“Lyss!” the boy cries again. Unlike the whispered question of before, this time his shout is an exclamation that echoes around the space, reverberating off the walls and back to me. “ALYSSA!”

I have no idea how he knows my name, but that doesn’t matter right now, because Ward and Crew have reached the doorway that I sealed on my way in—a doorway that now has a gaping hole cut into it. I have to battle back a wave of light-headedness when I realize it must have been caused by Crew’s ability, and that my wounded thigh could have easily been just as badly damaged. Or any other part of me, for that matter.

I still don’t know why he’s not attacking me. Lengard must want this breakout a great deal if they’re not even attempting to recapture me—or, more likely, Vanik didn’t realize I would be here tonight, so the mental command Manning gave the attacking Speakers doesn’t demand my return. Whatever the reason, it’s a small relief, but a relief nonetheless.

“ALYSSA!” the breakout screams again as he’s dragged through the hole. “I thought you—How can you—”

He cuts off and I understand why when I sprint through the hole and see that the fighting outside has reached the entrance to Coney Island. It’s a madhouse in the laneway, with Speakers yelling and lights flashing all around us. People are running and ducking and jumping for cover, all shouting nonsense words, none of which I can make out in the chaos. But I do hear one voice rise above the rest.

“Lyss!” Kael calls, and I catch sight of him seeking shelter behind a large dumpster.

“Kael! Ward has the breakout!” I yell back, ducking as a spear of light soars toward my head. I’m not sure where—or who—it came from. Lengard, the camouflaged unknowns … it could have been anyone.

“ALYSSA!” the boy screams again, and I watch Kael jolt as he turns and catches sight of our target. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!”

I stagger as a flash of light from one of the Lengard Speakers hits me, slowing my steps to make me feel like I’m walking through sludge until I’ve stopped completely, my feet glued to the ground. Even if I hadn’t just been hit, I’m not sure I would have been able to continue forward, given what I just heard. The shock is enough that I barely hear Kael curse, no doubt angry with himself for failing to destroy the attack against me.

“What?” I gasp out, the sound too low for anyone to catch. All I can see is the boy’s frantic, terrified eyes as he stares at me—still looking like he’s seeing a ghost.

I hear Kael swear again and draw my eyes back to him, watching as he pulls out one of his infused tennis balls and, in a last-ditch effort to stop Ward, throws the tranquilizer weapon his way.

I’m kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner—not that I’ve had the chance. Regretting my oversight, I watch as the ball flies through the air, my face falling when I see that Kael’s aim was off. Rather than hitting Ward, the ball smacks into the boy’s torso, with the teen immediately losing consciousness.