The Sterling Group helicopter banked sharply away from the North Island, the rhythmic thrum-thrum-thrum of the blades the only sound in the cabin. Inside, the air was heavy with the smell of salt and the ozone of the cooling geothermal core they had left behind.
Ava sat on the floor of the cabin, her back against the bulkhead. She had a child under each arm Mia and Noah were fast asleep, exhausted by the adrenaline. Across from her, Liam was staring at his laptop, his small face illuminated by the blue light of the screen.
And then there was Leo.
Leo sat alone in the corner, his eyes fixed on his hands. He wasn't crying. He wasn't shaking. He was perfectly, eerily still.
"Liam," Ava whispered. "Is the island's server completely disconnected?"
"I cut the hard-link, Mommy," Liam said, h
