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weapons!”
    “I don’t have any weapons,” Jonah said, slowly opening the door and stepping out into the blinding light from two light sticks.
    He shielded his eyes, stopping just inches outside the door, and said, “Thank you. You saved my life!”
    His saviors said nothing.
    When they moved the lights from his face, he lowered his hands and squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light, to see who saved him. It wasn’t Watchers, The Underground, or the network.
    Jonah was staring at three children — two boys and one girl, none of them older than 10 — standing a foot in front of him holding old assault rifles. Their faces were filthy, and their clothes thick with caked mud and dirt. They looked like some of the kids he’d seen in the Dark Quarter, kids lost in the system, kids who became part of the drug, sex, slave, or body parts black market.
    “You’re kids,” he said, unable to bury his shock.
    “No talk, Watcher,” one of the boys yelled, jabbing the gun toward Jonah, anger turning his face into a vicious mask.
    “Walk!” said the girl, her voice the one with the accent, not an impediment, as she glared at him with steely blue eyes.
    “What?” Jonah said, confused.
    “You’re our prisoner, Watcher. Now walk!” one of the boys said, shoving the rifle hard into Jonah’s lower back, nearly knocking him down.
    Jonah stumbled forward and considered spinning around, grabbing the gun from the little bastard, and shoving it in his face. But the other two kids were looking at him with the icy, calculated intensity of seasoned soldiers. He had no idea who the kids were, or why they had saved him. But as he looked around at the tiny mountain of bloody undead lying still forever, the only thing Jonah knew for certain was that underestimating the kids would lead to a bullet in his skull.
    “She said walk!” the kid behind him repeated, louder, and with a sharper jab of his rifle.
    Jonah met the girl’s gaze and saw nothing but hate in her eyes.

CHAPTER 9 — Anastasia Lovecraft
    B efore they were loaded into the van for their final journey, the four contestants were forced to stand on stage for the Farewell Ceremony, as their names and crimes were read out loud. Ana was found guilty of being a traitor to the State and part of The Underground.
    Ana was surprised that there were three other contestants, since were usually only two from each City. Also surprising was that the others were also female, which she was fairly certain was a Darwin Games first.
    This must be a Special Edition Game. I wonder if the entire Game will be girls.
    Each person’s name was read, immediately followed by boos.
    Ana spent the entirety of the ceremony scanning the crowd for either Michael or Adam. A line of City Watchers and robot sentries posted along black wooden barricades held the crowd back. Just as she was wondering if Michael had kept Adam away from the ceremony, she spotted them — standing in front of one of the barricades, about 100 yards away. They must’ve gotten up early to secure a spot so close to the front.
    Her eyes met Adam’s, and she swallowed her rising tide of tears. She had to appear stronger than she felt. While she’d wanted to see Adam, if only to know he was OK and that The Watchers hadn’t grabbed him up, she wished he didn’t have to see her going off to her certain death.
    He’d lost so much and managed to hang on. But to lose his sister might be the final straw to break him.
    No, don’t think about it. Be strong.
    Michael stood tall behind Adam, his eyes meeting Ana’s. She couldn’t tell for certain, but it looked like he was trying to keep his emotions in check as well.
    Adam waved.
    Ana swallowed, then waved in return.
    “Ana!” Adam screamed, lurching forward.
    A Watcher moved toward him, stick raised.
    Ana screamed out, “No!”
    Everyone on stage looked at Ana, then followed her gaze down to her brother, who was about to incur the wrath of The Watchers.
    Fortunately, Michael was fast on his feet and grabbed Adam, yanking him back before her brother was beaten. Adam tried to break free from Michael’s grasp, but Michael held tight, apologizing to The Watcher repeatedly and begging the officer to have mercy.
    “His sister is up there, please, please,” Michael yelled above the growing noise of the crowd to the two closest Watchers.
    Ana called out, “Go home, Adam! Go home!”
    Michael pulled Adam into the crowd, vanishing from sight. The last thing she saw before she