LOCATION: NEW EDEN SOUTHWEST TERRITORY BORDER

TIME: 9:13 a.m.

The rain had stopped, but the blood hadn’t.

Solene moved through the underground checkpoint, hair damp, boots slick with soot. The child had been spotted crossing Sector 9’s smuggler lanesalone, fast, bleeding from somewhere.

She didn’t ask Lucien to come this time.

He came anyway.

They walked in silence until they reached the gates.

Then he asked, “Do you think he’s still human?”

Solene didn’t look at ...