While Cadence wanted to ask Brandon why he was on the IAC during the meeting, she held her tongue. “Okay,” she said as she allowed her sister to message her. The conversation continued around her, and though she could hear that they were speculating about where everyone else disappeared, and Aaron pulled out his phone, she couldn’t focus on both conversations at once. “Cass? What’s up? We’re in a meeting.”

“I know. Sorry,” she said. “I wish I was ...