My eyelids creaked open, letting in a searing amount of light in. It was seven o’clock in the evening, but my eyes registered the dim sky as a blazing sun throwing spears of pain into my corneas.

Through the haze, the bestest ugliest face came into view.

“Max,” I croaked happily.

“Good morning, starshine. The earth says hello,” he replied.

I groaned and let my eyes adjust before propping myself up on an elbow. We were back in my hovel in the subway entrance.

“How long have I been under?” I asked.

“Well . . . about three days.”

I raised my brow. “And the CPs still haven’t caught up with us yet?”

“Basically, they’ve been following us around all those three days. I came here, but we probably won’t be able to stay here another night. I think they’ve got a tracker in you.”

“Fantastic.”

Max nodded, and I lay back down.

“Tired?” he asked.

“Yes, mommy. Tuck me in?” I whined mockingly.

“Oh, you little sugar plum, you,” he said, expressionless, and leaned against the opposite wall.

We slept.