Chapter Three: Everday Screening

The brass instrument in one image had begun to glow. The place where Zhou had stood was empty, but new words appeared on his slate: PHASE ONE COMPLETE. THE BLANK HAS ENTERED EVERDAY. It was not a message for Jianyue. It was a progress report. She looked up. “My brother is using me.” “Yes.” “Are you using me too?” Pei Du did not look away. “Yes.” “At least you're honest.” His red eyes narrowed. “No. I have already paid once for the lie I told you. It was too expensive.” He raised a hand. The black doors surrounding the ballroom closed together. “Welcome back to Everday, Lin Jianyue. Until we find Lin Zhou, you are my guest, my suspect, and the only person in this building who cannot be allowed to die.”