ELIAS'S POV

We stared at Mercer's phone. The emergency alert glowed on the screen.

“Mandatory Assembly. Tomorrow 9 AM. All students and faculty required. Important announcement regarding Academy programs and future initiatives.”

"Tomorrow," I said quietly. "Not six days. Tomorrow."

"Castellan knows we're planning something," Hale said. "He's moving fast to get ahead of us."

"How does he know?" Chen asked.

"Could be surveillance. Could be someone reporting to him. Could be he just ...