An hour later, the hallway’s lights dimmed.

“I think it’s time for bed, April,” Damaris said.

“I’m not tired,” April said.

“Quiet—someone’s coming,” Delta said.

April feigned sleep as a familiar shadow entered. Her eyes were open wide enough to see the silhouette of her mother and another woman.

“Ms. Mason, the car is ready. It’s time to go to the airport if we are going to make the overnight flight to New York,” the other woman said.

That’s Nurse Marge, April thought.

“I wanted to check on my baby girl before we left,” Melissa said.

“We can only spare a few minutes.”

“I won’t be long.”

Nurse Marge left. Melissa stood there for a long moment, turned as if she were leaving, and then approached her daughter’s bed.

“Goodbye, baby girl,” she whispered. “I’ll see you soon.”

“She is going to the States. April, this is your last chance to change her mind,” Leviathan said.

Melissa put her hand over her daughter’s cybernetic hand. April thought she could see tears forming on her face.

“Take me with you, Mum,” April said.

“You’re too ill to travel, sweetie, otherwise I would take you. I know you want to see your friends, but I don’t think it’s wise,” Melissa said.

April started to cry. “I don’t want to be here all alone. Mummy, please stay. I’m frightened.”

Melissa gave her a hug and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

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“Good job, April, she’s affected by your show of emotion,” Damaris said.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, you have Nurse Marge to protect you,” Melissa continued.

“Are you ready to leave? I sense danger,” Leviathan said.

“Danger?” April replied, alarmed.

“Can you be more specific?” Delta asked.

“A female cyborg, fitting the description of one that has committed many murders in the cities of New York and London, was spotted nearby. April, warn your mother,” Leviathan said.

“Mum?”

“Yes, dear, I’m right here—”

Two guards entered April’s room.

“I’m afraid you are going to need to leave now, Ms. Mason,” one guard said.

“I’m saying goodbye to my daughter, it can wait,” Melissa replied sternly.

“There’s someone bad coming for us,” April said aloud.

The guards grabbed Melissa.

“I demand you let go of me now,” Melissa ordered.

“Someone has breached the perimeter,” another guard said over the radio.

“We are leaving. Get a wheelchair for my daughter,” Melissa said.

“I can walk,” April said.

The guards helped April out of the bed. She lost her footing and fell to the floor. The radio chirped, then the shouts of men echoed through the silence of the night. One guard carried April while the other guarded Melissa.

“This way,” the guard said.

Melissa followed the guard into the main hallway. It was pandemonium. Guards and nurses were slumped over, pools of blood covering the floor beneath them. On the far side of the hall, a woman a few years younger than Melissa stood facing them. The mystery woman wore a white leather outfit and had white hair, similar to Delta’s. She held two daggers in each hand. She stood there for a moment. No one moved for a long time, and then she ran toward them.

“Get Ms. Mason and her daughter out of here,” a guard said.

April looked toward the rush of men entering from behind. Two of them took April and her mother and ran away from the intruder.

“Based on surveillance footage I’ve seen, Delta-51 has a sixty-one-point-seven chance of surviving this encounter. I suggest fleeing,” Leviathan said aloud through Delta’s body.

Melissa shot her daughter a look of surprise. Then, moments later, they were all running for their lives. April looked back as the guards carried her through the hallways and stairwells that led to the garage. They sprinted through the garage. Moments later, they spotted a black SUV, large enough to accommodate all of them.

“I think we lost her,” a guard said.

Then the guard coughed up some blood, and a gurgling noise emanated from him. To April’s horror, a dagger was sticking out of his neck. Blood spurted out like a fountain. April looked back to see the white-haired woman throwing knives at the remaining guards. The guards dropped April to the ground. Melissa carried her daughter to the nearest vehicle. As she loaded April into an oversized SUV, she looked back, bracing for the worst. Their attacker stopped. She appeared to be having a conversation with herself.

“Are you sure, Mother? Very well, they will not be harmed,” the woman said.

April looked in the assassin’s direction, but she was gone. Melissa held her daughter for a long moment as she wept.