Aiko opened her eyes to a white icy cell. The bedding, sheets, and doors were as white as snow.

  What the heck? Where am I?

  To shake the feeling of her capture, she tried putting it out of her mind, but the feeling surged forth as inevitable as the rising tide. Malcolm kidnapped her from the detention center and took her to an undisclosed location, and she did not know how he did it. Aiko winced as pain shot through her arm. She pulled back the long-sleeved uniform that was also white, and nasty rope burns ran the length of her arm.

  This isn’t a dream. Why’s everything freakin’ white?

  Ginger strolled in, all calm like she owned the place. She dropped down on Aiko’s bed, way too close. Déjà vu made Aiko’s stomach twist.

  “Are you ready to cooperate?”

  Aiko frowned. “What are you even talking about?”

  “This place can be… rough for kids like you,” Ginger said.

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  Aiko blinked. “Kids like me?”

  “You know—goody two-shoes. Think they’re better than everyone.”

  Aiko bristled. “That’s not me.”

  Ginger smirked. “Saw it the second I met you.”

  Aiko crossed her arms. “Back up. Where are we?”

  “The same place—Westchester Correctional. Only now? You’ve been upgraded.”

  Aiko noticed the white uniform Ginger wore. Not orange. White.

  “Why are we wearing these?”

  “Because we’re special,” Ginger said with a grin. “The warden’s chosen. We do what he wants, we get freedom.”

  Aiko gave Ginger a scowl.

  Aiko scowled. No way I’m helping that creep. Not with Mom’s work. She remembered her mom’s late nights at the lab, her dad saying the research could heal people’s brains. Save lives. Paige locking it up. Something wasn’t right, and Aiko needed answers.

  “Fine,” Aiko muttered. “I’ll help the warden.”

  Ginger’s face lit up like Christmas. “Good. He’ll be glad I convinced you. You’ll like being on his good side.”

  She headed for the door. Aiko jumped up to follow, but Ginger shoved a hand out.

  “Not yet.”

  “I said I’ll help!”

  “Yeah, I heard. But you gotta prove yourself first. Don’t worry, he’ll come to you soon.” She winked, then shut the door.

  Aiko clenched her fists. I hate her. I hate this. She forced her breathing slow. In. Out. Just like Uncle taught her. She splashed water on her face. The cold helped—until she looked in the mirror.

  Her hair.

  It was white.

  No Way… my hair—what happened to my hair?!