Bubba Boom’s grip on my hand tightened. “I trust her. And Cogon loved her like a sister.”

“And look how that worked out for him,” Karla said.

Hank chewed on his lip. “I’ll let the Controllers decide. Come with me.”

It was a good thing my heart had already run away, otherwise it would have exploded in my chest from the sudden surge of terror.

Bubba Boom pried my hand from his. “It’ll be okay. Just tell them the truth.” He nudged me toward Hank and the Outsiders.

They waited for me to join them. I followed them into another room. When the door hissed shut, I couldn’t breathe in the thin air. Gasping, I felt as if I suffocated. Panicking, I glanced around.

The room was a standard conference area with table and chairs. But big silver tanks lined the far wall and metal boxes had been stacked in the corner. Metal plates covered the air and heating vents.

Hank gestured to a chair. Once I sat, he showed me the small tank near the chair’s legs and the oxygen mask. Understanding cut through the dizziness and I covered my nose and mouth with the mask, filling my lungs with thick air.

The Outsiders fiddled with clamps around their necks. A popping noise followed a whoosh and they removed their round silver helmets.

They did resemble us. Short brown hair, brown eyes, a nose, mouth and ears. But their skin had an unhealthy yellowish cast, almost like jaundice. And their expressions were far from friendly.

The Outsider on the right crinkled his nose as if he smelled something rotten. “This is sheep leader?” He spoke with a thick accent. He struggled to pronounce each word.

Hank pulled his mask away from his face. “Yes. This is Trella Garrard.”

“She look…”

“Insignificant,” the other Outsider said.

“She is not. She caused much trouble for our world, but her actions enabled us to contact you.”

As if I didn’t feel bad enough.

Hank introduced the Outsiders. “This is Ponife.” The Outsider on the right inclined his head. “And Fosord.”

“What is problem?” Ponife asked Hank.

Hank explained in concise sentences how they needed me yet they doubted my sincerity. The two Outsiders conferred in a strange dialect. I could understand every fourth or fifth word.

Ponife stood and went to the stack of metal boxes. He removed the top one and set it on the floor, then rummaged in the second one. He returned with a thin silver loop, walking toward me.

“Stand, Trella Garrard,” he ordered.

I glanced at Hank.

“If you truly believe, you’ll do as they say,” Hank said.

Escape would be difficult, considering the blocked vents, and the roomful of people between me and freedom. I rose. Ponife touched a small metal X to the loop and it opened, breaking into two half circles hinged together.

He held the broken loop out and approached me, aiming for my neck. I decided I had learned more than enough, and ducked. Running for the door, I hoped the element of surprise would be on my side when I raced through the new control room.

It wasn’t. The door refused to slide open. Hank tackled me to the ground. Despite my struggles, Hank kept me pinned, and Ponife snapped the loop around my neck. It felt big at first, but the metal warmed against my skin and…softened then tightened. Hank released me and I dove for the oxygen mask, convinced I was being choked to death.

After a few deep breaths, I realized my windpipe had not been compressed. I tried to hook a finger under the loop, but it was skin tight.

“I knew you were lying. Did Jacy send you to spy on us?” Hank asked.

“No. I panicked.” I pointed to Ponife. “He scared me.” I tugged on the loop. It didn’t budge. “What is this thing?”

“A command collar,” Ponife said. “You will…listen to us.”

“But she can’t be trusted,” Hank said.

“No matter. She is…attached to us. We know where she go.”

“She will listen or…” Fosord, who hadn’t moved during the whole incident, motioned to his colleague.

Ponife twisted the metal X with his fingers. Sharp needles of pain stabbed into my neck and traveled down my spine. Unrelenting pulses of fire coursed through my body. I collapsed to the ground, shrieking. Vinco’s knife had been a caress in comparison to this anguish.

The pain stopped as quickly as it had arrived. My relief was almost as intense as the pain. Hank pressed the mask to my mouth as I gasped. Shudders overwhelmed my muscles as sweat pooled. If I had to guess how it felt to be kill-zapped, I’d imagine that torment came pretty damn close.

Hank straightened. “Impressive. Do you have more of those command collars?”

“Yes,” Ponife said. “We find them to be…useful for…solving problems.”

“Can I?” Hank wanted to take the X.

“No. Only Controllers can…correct problems.”

“What else can it do?” he asked.

Ponife pulled on one of the ends. Numbness spread down my body, deadening all feeling below my neck. I could only move my head.

“She is…stopped,” Ponife said. He flipped it around and tugged another side.

Feeling returned with a sudden flush of heat. My body tingled like I had just been kissed by Riley. It intensified as pure pleasure raced along my skin as if invisible hands stroked my body. To me, this was more humiliating than the pain.

“She is…rewarded. That is all.” He righted the X.