along the winding path, passing under an explosion of autumn colors. The air was ripe with the earthy must of decaying leaves and mulch. Hunter’s shaggy hair tousled in the intermittent breeze, and I was transported back to Clearwater, Minnesota, where we’d first met. I couldn’t believe that when this all began, we were still in the same season.
I shook off the nostalgia flash. Those days might as well have been in a different life. I needed to focus on the present. On our plan. It was pretty basic. During the game, I’d walk to the building with Abby, find out what I could about the registered users and what the building contained, and leave without looking suspicious. Meanwhile, the others would try to scout out other grant students and Daniel would schmooze the dean.
The courtyard had gone from peaceful and quiet to teeming with life. Students filled the paths now, their voices combining to form an excited buzz. A few still had on their uniforms, but most had changed into casual attire: jeans, Montford T-shirts, tennis shoes or Uggs. The red and gold of the Montford Lion dominated the color scheme.
The students here didn’t seem so different from the students at Clearwater, though I did notice a flash of a fancy watch here, a glitter of diamond studs there. Shoes that looked both trendy and pricey. Less skin, more-polished hairstyles.
But none of that made Montford ominous, exactly. Just different from home. Or what I’d thought was home, back then.
The breeze shifted, and the autumn fragrance was overpowered by the smoky-sweet aroma of hot dogs on the grill. The scent tickled my memory.
Around me, cheers erupted, and I jumped to my feet to yell along with the crowd. I felt happy, caught up in the excitement to be part of something new. If only Chloe were here, everything would be perfect. I couldn’t wait to email her later. . . .
I shook my head and the past faded, leaving behind a warmth that slowly fizzled into an icy chill. Everything had started out so well for Sarah. What had happened here to make her do such an abrupt about-face? None of those memories were coming back to me at all.
A trio of students wearing giant M capes streaked past us, whooping as the material streamed behind them like banners. What must it be like, to be one of these students? I wondered. To worry about nothing beyond who kicked a black-and-white ball into a net? This should have been Sarah’s world.
Scanning the crowd with my sensors, I located Sharon Alexander with a group of girls in the bleachers.
“See the dean anywhere?” Daniel asked.
I craned my head until I had a visual of the administrative building, where I could make out two figures starting down the path.
Zoom: Activated.
The image expanded. I zeroed in on the faces.
“Looks like he’s on his way.”
Target: 102 ft. away, approaching from northeast.
Current RPH estimates target will reach destination in under 60 seconds.
“Should be here in under a minute.”
“Good. Let’s wait here until he passes, then we’ll split up.”
“You ready, Abby?” I said, but Daniel interrupted.
“Actually, change of plans,” Daniel said. “I want Abby to go with Samuel. I realized that Sharon might respond better to a girl. Even if Samuel could probably talk to a tree.”
“I’m on my own, then?”
Daniel shook his head. “No, take Lucas with you—Hunter can hang back as a lookout. It’s a better cover anyway; you’d be more likely to sneak off with a boyfriend, and that can be Lucas’s cover if the dean asks where he came from.”
Beside me, I sensed both boys recoil. I wanted to sink into the ground—did I have that functionality? I wanted to kick Daniel, too. How could he be so clueless about the awkward he’d just unleashed?
“Bad idea,” said Hunter, crossing his arms. “I’ll go with her, and Lucas can hang back.” Then he added, “That way I can keep an eye on her.”
Lucas bristled. “That’s insulting to Mila. And insulting to me.”
Hunter turned to face Lucas. “You’re so obviously wrapped up in your . . . sick fascination with her . . . that you can’t be trusted, either.”
Lucas’s jaw dropped. And then his cheeks flushed a bright red. “You have no idea,” he started, pausing to breathe.
“Enough!” Daniel said, his voice booming. “We don’t have time for this. Hunter, you go with Mila. Lucas, you stay back—that way you’re on call if I need expert backup.
“Now that we’ve got that important detail settled,”