fracture their memories, maybe permanently. Once we’re all on MEEP frequencies, what’s to stop Diego Salvador and his allies from keeping us completely under their control? They’re using us like lab rats, Nix. I’ve been trying to tell you this for months, but you never pay attention. All you care about is yourself, your dumb college plans, whatever’s best for you. But there’s a whole world out there, Nixy, and it’s in danger. I can’t stop. Because Diego Salvador’s got to be stopped.”
His words make me feel ill. He’s right in more ways than one. I have been self-absorbed; I haven’t been listening to him. And he’s right about the MEEP. During the past six days I’ve experienced the worst this virtual world has to offer. But I’ve also seen the best of it. Diego Salvador may be a liar, but Wyn’s not to blame for that. Wyn doesn’t deserve to be a pawn in this game.
“I’m sorry, Chang. But you’re no better than your enemies when you resort to blackmail and kidnapping,” I finally say. “Innocent people are getting hurt.”
Chang frowns. “Like him?” he scoffs, pointing to Wyn. “The heir to the Salvador fortune? Don’t assume he’s any better than his father, or you’re bound to be disappointed. In any case, we can’t let him go home now. Salvador can’t hide his son’s disappearance forever. Word will get out; people will demand answers. MeaParadisus will be shut down by any means necessary. Get out now, while you still have the chance. Let Wyn pay the piper for his father’s greed.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. My oldest friend has just condemned Wyn to a lifelong coma in the real world. No matter how much good he thinks he’s doing, how could Chang be so heartless, so arrogant? Anger overtakes me.
“Why don’t you pay the piper, Chang?” I yell, launching myself at the kanabo. I front-kick Chang in the stomach and he drops his weapon. I grab the kanabo and swing it above my head, determined to take Chang down at the knees.
“Inventory! Laser gun!” he yells, and points the gun at my head.
Fy fæn. He’s pulled an Indiana Jones on me.
“Listen to me,” Chang says, his voice like cold steel. “If I shoot, you’ll die and wake up to another skeleton horde. You don’t have the strength or the supplies to defeat them again. You know that. They’ll kill you in minutes, and then you’ll wake up all over again to another attack. You’ll be stuck here in an endless loop along with your . . . friend,” he says, glancing disdainfully at Wyn. “We tried to warn you, Nixy. Now initiate the code or die.”
I feel dizzy. The whole world is spinning around me like some bad carnival ride. I take a step backward, trying to make the nausea go away. How could Chang do this to me? How could he betray me like this? And Moose . . . did he know about this?
We tried to warn you, Nixy, Chang had said.
We?
The minotaur is roaring again and Chang gives him a look of annoyance.
Suddenly I understand.
“Moose!” I yell at the minotaur.
The minotaur stops roaring and looks at me.
It’s him.
“I know you don’t want to do this! People are getting hurt . . . Kora may even be dead. Moose, this isn’t you!”
The minotaur hesitates.
“Stay in line, Moose!” Chang orders, waving the laser gun at him.
Uh-oh. That’s all it takes. Moose charges.
Not at me, not at Wyn . . . Moose charges at Chang.
Chang aims the laser gun at Moose and shoots.
No no no, my mind is screaming, but Moose does not fall.
Chang has misfired. Something has hit him right in the stomach.
A potato.
I look over and see Wyn firing the potato gun from the floor like Billy the Kid.
“Run!” Wyn yells.
Right. He means me. My brain engages my legs and I make a mad dash for the Information Desk.
I’m a few feet away when I hear Wyn cry “No!”
Moose roars in agony or rage, I can’t say.
What’s happening behind me?
For a fleeting second, I pause.
It’s enough for Chang. I feel the laser beam hit between my shoulder blades.
Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die.
Everything starts to go blurry, but I can still see the blinking yellow RESET button straight ahead.
I make one last lunge for the control panel.
And then . . . nothing.
UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
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THE BEEPING IN MY EAR IS GETTING LOUDER, BUT I PUSH IT AWAY. I need to keep sleeping, dreaming. These dreams are