metal, megaphone gripped in one hand and her live-streaming phone in the other. The crowd shouting below her-students in "

e's voice crackled through the meg

n they threaten us." She thrust her phone higher, the screen lit with thous

clutching her daughter's photo. The little girl smiled from

nose had stopped bleeding, but the headache hadn't quit-a relentless jackhammer behind her e

HO! STERLING'

e screen. Then another.

crowd stirred. "Let them see us so

ice barricades lined the entrance, officers in riot gear

as h

te against the glass, watching. Even from 30 st

et him

er lungs burning. "It's about every kid like Lucia.

t and wet. She doubled over, megap

Not

her mouth. The back of

n. "Today, we take answers!" She jumped off the truck

oka

e squeezed her

h rain. Together, they led th

ers tightened their grips on batons. Alice's phone streamed it all-the

E RICH sign. The kid stumbled, knocking int

creamed, but it

erup

ed. A can of tear gas arced throu

yanked Nina towar

attering to the pavement. She dove

vie

ushed her

a cop snarled, r

pain shooting up her

opped m

the cop's wrist, twisting

hell?" the

uard nodded to a black SUV idling

re, in this pocket of chaos, time slowed. Jude's drive

ll," she

d her waist, hauling

connecting with his shin. He gru

orward. "Leav

at her. "Get Lucia's

V. She bounced across leather seats,

ive

w that

culate, hair perfectly dry. He held her

tched him say,

for the doo

reached for the phone,

mb hovered over End Stream. "Now,

to h

rd, eyes glinti

hone

demanded. "I'm no

rink holder. "You're wanted for inciting a

steal an

ng into his office, photocopies of files. "But I'm feeling generous. R

jagged. "What's next?

to her mouth. "Wo

ed. Rain lashe

htened. Not fear-

ng," Jude s

ffened.

sed six months ago. That's why you're really here-not t

ps. How? Mia's voice echoed: "

r treatment. Clinical trials. Anyt

rd det

ils raking his cheek. "Lucia's eight

ning her against the seat.

a coward." She s

fool. You'll be dead in a year

hit like

Jude loosened his grip, his th

lp you," h

e coughed-a wet, ragged sound. Blood

fro

ice

ilted. Colo

ice

aught her