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Adam listens in silence while I recite the conversation for him, word for word When I finish, he asks, “Are you sure that’s what they said?”

“Yes” I’ure we’ll all learn each other’s “talents” eventually “I remember every word they said I have an…eideticit a secret for so long Feels like I’ off hter “Really? That’s a”

I don’t want to talk about it I switch back to the topic at hand, which is far , they started walking toward me I didn’t want them to know I’d overheard them, but I didn’t think I’d make it to my room in time”

“So I was just a convenient escape?” he asks with a hint of a grin

“Sorown cold “Do you have any idea what they were talking about?”

“No, but it’s probably nothing I’ to do with us”

“Are you kidding me? They mentioned the five of us And it sounded like they’d done this before” I pace back and forth in the shly doubt a company like Aether Corporation would send children to the future”

“But it all makes sense now Why else would they use foster kids? They knoon’t behappens to us!”

“They chose us because of our abilities And we’re not all foster kids”

“No, you’re the only one who isn’t” I stop pacing and stare at him “So why are you here?”

“I…” He shakes his head and looks down For a minute there is only silence, and I realize that’s his answer

I turn away We ers It was stupid to think I could trust Adaet it,” I say, opening the door “Just forget I said anything”

I return to my exam room As I wait, I replay the scientists’ conversation in uess is there was another group of people ent to the future before us and so bad happened to theht happen to us But that doesn’t explain why they need teenagers or kids even younger than us

I’m tempted to run away from this place as fast as I can But if I do, I’ll be exactly where I was before Lynne recruited ure out how I’ll survive once I turn eighteen And I’ll miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—the chance to see the future

No, I can’t back out now

Lynne collects the five of us and takes us down to the base In the elevator, the tension in the air is alainst the ith his eyes closed Chris glares at everyone Ada hisat hiets the hint

The elevator doors open to a vast concrete room filled with computer panels and scientists in lab coats In the center stands a do the ap for a small door This must be the accelerator

“What, no TARDIS?” Ada for a DeLorean, personally”

I stare at hi how he canI told hirins at h the roo at everyone we pass Dr Kapur and Dr Walters bend over a co on the screen Four other scientists type on keyboards or work on different parts of the accelerator, but they stop to take a good look at us as alk by

Soon we’ll be stepping inside that thing, facing whatever fate awaits us After the conversation I overheard, I suspect itshot, but I have to do so I have to talk to Lynne aboutsure I don’t reveal what I know