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We madeit outside the building, but the farther we got from my father and brother’s rooms, the more I wondered if I should have stayed put on the sixth floor. I wasn’t going to do anyone any good dead or incapacitated however. And if I stayed there, I had a bad feeling another robot would show up. We decided the best course of action was to try to reach Engineering deck so I could get to Alyssa’s office. I didn’t dwell on what may have happened to her to make Quinn say she’d been relieved of duty.

The problem was that the only way to reach the lower deck was the elevator, and since my encounter with the AI, I was back to not trusting anything computer controlled.

“Emergency stairs exist, but they are hidden in the resort so as not to be an eyesore. Sort of like the entrances at a theme park,” Mason explained, bitterness lacing his words. “I haven’t studied the blueprints, and don’t know where they would be.”

“So we have no choice. We have to try the elevator,” I said, swallowing back my fear as we crouched behind the bushes.

Mason squeezed my hand. “I don’t see another option. Believe me, If I could think of a possible alternative that would help us…”

I shot him a smirk. “Okay then, here’s the plan. You keep the doors open while I break into the panel and cut the wiring that communicates with the main AI. It’ll take time, but we can hide out inside while I rewire it to work separately from the computer system.”

“Let’s go.” Mason led the way back inside Mermaid’s Cove, where the nearest elevator was. We pushed the silver call button and the doors slid open.

I stepped inside, and Mason braced his back against one side of the entryway, one foot in the elevator, one out. “Go!”

I pried off the decorative cover and studied the wiring before going to work.

“We’ve been spotted,” Mason called.

I glanced up to see a staff member rolling toward us from across the expansive lobby. My fingers flew across the panel, pulling and rearranging wires.

“Done!” I exclaimed.

Mason pulled himself inside and the doors slid shut just as the bot reached us. Something banged into the doors and a huge dent reshaped the metal.

“Those doors won’t last,” he said, leaning against the glass.

I dove back to the wires and worked frantically. When the next bang came, I shouted, “Engineering.”

The elevator lurched, and my heart slowed for a moment. Until I realized with a sickening feeling that the car was moving in the wrong direction.

“We’re going up!” I yelled.

“You don’t have access to Engineering,” the computer’s voice announced. “The electrical panel on all elevators is now safety protected. Thank you for pointing out this weakness in my human design.”

Mason still reached for it, but I grabbed his hand. “No. It might electrocute you.”

“Where are you taking us?” he asked, glancing upward and licking his lips.

“Floor six to escort Miss Meadows to her quarters.”

My head shook from side to side in panic.

Mason jumped, causing the whole car to shake. I sank back against the side as he did it again and again. Finally, the hatch at the top fell open, and Mason leaped one last time, catching the edge with his long fingers. Muscles straining, he hoisted himself up and reached his hand down for me.

The car jolted, coming to a standstill.

I stopped trying to get to him and shook my head. My throat was thick, but I spoke as calmly as I could. “Go.”

“What? No.” He waved his hand for me to grab.

I shook my head and faced the door, rolling my shoulders back. “We can’t risk both of us. I won’t. Go find the others. Warn them.”

A heartbeat passed, filled with the sound of my own blood rushing in my ears. Then the door opened to two robots, aiming their weapons directly at my chest. I’d already felt the effects of one, and I doubted I’d survive both.

“Where is Mr. Bennet?” one asked.