I barely registered the first swell of music or the legs scissoring past my field of view. Reality expanded and contracted around me. Then my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. My hand moved to my neck. My heart … my heart was beating too fast.
God, not again. Not now.
I tugged at the fabric of my dress. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t sit here. I couldn’t be still and wait. If I did … it was all catching up to me. Everyone was right. I was so stupid! And they followed me here. Everyone had followed me here! ‘What are we doing?’ I suddenly whispered. ‘Where’s Ryder?’
‘She will be here, shortly,’ my father said without looking at me. ‘You will understand everything soon.’
‘I—I don’t want to understand.’
‘You helped me see that our family was always meant for more. That chip I used on the inmates … it was wrong. A step backwards. The human race was meant to evolve.’ He actually reached over and grabbed my hand. My stomach lurched at his touch, but I couldn’t seem to move. ‘That step begins with us.’
‘I don’t want to be any part of your plans.’
‘I know,’ he said, nodding. ‘You still believe you can make a difference—achieve greatness—through Dark Ryder. But you’ll soon see the futility of that dream.’ He flicked his wrist over and glanced at his watch. ‘In mere minutes, you will see.’
‘What have you done?’
‘It’s not what I have done, but what I will do. What you will witness.’
‘Where is she?’ I asked again.
My father regarded me coolly, but said nothing.
‘Where’s Ryder!’
‘Quiet.’ He squeezed my hand, crushing the bones together. ‘It isn’t time.’
I pulled my fingers from his grasp. ‘Tell me what’s going on.’
He sighed, once again collecting himself. ‘Haven’t you figured it out, Brianna?’
‘Figured what out?’
‘We’re at a fashion show.’ He spread his hands out wide in front of him.
I said nothing.
‘There always has to be a show stopper.’
Then somebody screamed.