Page 25

“Code orange, code—he's fucking run again, dick head!”

I inhale so violently it burns my nostrils.Again.That word removes all questions on whom code orange is about. Theo peeks at me, then he starts running down the hall. “On my way!” he hisses into the walkie-talkie.

I'm left there in the sunroom with nothing but my growing despair. Dad said he was coming for me. But he didn't.Maybe he tried,I think quickly.Did someone figure everything out, so he had to leave without me?That has to be it.

It makes sense. Too bad it doesn't heal my damaged heart.

Dad ran again.

He got free.

And I didn't.

There's a hard ball in my guts. It expands, causing great waves of nausea. I cross my arms around my middle, gritting my teeth.What if he took everyone else but me?I think of my mom, of Dean who's no longer a baby, and when my hair swings around and tickles my knee... I think of Kara.

What would she do? I close my eyes, certain she wouldn't sit here feeling sad for herself. Kara always shined like a star that burned those around her.I can burn, too,I think, looking at the hallway.

In the time that I've lived here, I've never tried to escape. Not once. I was sure that the magical time called “soon” was waiting in the wings. But I was wrong. No one is going to save me.It's time to do it myself.

On the balls of my sneakers, I inch out of the sunroom. There's no one in the hallway. Holding my breath, I creep closer to the front doors. Hot pressure throbs through my skull the closer I get to the exit.

Voices float my way; I pick out pieces:

“...all the cameras acting strange.”

“Heard it was a fire, or something, but...”

“Wait, who was supposed to be escorting him?”

I stick enough of my face around the corner to see the front room. There are more guards gathered there than I've ever seen in one place. I count them, my heart racing.That's every single guard on the estate.They're here, trying to figure out where my dad is. And they'reangry,their faces crimson as they shout blame at each other. Someone is in big trouble—this is a huge fuck up.

If they're all here, no one is watching the grounds.Backing up, I scurry quietly towards the kitchens. There are voices here, too, but less of them. I can see most of the wide room from where I flatten myself in the hall. Two woman are whispering by a stove, huddling.

“Laiken?”

Startled by Emma, I spin. She's got her arms full of tablecloths.

“If you're not busy,” she says, moving closer, “Help me with these.”

I think my eyes might fall from my head. She pauses, considering me with her eyebrows scrunched. She can tell something is wrong. Her hands adjust on the clothes like she's about to drop them and snatch at me.

I bolt.

“Laiken!” she screams. Ignoring her, I sprint through the kitchen. The two maids gape as I blast by them. It takes me three seconds to reach the French doors and yank them open, but it feels like eternity.

Then I'm outside.

October has turned the evening crisp. I'm glad for it; my whole body is scalding. It grows hotter as I run over the grass, guided by the lights along the property. I don't have much of a plan, just a drive todo something.

Remember, the guards are distracted inside! No one is watching the gates!I slip on the greenery under my sneakers. It's brighter where the long driveway is. Through the painted glass front doors I hear the men's voices rising.

There are no stars above, but when I pass Dominic's blue car, I swear it sparkles. Then the headlights blast me, leaving me blind. I throw my arms up and wince. “Laiken!” It's Dominic—he was in the front seat, ready to drive somewhere.

I freeze like a deer. It's brief, but I know it costs me. Dominic is out of the car already. In the evening his eyes are black pools. No light reaches them. He's fuckingfast,long limbs powered by raw muscle. I can't escape.

Then I think about Kara...

And I try anyway.