The inside of the building is cleaner than the outside, and spacious. The only furniture I can see is a small table, with mottled maroon carpet covering the floor, making it look like the peeling walls are surrounding a pool of blood. I take all this in with a quick glance, before my breath leaves me at what else I see.

Arryn is on the ground against the far wall. Her hands and feet look as if they’ve been tied together, but I can’t see any rope or wire. Her mouth is moving, as if she’s trying to talk, but no sound comes out. With a sick feeling, I realize what’s happened: she’s been bound and gagged by a Spoken command, fully at the mercy of her Creator captor and his unforgiving imagination.

But she’s not alone.

Riley is with her, bleeding from a cut on his forehead, his left eye bruised and swollen, his head tilting to the side as if he’s barely able to hold it up.

And there’s more.

Cami is next to Arryn, her face tearstained, her eyes wide with terror.

Then there’s Smith, his glasses cracked, his unconscious body leaning against her.

Lastly, there’s Kael, invisibly bound and gagged just like the rest of them, his midnight gaze burning as he stares at a point across the room where I assume Ward and Vanik are hidden from my line of sight.

Arryn, Riley, Cami, Smith, Kael.

All of them here, all of them bait.

For me.

But … why? What the hell is Vanik playing at? Haven’t I already given him everything he needs? He’s already created the serum … so why bring my friends into this? What more could he want from me?

With the situation now worse than I ever considered possible, I step away from the building until I’m partially hidden by a copse of trees. Carefully watching for any signs of movement, I raise the phone and jab the “1” button, not caring who picks up as long as someone does. My friends are trapped in a building with a psychopath. The people I care most about in this world are tied up like lambs ready for the slaughter. If anything happens to them … to any of them …

“You were meant to be back here hours ago, Riley. Are you all right? Is Arryn safe?”

Everything in me turns numb at the sound of the lilting, feminine voice in my ear.

“Riley? Hello?”

I expected the speed dial to put me through to some SCARS receptionist. I didn’t think that maybe, just maybe, the number-one contact on my brother’s phone would be our mother. But I would recognize her voice anywhere.

“Are you there, Riley?”

I draw in a shuddering breath, aware that I need to speak before she hangs up on me, aware that I need to pull it together for my friends’ sake, for Riley’s sake.