My tray thumped on the table next to Brooke.

“Who pissed you off?” Brooke asked. She already finished with her meal. “What took you so long?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in later.” I groaned.

“Hi, Ava.” Tamara smiled warmly, her eyes glistening.

I could only muster a half smile.

Nobody else around me seemed to care I existed—even my own teammate Justine didn’t acknowledge me. I was beginning to wonder if she was happy to see me.

Tamara grimaced. “You’re going to eat rice with your fingers?”

Being used to eating with my fingers for the past few days, I had forgotten to grab a fork. “I’m too lazy to get a fork.”

I dropped rice between my fingers when shoving it into my mouth. Heads turned as if I was uncouth. Their heavy stares weighed on me, and their soft whispers rubbed me raw.

Was it about me being gone for three days or the way I was eating? Everyone’s words jumbled together. Then I listened past the murmurs. They were definitely talking about me.

“How many days had she been kidnapped?”

“Do you think she tried to run away and they are covering that up?”

“She’s eating with her fingers.”

I’d had enough. I smacked my hand on the table. “It’s fun. You should try it.”

Justine narrowed her eyes at me. “What’s wrong with you?”

“They were talking about me. Didn’t you hear them?” As a burning sensation rose to my face, I voiced louder. “I was kidnapped, held for three days, and now people are looking at me as if I betrayed them.”

I couldn’t believe I’d said those words. If my emotions had been all over the place when I was with Rhett, they got worse at ISAN. I didn’t know how to glue them back together to make me whole again.

I missed Rhett, Ozzie, Reyna, and the other friendly faces. With them, I’d felt a sense of unity and security. At ISAN, I felt disconnected. Their only interest in me was as a weapon.

“Ava.” Brooke touched my trembling hand. “I didn’t hear anything. No one said anything. I mean, everyone is talking within their groups, so it’s not quiet in here. Are you okay?”

Cringing, I dipped my chin in embarrassment at my half-eaten lunch. Was I going crazy?

“Sorry.” I scrubbed my face with my hands. “I’m just really tired. I’ve had a long week.”

“Did they torture you?” Tamara swallowed her last bit of asparagus with a crease between her eyes. “Is that what you’re upset about? I wanted to ask you questions about it, but I didn’t want to bring up bad memories.”

“No. They were really nice.” I regretted saying it. “I mean ... they didn’t ... they treated me fine.”

I couldn’t find the right words without saying too much. I didn’t want to make it sound like they were our enemies, yet I didn’t want to make it sound like I’d enjoyed being with them, either.

“Could we talk about something else?” I asked.

That was all I had to say to get Justine chatting away. “You’re not going to believe this, but I overheard a conversation between Russ and Mitch when I went to the mental training room earlier to ask Russ if they’d found out any news about you. I only got little bits, here and there, before Lydia spotted me. Anyway, they’ve recruited more teens and we’re going to meet them tomorrow. Mitch sounded really excited. Something is special about this group of newbies.”

“I hope they bring in hot guys,” Tamara said. “Russ and Mitch are starting to look like one of the girls.” She chuckled.

I had to laugh, especially when Brooke spat a mouthful of water on Justine.

That was kind of epic and warranted.

* * *

I asked Brooke to wander to the restricted areas with me after dinner. Instead of going to the hallway to my room, I went the opposite way when the coast seemed clear. Walking with my head down, I listened for the sounds of boots scrapping or voices.

I halted. With a hand I motioned Brooke to stop. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what? I didn’t hear anything.” Brooke ogled me like I was her idol.

Brooke’s sense of hearing wasn’t strong without Helix, but mine was better. I didn’t realize it until I heard the footsteps and Brooke didn’t.

“Stop staring at me, Brooke.” I pointed at the floor. “Stay right here and let me know if you see or hear anyone coming this way. I’m going to see what’s behind those doors.”

When she nodded confirmation, I went to the first door. I should’ve known better. The handprint scanner wouldn’t let me in.

What are they hiding?

Though my sense of hearing wasn’t as acute as when I was in a mental mission, something was happening to me. While the serum wore off on the others, it lingered in my system. My hearing was heightened to a degree it hadn’t been before. It wasn’t just that. I saw a faint blueprint of the area—and the red dots that indicated people—but not what was behind the walls. Or maybe there were no bodies in those rooms? It wasn’t the first time it had happened without Helix. But it had gotten stronger.

There was one room left to check and the door was unlocked. I went inside to see an empty room and another doorway fixed with a circular-shaped window. Unable to enter, I turned on my heel to go back to Brooke. As I did, a man in a white lab coat stepped out of a room. I got a glimpse of his pale face and gray eyes.

My heart leaped out of my chest. Dad? Could he be my father?

A memory flashed like a daydream. I was in a lab room, the same place I had dreamed about when I fell out the window assassinating Mr. Thorpe.

“Ava. How long were you standing there?” My father asks.

I stiffened from his scolding tone and my four-year-old body goes cold. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

My father leans down, his face softening. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He plants a kiss on my forehead and caresses my cheek. “I love you, Pumpkin.”

I feel his love expand my heart and everything is fine. “I love you, too, Daddy.”

“Go to your room. After I finish my work, I’ll read you a book.”

The memory faded.

I shivered. Shaken by the glimpse of the past, I clutched my chest from the pang, recalling a small treasured memory of my father and realizing how much I loved him.

Look within yourself. How and why had I forgotten this memory of my father?

I tapped on the glass, then the door. He couldn’t hear? When I knocked on the glass harder, he entered another room.

What if Brooke and I got caught? I was being reckless. The need to find my family screwed up my judgment.

Get out of there, Ava. Don’t get caught. You’re not just messing with your life but Brooke’s, too.

I stilled and my pulse soared. Mr. Novak came out of the same room the man in the white lab coat entered.

Crap.

Slouching, I stayed clear from the window, and cursed when I heard faint footsteps. Why hadn’t Brooke warned me? No, not that she hadn’t, but she couldn’t.

The sound came near the first door I’d entered. Without Helix, it was undetectable for her, but apparently not for me.

I dashed to Brooke, my heart racing. She had no inkling of what I had done when I grabbed her and hid us down another hallway. When the sound faded, I led her out of the restricted area. I kept the findings to myself, to keep Brooke out of trouble. One day very soon, I would have to tell her everything, but not that day.