Escape Me by Tahereh Mafi

Here is a summary with spoilers for Escape Me by Tahereh Mafi

James is struggling with the aftermath of the ambush. He, Kenji, Nazeera, and Winston have been staying at Nazeera's house, exhausted and trying to understand how the attack happened. During the chaos, James's pager is hacked, and he begins receiving threatening messages from anonymous citizens. The messages are connected to the growing public attention surrounding his recent solo mission to Ark Island. Adam arrives with Alia and their children, bringing breakfast and briefly interrupting the tension. James enjoys being around the children, but his thoughts continually return to Rosabelle, whom he believes doesn’t want to see him at all.

James knows that Rosabelle made a deal with Warner after the warehouse attack. She agreed to provide Warner with information in exchange for keeping James away from her. James believes she is deliberately pushing him away because she intends to return to Ark Island and put herself in danger to protect her younger sister, Clara. He is also furious that everyone seems to be making decisions about Rosabelle without telling him anything. Nazeera tells him that Rosabelle is supposedly negotiating for Sebastian Rivers's release and intends to marry him. James refuses to believe that Rosabelle genuinely wants Sebastian, particularly after everything that happened between them.

Meanwhile, Rosabelle is being held at the New Republic rehabilitation facility, where Sebastian, her former fiancé and an officer from Ark Island, is also being kept. She knows that she needs to convince Sebastian and Klaus that she is still loyal to them. Her plan involves pretending to be a double agent, maintaining the appearance that she wants to return to Ark Island and marry Sebastian. She understands that Klaus can monitor people through their minds, meaning that anything she says could potentially be observed or examined. She therefore has to be extremely careful about what she reveals, using carefully constructed truths rather than outright lies. Her ultimate objective remains getting back to Ark Island so she can protect Clara and work toward destroying Klaus.

During one of her encounters with Sebastian, he questions her about James and why she called out his name during the warehouse ambush. Rosabelle maintains her composure and allows Sebastian to hurt her, knowing that resisting him could undermine the story she is trying to sell. Sebastian is physically abusive toward her, and she deliberately keeps the situation quiet rather than allowing the guards to intervene. Their history makes the encounter particularly difficult. Rosabelle remembers how she was punished as a child after stabbing Sebastian to protect Clara. She knows that Sebastian has always been dangerous, but she is willing to endure him if it means getting closer to her sister. She also has to convince him that she genuinely wants to return to him, despite her feelings for James.

James, meanwhile, is increasingly frustrated by his inability to get information about Rosabelle. He remembers finding her during the warehouse ambush, covered in blood and badly injured, with Sebastian revealed as the person who had attacked her. Warner had arrived shortly afterward and taken control of the situation, and Rosabelle had subsequently disappeared into recovery. James has not been allowed to see her since. He feels betrayed by her decision to cut him off, but he is equally convinced that something is wrong and that she is sacrificing herself for a larger plan.

James's frustration grows when he realizes that Rosabelle is not being given proper care. During a leadership meeting with Warner, Kenji, and Nazeera, he discovers that Rosabelle has been living in terrible conditions, with very few belongings and inadequate food or accommodations. He is particularly upset that nobody thought to tell him what was happening to her. He confronts Warner and Nazeera, demanding to know why she has been left in such a situation. Warner explains that Rosabelle specifically requested that James be kept away, and he is trying to respect that agreement. James does not accept this explanation and continues trying to find out where she is and whether she is safe.

During the same period, James helps Juliette repair a damaged wall in her bedroom. When Warner returns and notices a small cut above Juliette's eyebrow, he becomes immediately concerned. With Juliette nearing the end of her pregnancy, Warner asks the twin healers, Sonya and Sara, to move in so they can monitor her and respond quickly if anything goes wrong. James also shows Warner the threatening messages coming through his pager. Warner takes the situation seriously and sends the device to headquarters to be examined.

The leadership meeting also brings attention to Kenji and Nazeera's unresolved relationship. James, already frustrated with everyone dismissing his concerns, brings up their history and reveals that Kenji proposed to Nazeera five years earlier, only for her to run away. The confrontation forces them to acknowledge their feelings. Kenji leaves the house, and Nazeera follows him in tears. Although their reconciliation happens largely outside the main narrative, they eventually make up.

At the rehabilitation facility, Rosabelle's injuries become difficult to ignore. Her face is badly damaged from Sebastian's assault, and she is eventually noticed by Elias, who recognizes her and brings in Aya and Jing to examine her. The three are former Operation Synthesis scientists who now work at the facility. They treat her injuries and discover that her condition is more serious than initially apparent. Rosabelle is suspicious of them at first and mentally considers the objects around her that could be used as weapons. However, she gradually realizes that they are trying to help her.

During their examination, the scientists also discuss Leon's death. Rosabelle had believed that she was responsible, but they explain that Leon's body was remotely detonated through an internal kill switch activated by Klaus. This means she did not actually kill him herself. The revelation gives her more information about how much control Klaus has over the people connected to his system.

James continues trying to find out what has happened to Rosabelle. He goes into New Capital City to purchase clothing for her, despite not knowing whether he will ever get the opportunity to give it to her. While there, he is recognized by citizens after footage of his solo mission to Ark Island becomes public. People approach him with admiration, unwanted attention, and threats. His growing public profile makes it difficult for him to move around unnoticed. Despite his accomplishments, he continues to feel that the people closest to him underestimate him and refuse to let him make his own decisions.

Kenji eventually gives James a new assignment and promotes him to captain, placing him in charge of a team tasked with targeting an enemy arms depot. James wants to be involved in meaningful military operations rather than being kept on standby, but his attention remains fixed on Rosabelle. He trains with Liam and Kian, attempting to focus on his responsibilities, although conversations about Rosabelle's condition repeatedly pull him back into his concerns.

Rosabelle, meanwhile, continues trying to convince Warner that she needs to return to Sebastian. She explains that her engagement is part of a much larger plan and that she needs to get back to Ark Island to reach Clara. Warner does not trust Sebastian and is unwilling to send Rosabelle back into his custody, especially after seeing the extent of her injuries. He also knows that her plan involves an enormous personal sacrifice.

Eventually, Warner brings Rosabelle back to Nazeera's house. He confronts her about allowing Sebastian to hurt her and questions why she is willing to put herself through such treatment. Rosabelle insists that she has to maintain the appearance of loyalty if she wants to get close enough to Klaus. She is aware that Klaus can observe people through the synthetic network, so she cannot simply tell Warner everything without risking the information reaching the wrong people. Her plan depends on making Sebastian believe that she wants him and that she is willing to return to their previous relationship.

Warner eventually realizes that Rosabelle's decision to cut James out of her life is not because she no longer cares about him. Using his abilities, he discovers that she is in love with James. This changes his understanding of her behavior, although he remains angry about the danger she is putting herself in. He tells her that he knows about her feelings and makes it clear that he intends to keep James away from her. He believes that allowing them to be together will make it even harder for her to carry out her plan and will put James in danger.

James is not willing to accept being excluded indefinitely. He continues asking questions and eventually learns that Rosabelle has been seriously injured. He is furious that people have been withholding information from him, especially when he discovers the extent of Sebastian's violence. He also learns where Rosabelle is being kept and becomes determined to get to her, regardless of Warner's instructions.

Rosabelle finally gives Warner more information about what Klaus is preparing. She explains that the threat is much larger than a conventional military attack. Klaus is working toward a continent-wide operation involving undetectable explosions designed to eliminate preternatural abilities in affected people and alter their DNA. The plan would leave people vulnerable to having their minds edited and connected to an external intelligence. The goal is not simply to defeat the New Republic militarily but to change the population itself, removing its ability to resist Klaus. Rosabelle believes the operation is already underway and that time is running out.

Warner understands the seriousness of the information but still refuses to let Rosabelle return to Ark Island with Sebastian. He does not want her to undertake a mission that she believes will probably kill her. Rosabelle, however, remains determined to protect Clara, even if it means sacrificing herself.

James eventually arrives at Nazeera's house, demanding to be allowed inside so he can see Rosabelle. He confronts Warner about keeping him away and about the way Rosabelle has been treated. Before the argument can fully develop, a sudden, silent explosion strikes the campus. The electromagnetic shield surrounding the area absorbs much of the impact, but Nazeera's house does not have the additional protection that the other houses have. The windows shatter, and Rosabelle is thrown across the room. A piece of glass becomes lodged in her throat, leaving her critically injured.

James immediately goes to her. He pulls the glass from her throat and uses his healing ability to save her. However, he pushes his powers too far in the process, and Rosabelle falls into a deep, unconscious state. James is terrified that she is dead and refuses to leave her. Warner assesses the damage around the campus and discovers that the main electromagnetic shield prevented an even larger catastrophe. He also checks his own abilities and confirms that they are still functioning.

While James is holding Rosabelle, news arrives that Juliette has gone into labor. Her contractions have accelerated unexpectedly, and Sonya and Sara perform an emergency delivery in her bedroom. Warner rushes to be with his wife, only to discover that the baby has already been born. Juliette has delivered a daughter, whom they name Emmaline, after Juliette's late sister. Warner is overwhelmed to meet his newborn daughter and is relieved that both Juliette and the baby are safe.

Back with James, Rosabelle remains unconscious after he uses his healing abilities. He takes her to his house, where Kenji, Adam, Nazeera, and Castle are gathered. The group is relieved that she is alive, although James is still deeply worried about her condition. Nazeera and Kenji have also reconciled by this point, and the atmosphere briefly becomes more positive as everyone processes the new baby and the aftermath of the explosion.

Rosabelle eventually begins to regain consciousness. When she wakes, she immediately reaches for James and clutches his shirt, wanting him to stay close. James is relieved to have her awake and is reluctant to let her go. Warner arrives with Sonya and Sara, and he acknowledges that keeping James and Rosabelle separated was probably a mistake. The healers examine Rosabelle and help get her settled into James's bedroom so she can recover.

Later, Rosabelle wakes more fully in James's bed, wearing one of his shirts. James comes into the room, and the two finally have the opportunity to be together without the immediate interruption of the people trying to keep them apart. They kiss and share an intimate encounter. Their feelings for each other have been building throughout the story, despite Rosabelle's repeated attempts to push him away.

However, being with James also forces Rosabelle to confront the reason she has been avoiding him. James wants her to promise that she will not deliberately put herself in danger again. He cannot accept that she intends to return to Ark Island on a mission she believes she will not survive. Rosabelle struggles with the request because protecting James and Clara has become more important to her than protecting herself. She has spent so much of her life using emotional distance and self-sacrifice as protection that the idea of allowing herself to love James openly is frightening. She realizes that being with him would mean giving up some of the emotional defenses she has relied on for years.

Unable to handle the conversation, Rosabelle leaves the bedroom and runs into the hallway. James follows her, trying to understand what has happened and wanting her to stay with him. Warner is also approaching when Rosabelle suddenly experiences an extreme physical reaction. Her nervous system begins to malfunction, and electrical shocks surge through her body, particularly through her injured right arm. She experiences intense pain and describes feeling as though she is burning alive before collapsing.

James immediately rushes to her and carries her toward the underground medical facility. The situation becomes increasingly serious as her temperature rises to dangerous levels. The healers and medical staff work to keep her alive, but she remains in a critical condition for approximately twenty-four hours. James stays close to her throughout the ordeal, terrified that she will die after everything he has done to keep her alive.

Rosabelle eventually wakes up on a metal medical table in the underground laboratory. James is asleep in a chair beside her. She is disoriented and realizes that something has happened to her while she was unconscious. When James leaves to get Warner and the medical staff, she begins examining herself. She notices that her right arm has been bandaged, and when she removes the covering, she discovers that her old scar is gone. In its place is a fresh, diamond-shaped area of damaged skin with intricate veins that glow an electric blue, resembling circuitry.

She then notices something even more disturbing. When she closes her eyes, she sees messages appearing inside her mind. One reads, "INSTALLATION COMPLETE." Another welcomes her as an "Unfinished Profile." The messages behave like a computer interface, responding to her thoughts and presenting options for navigating the system. They did something to her while she was unconscious, and she begins to panic.