for Moncha Corp in high-level positions, would have been so proud of him. Not only that, but Gemma’s team victory meant Carter Smith had won too.

Tobias is lost in thought. Then he shrugs and smiles again, although this time it feels forced for my benefit. “Don’t worry; I’ll have loads of opportunities. I’m not worried.”