With nothing else to lose, I flipped the switch on Zippy. My receiver whined and popped, but the little cleaning troll remained silent. Logan had given Zippy a special protective coat so his inner electronics weren’t zapped as well. I shoved the cleaning troll back into the duct, and climbed in after him.

In case Zippy’s pulse hadn’t disabled my collar, I didn’t want to hide in any of my favorite spots. Instead, I worked my way up to the top of level ten, which was the bottom of the Expanse. Finding a space between two storage containers, I settled in to wait.

At first, every single noise jolted me. Eventually, I grew used to the sounds of the Expanse looming over me. After I felt like enough time had passed—if my collar worked, they would have found me by now—I descended to level four and headed toward our storeroom.

The glow of bluelights shone through the vent, indicating no one was in the room. Disappointed, I aimed my feet at the ladder and climbed down. The clock on the wall read hour forty-seven. I sank onto the couch. Thirty-nine hours had passed since I left the infirmary with Bubba Boom.

The horror, pain and fear had taken a toll on me. My head throbbed from the thin air. Exhausted, I curled up on the couch with Zippy, but I wished for Riley and Sheepy.

Chaotic dreams swirled. Outsiders chased me. Daylight reflected off their silver helmets, blinding me. Then a wall of people blocked my escape route. Jacy led the group and I ran to him. Instead of protecting me, he grabbed my arm and dragged me back toward the Outsiders. He handed me over to Ponife in exchange for the metal X. As Jacy laughed and turned away, Ponife’s white gloves stroked my skin.

I woke with a cry and with cold hands on my shoulders. My nightmare had turned into reality. I was caught.

18

FLAILING AND KICKING THE OUTSIDER, I FOUGHT WITH all my strength. I would rather be sent to Chomper than be under Ponife’s control again.

It took me a couple of seconds to realize he wasn’t fighting back. And finally, his soothing tone and caring words reached me. I stopped struggling and embraced Riley.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. He sat on the edge of the couch. “I just couldn’t wait until you woke up.”

“Not your fault, I was having a nightmare,” I said, clinging to him, soaking in his warmth and enjoying the feel of his arms around me.

After a few minutes, Riley pulled back to look at me. A smile quirked and he smoothed a few strands of my hair from my face. My braid had fallen out hours ago and I was sure rats would have no trouble making a nest in my hair.

“How did you cut the collar off?” he asked.

“I didn’t.” Confused, I touched my throat. The collar remained in place. My fingernails clinked on its hard surface.

Riley squinted. He ran his fingers along my neck. When he found the collar he explored the surface and tried to tug it. “No seams. It doesn’t feel like metal. The color is amazing.”

“Why?”

“It blends in. It matches your skin. Didn’t you know?”

“No mirrors in my cell.”

He gasped with mock horror. “So cruel! How did you ever survive?”

I laughed and it felt good. It had been such a long time since a happy feeling has touched me that I wanted to prolong it. I cut off whatever Riley planned to say next by drawing him in for a long kiss that left us both breathless. Deciding that conversation was overrated, I claimed his lips again and yanked him down so he lay next to me on the couch.

My fingers unbuttoned his shirt, I snaked my hands along his chest and around to his back. I would have ripped it off, but he pulled away.

“As much as I would love to continue,” he panted, “we don’t have any time to spare.”

“We might not get another chance,” I said.

“If we don’t get moving, we’re guaranteed not to get any more chances.”

“That bad?”

“Yep. We need weeks to finish installing a second network. Which we won’t get now that the Outsiders are already inside. We’re hoping your and Logan’s idea has a quicker turnaround time?”

“I’m not sure. We’ll have to ask Logan.”

“We’ll need to regain control of the air plant first,” Riley said. “Without that, we’re sunk.”

“I’ll get Logan and take him up to the top of the Expanse.”

“The top?”

Describing level eighteen to Riley, I filled him in.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I really don’t know. Just after I discovered it all this trouble started between us. At the time, I felt overwhelmed, scared and uncertain. Almost like I do now except for the uncertain part.” To prove my point, I kissed him again, letting my hands slide all the way down his back.

Riley sat up and grabbed my wrists. “Your timing sucks. You know that, don’t you?”

“I hate to waste this opportunity.”

“We’ll get another one. I promise.”

“You can’t promise. Not this time. I’ve seen the Outsiders. I’ve been…” I closed my eyes as memories of pain rolled through me.

Riley cupped my face with his hands, getting my attention. “Sounds like the Outsiders are too hard to beat. You can’t fight them. So you can stay here while Jacy, Logan, Anne-Jade and I make a token attempt to thwart them.”

“I know what you’re doing.”

“Me?” He tried to appear innocent.