CHAPTER 7

Echo blinked as she regained consciousness. For a moment, she had forgotten where she was, and had almost expected to wake up and find herself back in that stupid pod.

But instead, Tobias was looming over her. “You okay?” he asked. “You started to spin out.”

Echo sat up abruptly, pushing him aside. “My car! Where’s my—” It was sitting five feet away, completely intact. Echo’s brow furrowed. “How . . . I was spinning out—”

Tobias stood, reaching out a hand to help Echo up. “You pulled out of the spiral just in time. I don’t know how you did it, but I’ve never seen anyone drive like that.”

Echo shook off her disorientation. “Seriously? I couldn’t have managed that during the test?”

Tobias blinked. “Sorry, what?”

“Nothing,” Echo replied, feeling mildly embarrassed. “Thanks, I guess . . . You pulled me out of the car?”

“You looked like you needed some air,” he answered. “You okay now?”

“Yeah, I think so. My name’s Echo, by the way,” she said, reaching out her hand.

“Tobias Grube,” he answered as he shook her hand. “You new in town?”

“Not really.” Echo looked around. “Where exactly am I? Where is the city?”

Tobias laughed. “You’re basically between nowhere and nothing. It’s a good stretch to race on, though. Maybe you want a rematch?”

Echo shrugged. “Maybe.” But then a slash of lightning in the air distracted her.

In the distance, illuminated for only a second, was an old mansion on a hill.

“What is that place?” she asked.

“Just a dusty old art gallery. Nothing great,” Tobias said dismissively.

“An art gallery in the middle of nowhere in a spooky mansion?” Echo said, with one thin eyebrow raised. “And I’m not supposed to go look? I don’t think so.”