Chapter 14 · What Her Face Is Worth

The Processing room door seals behind me and I'm back in the hallway with nine minutes gone and a burn scar on my forearm where Cain's mark used to be. The second mark—the one that'll kill me if anyone tries to rip it out—is still under my skin. I can't see it. Can't feel it. But I know it's there.

I don't get ten steps before Lila's waiting.

She's leaning against the wall outside the east stairwell, arms crossed, that same bored smile she always wears when she's about to sell you something you don't want. Two other Core Zone kids flank her. I recognize the girl—Sloane, chemistry track, the kind who watches you bleed and takes notes. The guy I don't know. Doesn't matter. He's here to look big.

"Processing took longer than usual," Lila says. She pushes off the wall. "Cain's thorough. I'll give him that."

I stop. My arm still stings. "What do you want."

"Not here." She tips her head toward the stairwell. "Contract talk. You've got about six hours before the next board update, and if you're still walking around unprotected after that, you're fair game. So let's go."

I follow her down.