GET OUT.

The voices reached me first, two of them, distinct, growing closer. I slid behind a leaning bookshelf, shoulder wedged against the wall. Through a slit between worn volumes, I had a clean view of the tall library doors.

They swung open.

The maid entered first—the same who’d given me directions to the dining room—moving with precise, rehearsed grace, hands clasped, chin tilted just enough to appear confident. Vassier followed, polished shoes clicking softly against marble. His posture was relaxed, almost languid, copper eyes scanning the library with deliberate attention.

“How long do you plan on allowing those kids to stay here?” the maid asked, polite but curious.

“How long they stay doesn’t matter,” Vassier said easily. “Might be best they remain. Keeps them close. Easier to… look after them.”

Warmth in his voice. If I hadn’t been hiding, I might have believed it.

“Why is that, sir?”

“They were close to discovering Solaris’s true nature.”

The maid hesitated. “If you don’t mind… what is that secret?”

They stopped beside the long table stacked with books—some cracked, others thick with gilded lettering. Vassier let the question linger, resting a gloved hand on a pile.

“Flavia,” he said at last, “you are one of my most trusted subordinates. But if you knew… you’d see how fragile we truly are.”

Flavia bowed low. “Please, sir.”

He slid a book free from the middle of the stack. My stomach clenched. The dull red leather. The warped spine. The crease along the corner. My book.

He opened it—and stopped. The jagged white scar where the map page had been torn was visible.

“Looks like it happened sooner than expected,” he murmured.

“Sir?”

“One of the racers has acquired information… that could destroy everything we’ve built here.”

Her head tilted. “Interrogate them individually?”

Vassier exhaled, setting the book down. “No. That would raise suspicion. We’ll keep them close. Smile, serve them, show comfort.”

Then he lifted the book again, letting it thump behind him, close enough to touch. “And when the time is right…” His voice hardened.

“…we kill them.”

The shift was seamless. Flavia didn’t move.

“One of them holds the means to end us all. We can’t risk it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Inform the staff. Lock exits. If you see them, usher to the dining room—say it’s for a ‘special’ announcement.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vassier lingered, gaze sliding over shelves. When it passed my hiding spot, I froze. Then he turned, footsteps faded, and the door clicked. I exhaled. That was my map. My missing page. A death sentence.

I have to tell Sylvaine. And Gideon. Before they do.

The library’s front door was locked. I scanned the room. A ladder led to a narrow ventilation shaft above the shelves. Timing my run between distant footsteps, I leapt, grasped the ladder, and in a few awkward moments hauled myself into the shaft. The metal creaked under my weight, but I kept moving.

I dropped into the hallway beyond, legs stiff from the climb. The corridor stretched in polished grandeur. I spotted the fence I’d climbed earlier. With a grunt, I swung over, landing softly. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I had to find Sylvaine.

I began making my way down the hallway surreptitiously and expeditiously, speed walking. That’s when I spotted—

“GIDEON!” I shouted. My urgency broke my measured pace; I ran.

“Yeah, what is it?” He stopped his stroll, curious about what I could be shitting bricks over.

“NO TIME TO EXPLAIN, VASSIER AND HIS STAFF—”

“Hello there!”

I froze. A maid I hadn’t seen before, enormous smile plastered across her face, blocked the hallway forward. I couldn’t move.

“Hello there, ma’am,” Gideon responded casually. I looked wildly at him, “Was she there before?!” I whispered, voice cracking. He just shrugged and looked at the lady, “Do you need something?”

“Why yes!” she exclaimed. “Vassier would love for all of you to report to the dining hall for a quick moment.”

My panic spiked. I glanced at Gideon, then back at her.

“Sounds good to me—”

“PERHAPS!” I cut him off, snapping the maid’s attention.

“Perhaps we should fetch Sylvaine so we can all go together, yay!”

I tossed my hand over Gideon’s shoulder. “Let’s go!” I forced him to turn; he looked at me, confused, but my expression said everything.

“Why… Sylvaine is already in the dining room!”

I halted.

“You don’t say…” I turned back toward the maid. “Then why is she over there?” I pointed further down the hallway.

“Hm?” She turned. That’s when I hauled ass, grabbing Gideon’s arm, sprinting, tucking around a corner.

“Dude! What the hell are you—”

“SHUT THE HELL UP!” I hissed, spit flying. “SHUT THE HELL UP.”

Footsteps approached. I held my breath, heart in my throat. She passed us, sighed, then—

“It’s always better when they run!” She broke into a sprint down the hall.

We collapsed behind the corner, silent, trying to process what we’d just seen.

“They’re trying to kill us. We need Sylvi. Get the fuck out of here NOW.”

Gideon’s eyes widened, then narrowed, thinking. “Why the hell would they do that?”

“That had to be a lie to make us comply more easily. She was there this morning; no reason to stay all day.”

We exchanged grim looks. This was worse than we imagined. Every second counted.