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“That’s, um, very pretty,” Tom said, holding the glitter-covered piece of tech precariously between his fingers as if fearing the bedazzlement might be contagious. “Anyone else?”

“Here,” Pipsqueak said, handing over her plain black ComTCD.

“I’ll open a link between us so we can stay in contact,” Tom explained, fiddling with both Devices.

“You won’t be able to see us while I’m using my gift,” Jordan said, securing his and Kaiden’s backpacks to the tree.

“I’m not using the holograph function,” Tom said. “Just the audio setting so we can hear what’s going on around you in case something goes wrong.”

“We’ll be fine,” Jordan said, but he accepted the offered ComTCD and slid it into his pocket.

Kaiden didn’t look as confident as Jordan, and Alex was pretty sure she heard him mumble under his breath, “This isn’t going to work.” But despite his words, he shimmied down the tree, followed closely by Jordan. When they were at the wall, Jordan reached out to grasp Kaiden’s shoulder and both of them disappeared from sight.

“Now we wait,” Declan said. He sounded as miserable as Alex felt at being left behind. If she could have come up with a valid reason for joining them, she would have. But here she was, stuck sitting safely in a tree and waiting anxiously for their return.

Minutes passed and with them came whispered updates through the ComTCD.

“We’re through the gate.”

“We’ve reached the other side of the compound.”

“We’ve found the stairs leading to the command outpost.”

“We’re on the top of the wall.”

“We’ve just entered the command centre.”

“We can see—”

An unknown voice interrupted the update. “General Drock, I sense intruders.”

“Search the room!” said another, louder voice. “Seize them immediately!”

“Their thoughts are scattered, General. I can’t hear why they’re here, but I do sense that they’re hiding near the doorway,” the first voice said.

“Run!” came Jordan’s cry.

“After them!” ordered the authoritative voice.

Alex’s heart was thumping in her chest as she imagined the scene playing out in the compound.

“What do we do?” she asked. “We have to help them!”

“If we go in there now, we’ll only cause more problems,” Tom said. “Give them a few minutes. Between both of their gifts, they should be able to escape.”

Alex had no idea what Kaiden’s gift was, but unless he could teleport them both out, she didn’t see how he’d be able to help their situation.

“Kaiden’s been in there before, Alex,” Declan said, squeezing her arm in comfort. “He’ll have a few tricks up his sleeve, don’t worry.”

Despite his words, Alex could see Declan was just as concerned as she was.

They waited ten nail-biting minutes before they heard anything, but finally the update came.

“We got away. We’re coming back out.”

Alex felt like cheering, but she knew it would be stupid to make such a noise. She waited nervously for Kaiden and Jordan to appear, and when they did, she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or yell at them. They were panting when they climbed up the tree and it was clear they’d been running for their lives.

“What happened?” Tom asked once they’d caught their breath.