After I was sure Charlie was well on the way to sleep, I joined Sarah on the roof. She was staring into the flames of an already sizeable bonfire, lips pursed in thought.

"Hey." I sat next to her, staring into the hypnotizing fire as well.

"Do you know how I met Nik?" Sarah blurted. Her tone was so desperate that I knew better than to respond.

"You two had already been living here for a while. My sister and I had been with our uncle - an ass, really, but we didn't have many options.

"As soon as my sister turned eighteen, we left. Back then, we were still trying to abide by the Order's new laws with some insane hope that we could get our old lives back. But then we found Rooftop.

"We needed some place to sleep and the streets were too dangerous, Viv led me up a fire escape and it just so happened that we were only a few buildings away from this bonfire.

"Almost everyone had left for the night, including you, but Nik was still there. Everyone else just stared at Viv and me with these - these glares, but Nik just stood, grinned, and spread his arms. 'Welcome to Rooftop,' he told us." Sarah smiled ruefully. "And I was lost."

I felt my throat tighten with unexpected tears and blinked rapidly, continuing to say nothing.

Sarah turned her gaze onto me. "Is he coming home, Claire?" Her voice trembled pitifully.

I wished more than anything that I could give her an answer - if not for her, then for myself. "I don't know," I whispered instead, feeling broken.

We stayed out there for hours until finally, I forced Sarah back inside, where I could hear her softly crying herself to sleep.

*

The next morning, when Nik still wasn't back, I knew I had to do something or I would go crazy.

"Sarah?" I called as I climbed back through the window, breakfast in hand. "Can you watch Charlie for the day?"

Sarah, seated on the couch, nodded and glanced toward me in time to catch a tossed bagel.

"Thanks." Turning my attention to my little brother, who was playing an imaginary game in the hallway, I ordered, "Charlie, don't bother Sarah."

"Okay," he replied mechanically, trotting over to grab a piece of bread and a jelly packet. Starting on my own breakfast - a handful of crackers - I left.

I mentally recited the policeman's address while simultaneously trying not to think of her. Of her wide eyes...gentle voice...genuine laugh.

Okay, I needed Evie - that much was quickly making itself apparent. But since I had no means to contact her...

I would have to break into the policeman's apartment again.

Before I could lose my nerve, I changed direction and headed straight for the apartment building. This time, the street was blissfully empty except for a hovercar rounding a corner a block away. I hurried into the building before the driver could spot me.

This time, a female android sat at the desk. She appeared perfectly human if I ignored her shiny, perfect hairdo. I was momentarily sidetracked by her presence - I had had no idea androids were being reanimated. Maybe it was a sign that things were changing for the better.

Don't be stupid, Claire.

"How may I help you?" the android asked calmly, her lips taking just a second too long to curve into a smile. So she was an old model, then.

I thought fast. "Someone's hurt in the alleyway outside. Could you come help them?"

"Of course."

One useful thing about androids: unless they had specific (and expensive) programming, they couldn't discern dishonesty from someone's tone of voice or facial expression.

As soon as the android left the building, I rushed over to the computer. This time, I knew exactly what I was looking for. I grabbed the all-purpose keycard and dashed to the elevator. I scanned the card, casting frantic glances toward the entrance as I did so. After what felt like an eternity, the doors slid open and I ducked inside.

Through some absurd twist of fate, the policeman also wasn't home this time. I still wasted no time in entering his office and turning on the comm.

It took a couple of terrifying minutes for Evie to reply to my message. When she finally did, I sighed in relief, although the message itself didn't exactly exude friendliness.

What do you want?

Please, Evie. I need your help getting to HQ.

There was a long, equally terrifying pause. Then, finally: I'm sorry, Claire. I know almost nothing about you. I can't risk helping you.

Wait, I messaged, purely out of desperation to make Evie stay. I thought quickly - the only way I could truly convince Evie was if we had another face-to-face meeting, that was quickly making itself clear. Let me take you to lunch, I implored. Tomorrow. Your choice.

This time, the wait was shorter, which I took as a good sign. Fine. Let's keep it simple - the Bev.

Awesome, I replied. See you then. I was about to return the comm when something stopped me. This simple device could help me - and my family - so much. And if I took it, I would never again had to risk sneaking into this building.

Hardly believing what I was doing, I slipped the comm into my sweatshirt pocket and left the apartment.

Having no other options, I tried simply striding past the android. It didn't work.

"You're that girl - "

"Yup," I replied, not even momentarily slowing my stride. I shoved my way through the entrance doors and dashed into the alleyway, clattering into the fire escape before the android could follow me.

Somehow, I made it safely to the roof. I forced myself onward until I was on the roof of my apartment.

Panting, I collapsed on my back and stared into the brilliant blue sky. Slowly, the tension drained from my body and I closed my eyes, finally allowing myself to relax.

After recovering, I made sure the comm was secure in my sweatshirt pocket and ducked into my apartment.

Both Sarah and Charlie were gone. I tried not to let anxiety convince me that they were in trouble and took advantage of the situation to hide the comm. Once I was sure it was secure beneath the kitchen sink, I retreated to the couch, hoping for a quick nap before dinner.

No such luck. I was kept awake, staring at the ceiling, by thoughts of Evie.

I had never had a girlfriend. When I was younger, there was one girl whose chestnut hair and blue-green eyes made my heart beat faster, but nothing had ever come of it. Besides, in Horizon's previous government, you were given three spousal options upon your twenty-first birthday, and it was unlikely that the girl would have been any of them.

Evie, however...I felt a twinge of something for her. Nothing too serious, of course, since I didn't know her well - but there was certainly something.

It was a frightening notion.