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Next, a thunderous buzz hums through the room.

I watch in terror as the glass wall begins to drop, knowing that soon, I’ll be thrust right out of this timeline and back into another, with no viable way to return.

I’ll be forced to rely on the book—and suddenly, I feel a lot less sure of my ability to make that work.

Never mind that I can no longer trust anything Elodie might’ve taught me.

“Elodie!” I raise my voice, trying to shout over the noise. But the buzzing is too loud, and it drowns me right out.

All I can see is the sight of Elodie’s beautiful, laughing face.

She’s mocking me.

Having the worst sort of fun at my expense.

“Elodie—please!” I shout, knowing it’s futile. This is too far along. Too late for her to change her mind even if she wanted to.

The Trip is already in motion, and now it’s up to me to find my way back. I only hope that it’s possible.

With a sigh of resignation, I brace myself for the journey to come.

Only to be left gaping in astonishment when Elodie races past Braxton, leaps onto the launchpad beside me, and says, “Seriously, Nat. Would you stop being such a drama queen? It’s been way too long since we last played hooky, and this is gonna be epic.”

Before my mind has a chance to catch up, Elodie grabs hold of my hand, and the last thing I see before gravity fails, before the two of us lift high off our heels and we’re rocketed straight out of the twenty-first century and back into another, is the look of utter heartbreak on Braxton’s face as he watches us go.

End ofBook Two