I open my mouth to object, but he continues before I can. “We’ll meet back at—”

Light slices into my thigh and I cry out, my jeans tearing as a gash opens up on my skin. I slap my hand over the wound and spin around to see Crew sprinting our way, Ward at his side, and four camouflaged people on their heels. The three others from Lengard, as well as six from the unknown group, are still fighting up near Sideshow Alley, light flaring between them as their Spoken words volley back and forth.

“Go!” Kael roars, giving me a shove as he sprints to the left.

I don’t need further encouragement, and I lunge forward, stumbling slightly as my leg gives a flare of pain, but adrenaline keeps me moving. The doors to the Coney Island building slam open and then shut again at my Spoken words—words that Ward didn’t protect. He must be following Kael, or busy defending himself from the attacking Speakers.

“Seal,” I command the doors after me, watching with satisfaction as the edges melt together before my eyes. If anyone wants in, unless they have some unlocking ability, they’ll have to waste time finding another entrance.

Only when I’m sure no one can follow me do I look down at my leg and take in the damage. Despite the blood soaking into my jeans, it’s not as bad as I feared—enough to make movement uncomfortable, but not enough to seriously injure me.

I consider trying to heal myself, but like with Keeda’s ankle, I’m wary about attempting it without first asking Cami for advice.

“Strap,” I say instead, and with a flash of light, a white compression bandage materializes around my wound. I walk a few hesitant steps and find that I only have to limp slightly. This will do.

No longer dripping blood, I focus on the massive warehouse-like space in front of me. Like the rest of the park, it’s fully lit up, and I swallow back a curse at its enormity.

It’s like … like a big indoor gymnasium but filled with miscellaneous amusements, the most notable being the two large metal slides in the center of it all, one curvy, one straight. The walls are filled with tacky art—cartoonish people, mostly, with many of the paintings depicting outback scenes featuring cows and bucking horses, or men and women wearing old-fashioned clothes. There are also the requisite circus scenes with acrobats, wild animals, and their trainers. And clowns— so many clowns.

As I tentatively limp forward, the sound of my footsteps echoes around me thanks to the acoustics. I see doorways leading off from the main open space, as well as staircases leading up to a second floor. This building is much more complex than I thought it would be. Unlike my earlier assumption, if the breakout Speaker is in here, they could be impossible to find.

I’m achingly aware of what might be happening right outside the doors, so with no time to lose, I call out, “Hello? Is anyone here?”