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“I have no idea,” said Kana. She glanced around and even tried to peer at the gap behind the set. “They always start on the dot.”

The band from the side of the set played a funky pop tune to lighten the mood. And when the lights dimmed, the audience fell silent in anticipation.

Alex glanced around. Everyone in the audience was grooving to the music, even Ken slightly bounced in his seat. Alex rolled his eyes.

A spotlight flashed on, highlighting someone walking onto the stage. The audience screamed on cue. Alex winced, trying to save his ears from breaking from the high-pitched screams.

She was stunning—a tall Asian woman with dark hair flowing to her waist, wearing a gold sequin top and a frilly white skirt. She hit the first note on cue with the saxophones, her voice sweet and commanding, pulling the audience in like a siren’s call.

Alex scanned the room. Half the audience looked teary-eyed. Ken hadn’t blinked since she started singing. Alex was about to check on Hal when he felt Kana stiffen beside him. He nudged her shoulder. “What’s up?”

Kana turned to him slowly. Her lips were pressed tight, her eyes glassy—not with sadness, but with the sharp, controlled look of someone putting pieces together and hating the picture. She leaned, breath grazing his ear. “Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

Kana glanced back at the stage, then at Alex. Her eyes were wide and urgent. “Covey’s running late. Something must have happened since they’re making Snowy perform right now.”

It took Alex half a second to understand. If Covey was running late, the schedule was blown—and so was their window. He pulled out his phone.

Augs: @Connor wtf is going on

Augs: @Connor where r u?

19

Durden

The early morning sun finally reached the Vanquish, warming the dashboard and Jun’s stiff fingers.

He exhaled slowly. After reporting the farm, the vials, and Snowy to the group, the responses had come fast—Alex with a string of expletives, Hal with questions, Kana with emojis Jun didn’t fully understand. Robin had simply said good work. It was strange, feeling like a part of something. He was making connections without Ruki guiding him through it. That was new.

Jun glanced at the clock on the dash. They were late. The taping should have started by now, but Covey still hadn’t come out. He reached for his phone to text Covey when it pinged. Alex.

Augs: @Connor wtf is going on

Augs: @Connor where r u?

A wave of panic washed over him. His mind circled, deciphering what Alex could possibly mean. His fingers fumbled as he responded.

Connor: I’m at his house

Connor: what’s wrong?

He was still waiting on Alex’s reply when a loud crash came from deep inside the mansion. Someone screamed.

Jun was out of the car before he could think. He ran to the front door. Another cry, muffled behind the walls. He tried the handle. Unlocked. He shoved through and stumbled inside.

The hallway was a wreck. Shards of an expensive vase glittered across the marble floor. In the living room, tattered clothes and scattered papers covered every surface. Seat cushions from the L-shaped couch lay across the rug and coffee table like something had torn through the room.

A cushion sailed past Jun’s head and knocked a painting off the wall. The frame cracked against the marble. Covey crouched in the middle of the wreckage, fists buried in his hair, cursing onto the floor. He was still in his velvet bathrobe.

Jun wasn’t sure how to approach. He wasn’t even sure if Covey heard him come in the door.

“Um, sir?” Jun asked as he carefully walked around the obstacles, trying to reach Covey, who started sobbing. “Are you alright?”

Covey didn’t look up. He rubbed his buried face against his palms. “It’s not here,” he choked through his hands.

Jun leaned in. “What’s not here?”