The official synopsis reads: Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive.
But Emika soon learns that Zero isnt all that he seemsand his protection comes at a price.
The author has shared an exclusive preview ofWildcard, including the official cover and an in-depth excerpt.
Credit: Primo/Penguin Random House
Read on below, andpre-order Wildcardahead of its Sept. 18 release.
I can feel itthe eerie sensation of being followed, an invisible gaze locked on my back.
People hurry by in a steady stream of colorful umbrellas and business suits, heels and oversize coats.
Penguin Random House
I cant stop imagining their downcast faces all turned in my direction, no matter which way I go.
Its been three days since Hideos algorithm was triggered.
Technically, the world should now be the safest its ever been.
Only the few who still use the beta lenses, like me, are unaffected.
So, in theory, I shouldnt be worried about someone following me.
The algorithm wont let them do anything to hurt me.
There must be hundreds of people.
Its been like this for the past three days.
My attention shifts to a police barricade at the end of the street.
Theyre directing us to detour down a different block.
Ambulance lights flash against the walls, illuminating a covered gurney being lifted into the vehicle.
Another criminal must have jumped to their death.
Suicides like this have been peppering the news.
And I helped make all of this happen.
I swallow my unease and turn away.
Theres a subtle but significant blankness in everyones eyes.
They dont know an artificial hand is inside their minds, bending their free will.
The reminder is enough to make me pause in the middle of the street and close my eyes.
My fists clench and unclench, even as my heart lurches at his name.Im such an idiot.
How can the thought of him fill me with disgust and desire at the same time?
Forget him.I open my eyes again and continue on, trying to contain the anger beating in my chest.
Like the one I once hacked into and disrupted, that upended my entire life and landed me here.
People on the streets are proudly dressed up as their top-ten vote this year.
Still others are arguing heatedly about the Final.
There had obviously been a cheatpower-ups that shouldnt have been in play.
Of course, I had done that.
I adjust my face mask, letting my rainbow hair tumble out from underneath my red raincoats hood.
My rain boots squelch against the sidewalk.
Their Japanese words translate into English in my view.
Good Emika Chen costume!
The girls bob their heads in thanks and move along.
I adjust my electric skateboard strapped over my shoulder.
Hammies message appears before me as translucent white text, cutting through my tension.
I smile instinctively and quicken my steps.
It wouldve been easier, you know, if youd just come with us.
I cast a glance over my shoulder again.
Im not an official Rider anymore.
People would ask questions if they saw us heading out as a group tonight.
But youd be safer if you did.
Its safer if I didnt.
I can practically hear her sigh.
She sends the address of the bar again.
I pass through the mall and out the other side.
Here, the colorful blocks of Shinjuku shift into the seedy streets of Kabukicho, Tokyos red-light district.
I tense my shoulders.
Virtual models dressed in scanty outfits stand outside bars, beckoning visitors to enter.
Still, I pick up my pace.
No red-light district in the world is safe.
I duck into a narrow street on the border of Kabukicho.
Piss Alley, so this cluster of little walkways is called.
The Riders picked it for tonight because its closed to tourists during the Warcross championship season.
Scowling bodyguards in suits stand at the entrances and exits of the alleys, shooing away curious passersby.
I take down my disguise for a second so they can see my real identity.
One bodyguard bows his head and lets me in.
Both sides of the alleys are lined with tiny sake bars and yakitori stands.
The scent of fresh rain mixes with aromas of garlic, miso, and fried meat.
I pull off my raincoat, shake it out, and fold it inside out into my backpack.
Then I head to the last stall.
This bar is a little bigger than the others, facing a quiet alley blocked off on either side.
One of them notices me and moves aside, ushering me forward.
I walk under the lanterns and enter through the sliding glass door.
A curtain of warm air envelops me.
Checked into Midnight Sense Bar!
He pauses to call out my arrival.
A round of greetings hits me as everyone turns in my direction.
Theres Hammie, our Thief, and Roshan, our Shield.
Asher, our Captain, is sitting on one of the stools with his stylish wheelchair folded behind him.
Even Tremaine, who technically plays for the Demon Brigade, is here.
The eerie feeling of being watched subsides as I take in their faces.
Hammie waves me over.
I slide gratefully into the empty stool beside her.
The chef puts down a bowl of ramen before me and steps out to give us privacy.
The whole citys celebrating, I mutter.
People have no idea what Hideos done.
She starts pulling her curls tight into a thick pouf high on her head.
Then she juts her chin at a virtual screen playing footage from the Final against the wall.
Youre just in time, she replies.
Hideos about to make his announcement.
We stare at the screen as Hammie pours me a cup of tea.
The room on the screen suddenly bursts into commotion as Hideo walks onstage.
Even the sight of him onscreen feels as overwhelming as if hed walked right into this bar.
I dig my nails into the counter, trying not to show how embarrassingly weak it makes me feel.
She casts me a sympathetic glance.
No one expects you to be over him already, she says.
I didnt say I wanted todatehim, Hammie replies, reaching over to pat Ashers cheek once.
Has the entire company been in on this all along?
Is it possible to keep such a thing secret?
Would that many people take part in something so awful?
This will be followed by the closing ceremony four days later.
An instant buzz of conversation fills the room at Hideos words.
Asher leans back and frowns at the screen.
Well, its happening, he says to us all.
Weve got three days to get ready.
Hammie slurps up a mouthful of noodles.
An official rematch, she echoes, although theres no enthusiasm in her voice.
Never happened in the history of the championships.
Gonna be a lot of Phoenix Rider haters out there, Tremaine adds.
Already, a few shouts of Cheaters!
can be clearly heard from the other bars outside.
Nothing we havent faced before.
Isnt that right, Blackbourne?
Tremaines expression is blank.
A rematch isnt the big news.
If only those reporters knew what Hideo was really doing with the NeuroLink.
Im tired of the horror in the world,hed said to me.So I will force it to end.
Tremaines concentrating on something invisible in his view and tapping rapidly against the bar.
A few weeks ago, I wouldve bristled at being in the same room as him.
And we can use all the help we can get.
I dug up some solid numbers on how many people have the new lenses.
Tremaine sits back and huffs out a sigh.
I could cut the silence in here like a cake.
Ninety-eight percent of all users are now controlled by Hideos algorithm.
I think of the long lines, the police tape.
The sheer scale of it makes me dizzy.
And the other two percent?
Asher manages to ask.
Those folks are safe for now.
He peers around the bar.
A lot of people in the Dark World, I bet.
And the tiny number of people worldwide who dont use the NeuroLink at all.
Everybody else is locked in.
No one wants to add anything to that.
I dont say it out loud, but I know we cant stay on the beta lenses forever.
Thats happening in eight days.
Seven days of freedom left, Asher finally says, voicing what were all thinking.
If you want to rob a bank, nows your chance.
I glance at Tremaine.
Any luck digging up more info about the algorithm itself?
He shakes his head and pulls up a screen for all of us to see.
Its a maze of glowing letters.
I cant even find the faintest trace of it.
He stops to point at a block of code.
The main log-on sequence?
Something should be here.
Youre saying its impossible that theres an algorithm here, I reply.
Im saying its impossible, yes.
Its like watching a chair float in midair without any wires.
Its the same conclusion I came up with over the past few sleepless nights.
Id spent them searching every crevice of the NeuroLink.
However Hideo is implementing his algorithm, I cant find it.
The only way to access it might be through Hideo himself.
On the screen, Hideo is answering questions from the press now.
His face is serious, his stance easy, and his hair perfectly tousled.
As put together as ever.
How does he stay so calm?
Then, the dark silhouette watching me from the corner of the room.
The glass all around us shattering.
And what about you?
Tremaine says, snapping me out of my reverie.
Heard anything new from Zero?
Have you contacted Hideo?
I take a deep breath and shake my head.
I havent reached out to anyone.
Not yet, anyway.
Youre not still seriously thinking about Zeros offer, are you?
Asher has his head propped against one hand, and hes looking warily at me.
Its obviously a trap.
Hideo was a trap, too, Ash, Hammie says.
And none of us saw that coming.
Yeah, well, Hideo never tried to blow up our dorm, Asher mutters.
Hes not exactly a model citizen.
His help might come with more problems than its worth.
Tremaine rests his elbows against the counter.
Im still not used to seeing genuine concern on his face, but its comforting.
A reminder that Im not alone.
If you and I work together, Em, we can have a go at avoid Zeros help.
There have got to be hints about Sasuke Tanaka out there somewhere.
Sasuke Tanaka vanished without a trace, Roshan says.
His quiet voice is cool and cutting as he wraps a length of noodle around his chopsticks.
Tremaine glances at him.
There is always a trace, he replies.
Asher speaks up before things turn more awkward between Roshan and Tremaine.
What if you contact Hideo first?
Tell him you found out that his brothers alive.
You said he created all of thisWarcross, the algorithmbecause of his brother, right?
Wouldnt he do anything for him?
In my mind, I see Hideo look at me.
EverythingI do is because of him.
Even then, hed been planning his algorithm.
IfZero really is his brother, I reply.
Are you saying he isnt?
We all saw it.
Im saying I cant be sure.
I stir the noodles around my bowl, unable to work up an appetite.
Hammie tilts her head thoughtfully, and I can see the cogs of her chess mind working.
It could be someone who stole Sasukes identity.
It could be someone trying to throw people off his trail by using a dead boys name.
Ghosting, I murmur in agreement.
I know the term for it because Ive done it before.
Emi cant tell Hideo something this big if it might not even be true, Hammie continues.
It could make him do something unpredictable.
We need proof first.
Roshan suddenly gets up.
His chair scoots back with a grating clatter against the floor.
Hey, Hammie calls out.
He pauses to look back at us.
The rest of us halt in our conversation, words hanging unspoken in the air.
Ive never heard real anger in Roshans voice before, and the sound seems wrong.
He looks around at his teammates before letting his eyes settle on me.
You dont owe Hideo anything, he says softly.
You did what you were hired to do.
Emis the only one who Asher begins.
Like youve always looked out for what she needs, Roshan snaps back.
My eyebrow raises in surprise.
Roshan, Asher says, watching him carefully.
But Roshan tightens his lips.
Lookif Zeros team is still set on stopping Hideo, then lethimdo it.
Let the two of them go at each other.
Step back and remove yourself from this.
You dont have to do it.
And none of us should be convincing you of anything different.
Before I can respond, Roshan turns away and heads out into the night air.
The door slides shut behind him with a sharp bang.
Around me, the others let out an inaudible breath.
Hammie shakes her head when I look at her.
Its because hes here, she mutters, nodding to Tremaine.
He throws Roshan off.
Tremaine clears his throat uncomfortably.
Hes not wrong, he finally says.
About the danger, I mean.
I stare at the space where Roshan had been and picture his prayer beads sliding against his wrist.
My offer to you still stands.
Hammie sits back and crosses her arms.
Why are you going on with this?
Is the fate of the world not enough of a reason?
No, theres more to it than that.
Irritation rises in my chest.
This is all happening because of meI was directly involved.
Hammie doesnt back down from the edge in my words.
But you know its not your fault.
I hesitate, not wanting to say it.
In the corner of my view, I see Hideos profile haloed in green.
Hes awake and online.
Its enough to make me want to reach out and Link with him.
I hate that he still has this pull on me.
After all, everyone has had that one person they cant help but obsess over.
Its not like I havent enjoyed flings that came and went in the span of a few weeks.
Hes more than a fling or a bounty or a mark.
Hes forever bound to my history.
The same Hideo who loves his mother and father.
The same Hideo who once lifted me out of my darkness and dared me to dream of better things.
I refuse to believe that hes nothing more than a monster.
I cant watch him sink like this.
I keep going because I need to find that boy again, the beating heart buried underneath his lie.
I have to stop him so that save him.
He was once the hand that pulled me up.
Now I have to be his.
Some people still dot the streets.
You should head back with us, she says, eyeing the neighborhood.
Ill be fine, I reassure her.
Its Kabukicho, Em.
I give her a wry smile.
Hideos algorithm is running on most of these people now.
Whats there to be afraid of?
Very funny, Hammie responds with an exasperated lift of her eyebrow.
Look, we shouldnt all be traveling together.
You know that makes us too tempting a target, regardless of the algorithm.
Ill call you when Im in back in my hotel.
Hammie hears the note of finality in my voice.
Her lips twist in frustration, but then she nods and starts to walk away.
Whether they felt alone.
When my teammates disappear into the haze of rain, I turn away.
Im used to traveling by myself.
Still, my solitude feels sharper now, and the space around me seems emptier without my teammates.
Nope, I reply to him.
He vanishes immediately, then resets at the entrance of the club and looks for another potential customer.
I tuck the rest of my hair completely under my hood and keep going.
Just a week ago, I probably wouldve been walking with Hideo beside me.
His arm wrapped around my waist, his coat over my shoulders.
He mightve been laughing at something I said.
The echo of water dripping from signs and overhangs keeps distracting me.
It sounds like someone elses footsteps.
The feeling of being watched has returned.
A static buzz vibrates in my ears.
I pause for a moment at an intersection, tilting my head this way and that until it stops.
I glance again at Hideos green-haloed icon in my view.
Where is he now, and what is he doing?
I imagine contacting him, his virtual form appearing before me, as Ashers question rings in my ears.
What if Ididtell him about Zeros connection to his brother?
Would it be so bad to see what happens, even without being entirely sure?
I clench my teeth, annoyed with myself for thinking of excuses to hear his voice.
The static buzzes in my ear again.
This time I halt and listen carefully.
Green text floats past my view, the scan looking normal.
Until it skips over running a diagnostic on my messages.
I frown, but before I can examine it closer, all the text vanishes from my view.
Its replaced by a single sentence.
Im still waiting, Emika.
Every hair on the back of my neck rises.
