The Boarding Shcool Experiment

The Boarding School Experiment

Chapter One

I loved to climb. I loved revenge. Combining the two had landed me where I was now. The plan had started simply. Piper and I had ditched last period. We'd snuck down the senior ha lway until we'd reached Thane Tra lwyn's locker. Once there, Piper had given me a boost up. I'd shoved a tile aside and pu led through. 

Now, I was lying here, balanced on the tiles above my worst enemy's locker. 

I stretched through the hole, reaching for the weapon. Piper stared up at me with worried hazel eyes. I couldn't say how many times I'd seen her concerned look since elementary school -maybe 432. She appeared especia ly pale today, her freckles even more pronounced. I mustered a grin I didn't feel and tried to act as if this were simply another fun, exciting adventure. One I'd strategized instead of this half-assed plan. "It's going to be awesome." 

Piper scanned the empty ha lway, right then left. "Hurry." She rose on her tiptoes, holding out the perfume bottle. 

I grabbed the glass and shifted back, trying to lean on the connecting joints instead of the flaky inside squares. The new position gave me better balance, but put most of my weight on my waist. Blackness edged my vision, and my head spun. I needed to do this fast. I inhaled like a diver ready to kick to the bottom of the pool and menta ly justified my scheme. If I hadn't climbed into the ceiling, I wouldn't have been able to reach the vent leading into Thane's locker, and I had to punish him; he'd ruined my shirt this morning by dumping cranberry juice on it. 

Piper bounced in a nervous motion. "Hurry." 

I wiggled low enough to cup my palm underneath the narrow metal opening and poured. Refreshing oriental notes based with jasmine plumed out, erasing the sme l of dust. I hoped the perfume soaked everything inside and expanded to epic proportions. 

Piper stared down the ha lway, tapping her shoes against the polished concrete floor. "I'm worried about the standardized tests." 

We'd taken new tests a l week. This morning, we'd stared at an inkblot and jotted down what we saw. In fact, that amorphous blob had given me the idea for this sma l revenge. The black ink splotch resembled a vial of poison, but I thought writing that might get me detention. 

"Yeah, those were weird." I shook the vial, determined not to leave a drop behind. "I asked Ms. Herrington about them, but she didn't know anything. I answered 

palm tree for the inkblot." 

"I picked bassinet." Piper giggled. "I was sitting between Rhys, who wrote liquid explosive, and Thane, who answered crown." I raised my head to find out if Piper was kidding. 

"Rea ly," she said with a laugh. 

I didn't think any of those were correct, but Piper usua ly picked the right answers. For these tests, you wanted a high score. Exce ling would be like winning the lottery. We l, at least that's how they'd bi led it. The U.S. routinely sucked at math and science. So Congress got creative. The top scorers from a l over the nation would go to a special boarding school and help establish a national curriculum. 

"We' l be fine." While good at a number of subjects, we weren't Select Few material. "We're not going to get stuck in a government boarding school 24/7." The 

fragrance had already begun expanding into the ha lway, making my nose twitch. 

"A-choo." Piper sneezed, and said, with words somewhat blocked by a tissue, "I don't want to be sent away." 

Piper's smart, extremely smart. She should be worried. But not me, I worked for my good grades. I had to. I counted on them to get a scholarship. With Dad out of work, I needed one to pay for co lege next fa l. 

Piper's voice thinned. "Jacob said I wouldn't have to go, even if I got in, but..." 

She didn't have to finish the sentence. Her parents wanted her to attend an Ivy League school, the further from Jacob the better. Instead, Piper planned to pick a local university, marry Jacob, and raise a family of at least three kids, two beagles, and a tabby cat. 

Secretly, I agreed with her parents. Piper should dump Jacob and go Ivy. Piper thinks big families are a l fun, noise, and everything her only-child existence isn't. There are four kids in my family, so I don't have the same rosy vision of shared living space. We shop secondhand stores and buy generic. I can't blame her for not wanting to go to boarding school, though. Who'd want to leave their friends and family, even with a l those incentives? And not just inte lectual incentives-they were offering financial ones too. God knows my family could use the money. 

Piper eyed Thane's locker. "Anyone other than Thane, and I'd think you liked him." 

I laughed. "Nope." Of that, I was confident. I didn't like Thane Tra lwyn. Although I would admit to a sma l fascination with his mouth. The curved shape was rather beautiful. But as soon as he opened his lips and snide words came out, my interest died. I did not like Thane Tra lwyn. I wiped the spi led liquid over the cold metal of his locker to make the biggest impact possible. 

"Kidding. I know you don't. You couldn't." Piper said the words as if she was stating the obvious. Her mouth twisted and she frowned, seeming more worried than this sma l revenge and a morning of standardized testing warranted. 

"What's going on?" I asked. 

Piper looked down. "I'm pregnant." 

The blood rushed to my head and the bottle slipped, shattering on the ha l floor. Piper leapt back. Her arms hugged her body. "I think. Maybe." 

Face on fire, half from hanging upside down, half from the news, I felt dizzy and betrayed somehow. I hadn't even known she and Jacob were having sex, doing it 

way before me. I looked at her downcast head and spit out the first stupid thing that came to me. "Geez, and you let me step on your shoulder." 

"You couldn't reach." Piper's voice took on a strained tone. "I don't know what to do. I just found out, and I need to be here with Jacob. And now I might get sent to boarding school." 

"We l, you can't go then," I said, my voice flat. Hiding my face so she wouldn't read my expression, I wiggled back, thinking it would be easier to drop down feet 

first. I swung around and kicked for the edge. The dust bunnies attacked; I sniffed back a sneeze. My clothes were going to be covered in dirty puffs-my ruined

clothes. The tile under my right knee sagged, threatening to bust. I eased off, and tried to ro l to my side, but the roof bumped the back of my head, forcing me lower. 

In this position, the ha lway light barely reached me. My heart rate picked up and my hands got clammy. Stop. Don't think about the darkness . I swiveled back around. Better, I thought as my breathing eased. I'd rather drop head-first anyway. Piper could give me a hand. No. Piper was pregnant. Geez, Piper's pregnant. 

Piper gasped, and I peeped out. She had one arm over her chest and her palm covered her mouth. "Someone's coming." The flash of a navy letter jacket rounded the corner. 

Catching her wide hazel gaze, I said, "Run." 

I bit the side of my thumb and watched Piper tear down the ha l, flying past posters advertising fa l footba l. She rounded the corner and was clear. Heavy steps turned my attention the other direction. The intruder came into view. 

Thane. He was headed this way with a gym bag over his shoulder. 

I breathed slow and steady, ignoring the bouncing dust, while I thought about what to do. If I nudged the loose tile back in place and lay here quietly until Thane left, he'd never find me. That would leave me stuck up here for two minutes, tops. I could handle that. Decision made, I inched the square tile toward the hole. 

Light from the ha lway dimmed, darkening the crawl space. My breathing quickened, my head swam, and I shoved the tile clear again. No. I'm not staying here in 

the dark. 

I'd been trapped in the dark before, thanks to Tra lwyn Construction. They'd been in charge of the cave lighting where Dad and I had climbed two years ago. If the lights hadn't gone out, Dad's accident would never have happened. I shook the memory off. Grabbing the edge, I nosedived halfway through the hole, going from dust bunny heaven to high school he l. I sucked in a wonderful breath of we l-lit air. 

"What the-" The amusement in Thane's voice faded as he got close enough to get a whiff of his locker and identify me. 

By this time, I didn't know how to pu l back up, even if I was wi ling to return to the blackness. "My own little gargoyle. What kind of crap are you up to now?" 

"I'm planking." 

Thane snorted. Before I had time to lie further, a tap, tap, tap floated down the corridor toward us. The principal's cane made that sound. While the principal couldn't lega ly cane us, we suspected from the gleam in his eyes and the eager way he whacked the dark wood against his palm that he'd like to give it the old Singapore try. 

Tap, tap, tap. 

Other students flinched in fear when they heard the sound. Despite the ominous nature of the cane-wielder, I usua ly loved the warning. It gave me enough time to

run.

Thane muttered under his breath. His big hands closed around my dangling arm and he yanked. 

I stiffened at the unfamiliar touch and tried to pu l away mid-air, like a fish on a hook. My foot clung to the edge of the opening. Thane jerked harder, and I slid

free. A l my weight hit his body. His frame had no give, just hard muscles. My world shifted, and we fe l. 

I landed half on Thane and half on the concrete floor. Pain bit through my elbow where it connected with his ribs. He grunted; so did I. Neither of us wanted any part of our new togetherness. I tried to spring up. A sharp sting pierced the heel of my hand. Broken glass. I fe l back, off balance, and pried at the shard, only distantly noting Thane's second grunt as I balanced one forearm against him to get a good angle. The glass sliced into my fingertips but I didn't let go until I dug it free. 

Thane ro led, using his athletic reflexes, and had both of us up as the principal closed in. 

I threw my hands behind my back, pressing them together to stem the blood flow, the red sign of guilt. 

Thane angled slightly in front of me. His last name, Trallwyn, scrawled across the shoulders of his letter jacket, jumped out at me. My gut clenched at the hated name, inescapable in the ha ls of Tra lwyn High in the town of Tra lwyn. The white letters were newly marred by tiny shards of perfume bottle stuck in damp splotches. My sense of sme l had left mid-pour, but I bet the leather reeked. I let a sma l smile curve the corners of my mouth. Score. 

The principal rapped one tap in front of me and one in front of Thane. He assessed the broken glass then looked upwards. His whole body stiffened when he saw 

the hole above the lockers. His gaze stabbed my face, but he couldn't ignore the fact that two of us were standing here. "Any excuse for cutting?" "We were just planking on the way back to class," Thane said. 

"On top of each other?" The thud of the cane reverberated against the floor. "That's not planking. In my office. Now." 

I knew the route to that pit of despair and anxiety. So did Thane. We'd been there often enough over the last two years, together and separately. Not that Thane ever received the punishments I did, not the golden miracle, star athlete. I had to be twice as clever to escape disciplinary action. 

I kept pace with Thane, and my mind raced with excuses, trying to land on one to get me out of this with minimal damage. 

We both walked at a fast clip, staying we l ahead of the principal's cane, lest it make one of its accidental jabs at our Achi les' tendons. The cane had gotten me a few times, early in my career, before I knew better than to lag. When we reached the foyer, my steps quickened to beat Thane to the seat by the door. Thane had a good eight inches on me, so I had to use surprise tactics because I'd never win in a fair foot race. 

As if knowing my intent, Thane threw out an arm and sped up. He easily blocked my moves, crossed the threshold first, and took the primo spot. This left me to step over his long legs and settle for the weaker position, the corner seat wedged between the overloaded bookshelves and the end table. I sighed and slouched low, staring at the dark lamp. 

The principal's chair squeaked against his weight. His pointy elbows spread and his fingers pyramided to show his power. "There's not enough light in here." In response to the implied request, I reached over and clicked on the interrogation lamp, blinking against the brightness. The bulb buzzed and the glow blinded my 

left peripheral vision, while emitting enough heat to make the room uncomfortable. The principal always had his detainees turn on the lamp. I never let on how much I 

liked it. After your pupils adjusted, the light revealed everything around you. 

Nothing hid from you in the glow-case in point, the olive green filing carton sticking out from underneath the sma l end table. The black letters along the side read

National Curriculum Project, and its interior held alphabetized manila file folders. I bet they contained our tests and wished I could change my palm tree answer. I 

didn't want to be dropped down a grade for writing something stupid. 

"What is it this time?" The principal's condescending tones drew my attention back to him. "Hmm? Did Mr. Tra lwyn pu l your braid?" His narrow chin poked at the tips of his steepled fingers as he spoke. 

I bit my lip, refusing to respond. Answering trapped you deeper. Besides, how could I explain that Thane had jostled my breakfast tray, spi ling cranberry juice 

cocktail a l over my new white shirt? 

Thane would say bumping me was an accident and they'd believe him. They always did. I brushed at the dust on the hem of my shirt. A white ceiling crumb knocked loose. My efforts didn't make the material any neater, not overa l. How could they, with the big red splotch marring the front? I spared a glance at Thane's pristine blue button-down. He'd just gotten out of gym and sat there looking like a model for a ma l clothing store. I bet he had a hundred new crisp shirts. 

I owned one new shirt. One I'd saved for a l summer. One to wear this first week of school so I could pretend I got new school clothes like everyone else. I'd 

spent my summer savings on a bottle of perfume, a concert ticket, and this shirt. The rest of my salary had gone to my family. Thane ruined one-third of my purchases in one jostle-on purpose. He hadn't even apologized. He'd wrinkled his nose and said, "Nice perfume," then walked away, laughing with his friends. 

Nice perfume. 

"Ms. Carlisle, are you paying attention?" 

"Yes, sir." I shifted back to the principal and sucked in a breath. Now that I'd left the ha l, my sense of sme l was returning. Underneath the wa l of perfume coating my hands and Thane's jacket, the stench of hopeless stale air lay around us, the sme l that defined the principal's office. 

The principal's palms dropped flat to the table and he leaned forward. "This little war of yours ends now. You're seniors. Time to grow up. Whatever petty slight 

Mr. Tra lwyn caused you a l those years ago... We l, I'm sure he's sorry, so get over your snit." 

Petty slight? He knew the damage the Tra lwyns had caused my family. Two years ago, I'd had new clothes. Two years ago, my father had a job. Two years ago, my father wasn't in a wheelchair. 

"What was it? Did Mr. Tra lwyn stand you up? Not invite you to his birthday party?" 

I stared straight ahead, to the left of the principal's chicken-pock scar, and ignored his prying questions. Everyone in town knew about the cave-climbing accident and my father's refusal to take the settlement offered by Tra lwyn Construction. Everyone knew, including the principal, but he enjoyed playing his own game of Torture the Student. According to Ho lywood, principals existed who rid their schools of gangs and cared deeply. We got stuck with the other kind. Ones who liked power over kids. If our town had a gang, he'd invite them in just to torture their members. 

The principal rose. He made a show of going to the filing cabinet against the wa l. That was a routine move. He was pu ling our records. I didn't give him the 

satisfaction of watching. I stared at the floor, noting the thinning canvas at the top of my sneakers, hoping they'd hold up until Christmas. I took a quick glance at Thane to see if he'd noticed their shabby shape. He was focused on the window. I curled my foot behind the carton, nudging the corner up a few inches, and tucked my foot out of sight. 

The principal balanced one large chart in his hand and read aloud, "Good grades-humph. Athletic-okay. Behavior-questionable." He dropped the file back in and slid the drawer shut with his shoulder. The locking mechanism gave a meta lic click. "Mr. Tra lwyn, what do you have to say?" 

Shutting the filing cabinet had been a giveaway. If the principal had planned to write us up, the folders would be flat on his desk under the weight of his palms. I 

relaxed deeper into the seat. 

Thane shrugged. "We slipped in some glass while planking. But I don't intend to sue the school. And you know Elena won't." The last part was a dig at Dad. I inhaled consciously, slow and steady. Don't lose your temper. 

A knock sounded from the other side of the door. The janitor stood in the threshold, looking confused. "It's time to clean your office." He carried a dirty dust rag in his hands and glanced at the white wa l clock's round face. The big hand ticked an audible click. 

The principal glared at us until he reached the janitor, then he focused on him. "There's some glass that needs to be removed before everyone leaves for the day. 

Te l the office to hold the dismissal be l until you clean it up." 

While the principal went into the ha l to harangue the poor man into doing the work, Thane sprang from his chair and moved to the narrow window to stare outside. He was probably worried the sun would set before he could get home and use his pool. I was sure he'd hate for his tan to fade. I stared at my toe again, my stomach sinking. The threads were definitely fraying. A hole would burst through any day now. I'd have to sew a patch on top and draw on it like I was artistic instead of poor. I nudged the box again. The tab labeled with the letter Z was thin. Only one poor kid had a name that started with a Z. 

Rhys Zukowski. 

Rhys was smart enough, but there was no way he'd get selected for an elite boarding school. Teachers liked to hear the expected answers. They wanted students who colored within the lines. Rhys's answers were too creative. Plus, his disciplinary file was ten times thicker than his academic one. If a bubble on that scantron represented behavior, he'd never be chosen. Knowing these things, the teachers probably wouldn't even process his test scores. They'd take a smoke break when they finished the letter Y. 

My heart rate picked up. I stared at Thane's back and moved before thinking. I grabbed Rhys's slip. 

The top read, Amalgam Curriculum Scores, Rhys Zukowski, and five bubbles had been fi led in. I swiped a pencil off the Principal's desk. With two speedy strokes, I erased Rhys Zukowski and wrote Thane Trallwyn. I shoved the form into the front of the T tab and spared a brief glance at Thane. He hadn't moved, and sti l had his back to the room. I flipped through the pages. There were at least twenty T-kids. I found Thane's slip. Swa lowing, I reversed the process and shoved the revision behind the Z-tab. 

I tapped the eraser against my thigh. A smile of satisfaction widened my mouth, but I quickly hid it. Give nothing away. I glanced again at the T-tab. Piper Thames. 

I snagged Piper's slip, no longer attempting to be sneaky, just trying to be fast, and switched hers with mine.

Tap, tap, tap.

Chapter Two

My fingers tightened on the yellow pencil, and I crouched forward to replace it, but Thane turned, leaving me no time to hide the evidence. I shoved it into my front pocket and sank back, schooling my features into innocent boredom. 

Tap, tap, tap. 

The Principal crossed the threshold just as the dismissal bell rang. 2:30 p.m. Decision time. His nostrils jumped, and he snorted. "Go home." His tone held all the disgust of an end of the day administrator. 

We were free because he had nothing to hold us on. I'd seen kids argue when they had this type of moral high ground; I wasn't that stupid. I jumped up. Moving 

quickly, I tried to beat Thane out the door, but he'd leapt up too. He didn't care about being right either. As I bee-lined for the school's exit, he paced me step for step. 

Five feet outside, a thick drop of rain landed on my face. Additional droplets dampened the concrete ahead of our feet. The afternoon air hung heavy with the threat of an imminent downpour, but breathing in cleared the last of the stale air conditioning from my lungs. Freedom. 

Thane slipped his jacket off, bowing to the heat and humidity common to towns off the Gulf of Mexico. Behind us, end of the day sounds accompanied the other 

exiting students: friends chattering, keys clinking, feet rushing, bags zipping. 

I ignored them and stepped from the curb onto the asphalt. A puddle had formed ahead of me, the rain raising the oil to the surface so a rainbow shimmered on top, an oily swirl of colors. In a more chivalrous time, Thane would have thrown his garment over the puddle so my dainty size nines wouldn't have gotten wet. 

He kept walking. "You owe me one," he said. 

I'd rather have detention all week than owe Thane. Careful not to get the oil on my shoes, I looked back toward the principal's office and thought about confessing, blowing Thane's lie, but I couldn't do the time, because I was starting a new job next week. Consistent minimum wage paid better than babysitting and dog walking. "Sure," I said to his back. "I'll save you a slow dance at homecoming." 

Thane stiffened and this time my smile was genuine. He'd never want to dance with me, any more than I'd want to with him. His girlfriend, Portia, wouldn't care. She was popular, confident, and sure of their relationship-the other half of the tall blond couple who wore new clothes with perfect glossy smiles. I was lucky I'd had my braces put in before Dad's accident or I'd be crooked-teethed, brunette, and resentful. Now, I was straight-teethed, brunette, and pissed. 

Thane glanced over his shoulder. His patch-covered letter jacket arced through the air. "Have this cleaned." 

Instinctively, I caught it and my forearm registered stings as the tiny shards of glass jabbed into my skin. Ouch. I lifted the jacket away by the collar, holding it at arm's length as if the fabric was radioactive. Thin scratches marred the inside of my arm, like long paper cuts, angry red with blood. This had not been the most injury- free revenge, especially for one that had started with a vial of perfume. 

Thane backtracked and grabbed for my wrist. His big fingers circled it like a handcuff as he frowned at the marks. "What's this?" 

I jerked free and shook the material in an attempt to dislodge any other shards. "It's fine." 

Thane reached for the sleeve, frowning, searching for the cause of the injury, but I stepped aside and held the prize behind my back. I could have thrown it back at him. After all, he'd ruined my clothes first, but I had plans for this patch-covered ego fest. "Oh, no. You wanted me to take care of this for you." I smiled my best wicked grin. "I will." 

I would, and he'd regret it. I turned away and ran toward the line of buses. Rain plopped on my skin, the cold drops synchronized to my steps. Using the jacket as 

an umbrella, I hoped the imminent downpour would hold off a bit longer because the bus driver wouldn't open the door until 2:38 exactly, no matter how hard the rain fell.

***

In our old house, we each had our own rooms. Here, in the rented single-wide, that wasn't an option. My younger sister Callie and I shared a bedroom with a lone narrow window. Our two little brothers, Mark and Caleb, had a smaller windowless room. The boys were too young to mind sleeping in a room with wood-paneled walls. Callie and I remembered better digs. 

Sometimes I slept with the light on. To limit the glow to my half of the bedroom, I kept a scarf draped along the back of the shade. My sister preferred the room 

darker, but she never complained about my bad habits. Neither of us wanted to add to Mom's worries by fighting over something so minor. 

Moonlight shone through the thin yellow curtain, brightening our space. For a second I considered turning the lamp off, but then the clouds shifted, darkening the room again. I'd turn off the lamp during the next full moon. A full moon would probably light our little room enough. 

I shifted, re-squashing my pillow, breathing in the familiar fabric softener. At least our laundry hadn't changed. I preferred my pillowcase's rain-fresh fragrance to the candy-scented perfume smothering Callie's half of the room. 

The moon shifted again, illuminating the corner where I'd dumped Thane's letter jacket. I had no idea what to do with the prize. The jacket jumped, the mattress shook, and the walls seemed to waver. Thump. My lamp toppled to the ground, blinking out. Callie sat straight up in bed and screamed. 

I scrambled over to her. Her lax face and messy brunette hair said she'd been startled out of a deep sleep, not injured. "Calm down." Her hands clutched each side of her mattress and she straightened even more. "What's happening?" 

I left her and ran to the window, pushing aside the thin curtain. A plume of smoke hovered over the grey trailer on the end-Rhys Zukowski's trailer. My shoulders eased. "It's just the Zukowskis." Rhys liked to blow things up. When we graduated, he'd either be a brilliant scientist or a demolitions expert. At least the smoke wasn't from the meth lab again. Well, I hoped Rhys wasn't running a meth lab. 

Shorter by several inches, but still tall enough to peer out, Callie squeezed in beside me. The smell of burning plastic reached us now, and flakes of ash rained from 

the sky like burnt snow. The only kind we'd ever see in southeast Texas.

Click. 

Mom opened our door. "You girls okay?" "Yeah." 

Mom moved between us, looking out, as Rhys strode from trailer, his head held high. She shook her head. "That boy." 

Rhys's mom followed, screaming at him, wearing curlers and a bathrobe. His stepdad came out last, shouting at both of them. Living in the trailer park wasn't without its perks. 

Mom's hand pressed into my shoulder, nudging me away from the window. "Back to bed." "We should go find out what happened." 

"Not tonight. Ask Rhys at school tomorrow."

***

The next morning, I put on a concert T-shirt from last year. The fabric clung too tightly, but no tighter than most girls wore theirs. Whatever, I had to move or be late for the bus. Piper lived on the other side of town, so I rode the bus with Callie and her fellow loser-freshman. After an hour on the yellow dog, we were dropped in the back parking lot just in time to run for class. My poor sister had four more years of this. I was counting the days. 

When I got inside, Piper stood at my locker, twisting her hands. Her grey-tinged complexion made her blend into the grey lockers, like a nauseated chameleon. "I 

hate that you don't have a cell phone anymore." 

Me too. I shrugged. 

"Someone said the trailer park exploded! What happened?" "Rhys, plume of smoke, that's all I know. Is he here?" "Haven't seen him." 

We headed toward English class, and I described last night's events. As we crossed the cafeteria, our simmering lunch wafted through the air. The lunch ladies 

started the meals about this time every day. I sniffed in the mystery, but couldn't place the ingredients: beef or mushroom? Piper's complexion went from grey to a sickly chartreuse and we picked up the pace. 

Her pregnancy hadn't seemed real until her face turned that shade of green. I'd seen that color a lot around the trailer park: on hungover people, sick people, pregnant people. I lowered my voice. "You okay? What are you going to do?" We cleared the cafeteria and Piper pinked up as if she was breathing easier. 

A slow, blissful smile showed off her braces. "I don't know. I thought I'd tell Jacob with a T-shirt. Like a Happy Father's Day one. But that's not 'til June, so it 

seems silly since the baby would be here. Help me think of something cute, maybe some type of Christmas saying. Baby's First Christmas." She'd lost her mind. "Cute?" 

"I mean this only happens once. First baby and all." She rubbed her hand over her stomach. 

Piper's obliviousness frustrated me and endeared her to me all at the same time. My small prank had caused her great concern but the huge problem of her pregnancy seemed to be escaping her. I hadn't lacked a grasp of reality even before Dad's accident. We'd always had schedules, bills, and budgets. Perhaps her view had merit. Maybe life would just all work out. Ha. 

We shuffled into English class, but before we reached our desks, our teacher, Ms. Herrington, clapped her hands. "Special assembly today. Everyone down to the auditorium." 

Piper said, "What?" 

Ms. Herrington clicked her nails together, a nervous habit that warned us something ominous was coming our way. "It's the government boarding school test results." 

I swallowed and felt myself turn Piper's sickly shade of green. Piper said, "We just took the last test yesterday." 

"We teachers came in early and scanned the slips." 

The news jolted through the sleep-deprived students like a double espresso. Their excited voices raised, and Piper squeezed my arm. 

Crap. Guilt bit at me. Not for what I did to Thane-he deserved it-but for switching Piper's test with mine. I'd wanted to clear the situation with her before they announced the scores. 

Piper grabbed my upper arm with tight fingers. "I have to find Jacob." A note of panic laced her high voice. 

I cupped my hand over my mouth and whispered urgently, "I changed our tests." "Jacob's got gym. They'll be the first ones in. We need to hurry." 

"Did you hear me? I switched my test with yours. You won't be picked now. There's no way." 

Piper stopped. Tears shone in her eyes. Her frown died, and a spark of her it'll all work out confidence returned. I hadn't realized exactly how much her worried expression bothered me. Piper was a rock in my world. A solid, life is good, fairy dust fills the air, and all will turn out well rock. 

"Thank you," Piper said, on a breath, looking at me as if I was Mother Theresa going swimming with the lepers. "Keep moving, girls, please" Ms. Herrington said. 

We hurried down to the auditorium and shoved into one of the back rows with the rest of our class. 

The principal didn't delay the news. He stood behind the lectern and rapped his cane against the wood panel. "I'm here to announce the results of your government testing. We all know that going to an elite boarding school is a wonderful opportunity." His voice had a monotone sound, as if he was reading straight from a script.

"Anywhere from one to four kids will be named from each of our top schools." 

He paused to tilt his head at the Trallwyn High sign. "Two students have been picked from Trallwyn. But despite the rumors, the chosen few will not be the smartest or the most athletic. The students were selected at random." 

Random? Voices rose, but I just sat there. I'd switched our tests for nothing. I mouthed "sorry" to Piper. 

She smiled her serene smile, leaned into me, and whispered, "I'm not worried. There are four hundred kids in our class. If they're not using class rank, what are the odds? 398-2. We're safe." 

Thump, thump. The principal rapped his cane on his palm. "If your name is called, please come up to the podium and join the program coordinators." 

I wiggled. A spring under the rough maroon fabric poked at the back of my knee. I shifted left. Piper curled her feet into her chair and leaned on the armrest. 

"Settle down, people." The principal shuffled the papers, and anticipation filled the auditorium. The room held the type of palpable energy that consumed a stadium seconds before a rock band kicked off their opening number. 

I inhaled a slow breath. Piper grabbed my elbow, her tension returning in the reality of the moment. Her grip limited the blood flow in my arm. "Relax, Piper, we're good. They're going to pick some random kid." 

"Thane Trallwyn." 

Thane! Random selection, my ass. Thane stood, but didn't pretend to look surprised. He moved into the aisle, all athletic stride and confidence. His girlfriend broke into tears, but everyone else clapped. 

They'd just called one of the most athletic, smartest kids in our class. Piper's hand tightened as if we'd reached the top of the first hill on a rollercoaster. She'd realized the selections were targeted. 

Had they picked Thane without looking at the exams? Or, had they looked at them and chosen Rhys? Would Rhys want this opportunity? I searched for him in the crowd. 

"Only one more," Piper whispered. Her voice held hope. 

I tried to form the words to tell her I had to confess the switch to the administrators and screw everything up, but I hesitated. Thane seemed so confident, standing up there with his shoulders back and his hands in his pockets. Maybe the tests were irrelevant. Maybe his parents had bought him a spot and the principal already knew the names of the rich, popular kids who were going. This announcement was just for show. 

If Thane's girlfriend got called next, I'd know the selection process was rigged, or if he called- "Elena Carlisle." 

Me. 

Crap. 

Piper sucked in a breath, and she wasn't the only one to react. The student in front of me turned to stare with slack-jawed bewilderment. I squirmed and sank lower. I had no time to find Rhys, no time to run. 

Piper shoved a hand into my shoulder. "Go." 

My face hot, muscles tense, I rose from the seat. If I told the principal I'd switched Thane's results, he'd suspect I switched mine. He'd figure everything out and send Piper away. I stood and stared at Piper. My feet refused to move. 

Piper bounced into the aisle and hugged me. "Go, take it," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Thank you. Thank you so much." 

Rhys's opportunity or Piper's happiness? No contest. 

I swallowed, and walked toward the lectern. Weak claps accompanied disappointed murmurs. Everyone liked me well enough, but if I had a shot, they had a shot, and I'd just taken the last spot. 

Thane didn't look at me. He followed the Principal, and I followed him, for once not trying to overtake anyone. A government coordinator brought up the rear. She 

wore a navy suit and had pinned her hair into a tight bun. Not a single strand escaped. We stopped at the door to the teachers' conference room. 

Our parents sat inside, Thane's and mine. His dad wore a business suit and his mom a conservative dress. Both seemed polished, proud, and strained. Their focus stayed on Thane, their postures tilted away from my parents. 

My parents wore their own Sunday best. Mom's hands twisted together and tears fell into her smile. Each track represented relief from a thousand worries. My gut churned as guilt threatened to swamp me. I had to confess. I had to erase Mom's happiness. 

Dad grinned too. His big hands swiveled the wheelchair so he faced me. "Knew you could do it, kiddo." 

I had to destroy his pride. I swallowed against a tight throat and hugged him, clinging, and Mom hugged us both. Her powdery perfume coupled with Dad's woodsy cologne. I took comfort from the familiar while delaying the moment of truth. 

"I'm Coordinator Steele. I'm here to tell you how very fortunate you are." The government coordinator laid packets on the table in front of my parents. "You are expected to read the details at home." She placed a red sheet of paper on top of the pile. "Most important for now is the summary information. This top figure is what you'll receive each month while your child stays in the program. In addition, a percentage will be placed into a scholarship for your child. After graduation, that sum will go to the U.S. college of his or her choice." 

The paper crumpled under Mom's grip. 

"Next is your child's email address so you may stay in contact every day. Underneath is his or her camp assignment." 

Alaska. 

Oh. The only thing I knew about Alaska was that I'd gotten its location wrong on a geography test. I'd thought Alaska was an island, because on every map I'd ever seen, it was stuck off to the left, floating in space. Who knew we just liked to ignore Canada?

"We strove for variety and hope you'll be excited about which campus your child has been assigned to." "Alaska," Thane's mom said in a thin voice. "Isn't there a school opening in Texas?" 

Thane got Alaska too. My head jerked back. 

"There are approximately 400 students at each school in this first round. Selection and placement are final and random." Random? My ass. They picked the smart kids. 

Thane's mom said, "Well, I don't know about all that." 

Thane didn't say anything, but his dad cleared his throat and inclined toward his mom. "Honey, we agreed he could go if he was chosen." "And what's this informed consent about vitamins? He has to take a daily vitamin regimen?" 

"All students do. It's not an easy trek from the school to the nearest doctor, so we want everyone healthy. But don't worry, there's an outstanding clinic on site and they'll receive regular health checks." 

"Alaska's just so far." 

Thane's dad said, "There are daily flights from Houston to Anchorage. People in big oil commute there regularly." 

"Yes, daily flights," Coordinator Steele said with a stiffened mouth. "The government will pay for two flights per year." She said it in a dampening tone, as if we'd asked for routine weekend trips home. 

"Flights leave Saturday, so your children are excused from the rest of classes today. Nor will they be expected to attend class tomorrow." 

It felt like the ground moved under my feet. Today was Thursday. Things were moving so fast. I pressed a hand to my stomach. 

"Everyone has known about this opportunity for months." The coordinator chuckled. "We hear some families packed in expectation of getting into our immersion program." 

My face burned. Packing in anticipation of my getting in would never have occurred to us. Did we even own suitcases anymore? Thane's mom tilted her chin. "Well, we have purchased a few things." 

One jab at her pride, and she was back with the program. 

"The students will return for visits and can contact you without restriction from the campus." 

Mom and Dad never thought I'd get selected. When they found out I'd switched the tests, their honored, relieved expressions would shrivel. If they brought Piper in and tried to ship her away, Piper would freak. 

The coordinator held open the door. "Go on now and clear out your locker. Say goodbye to Trallwyn High School."

Chapter Three

I knocked on the painted metal door of the Zukowski's trailer. When no one answered, I went around back. The burnt plastic smel lingered in the air, strongest by the rear window, which was patched with duct tape and cardboard. It didn't take a genius to figure out this was Rhys's room. 

Get ready for a visitor, Rhys . I gripped the rough hol ows of a concrete block, turned it on its side, and leaned my weight into it so the other end settled into the 

dirt. When the block was stable enough, I climbed up and knocked. No response. I pressed against the cardboard. The corner bent, freeing a wave of acrid air straight to the back of my throat. I gagged and peered in. The same paneling that lined my brothers' room lined Rhys's wal s. A charred chemistry set sat on the corner of a desk laden with books. An unmade bed wedged into the corner. Rhys wasn't in. Not a surprise, since no one would survive the smel for more than a few minutes. 

Feeling a relief I shouldn't, I released the flap and stepped down. My foot landed beside a cracked flowerpot. Ours wasn't one of those trailer parks with pride or standards. I moved past the broken pottery and into the center row between the trailers. Mom had tried flowerpots too, but each one had disappeared after a day or two. Later, I'd seen them squatting on other people's porches, growing suspiciously leafy greenery. 

I turned at the sound of a smooth-running engine purring onto our dirt road. If a ride didn't have screeching breaks, a whining belt, or an odd knock, it didn't 

belong to anyone here. Someone had a guest. Once the car parked in the ruts in front of our trailer, I recognized Piper, here to pick me up for my bon voyage party. 

The party, thrown by one of Thane's footbal buddies, was real y for him, but everyone expected me to be there too. The host promised an epic send-off. I'd talk to Rhys there.

***

The suburban house was packed ful of seniors. I tightened my grip on the red plastic cup and scanned the crowded living room. Rhys wasn't here. I eased toward the door, trying to stay in the background and out of range of both wel -wishers and criers, using Piper as a shield. I'd happily relinquish my share of their dramatic goodbyes to Thane. The sentiment probably fed his big ego, but it just made me feel bad. This lie was going to blow up, big, with Piper as col ateral damage. 

Piper squeezed my arm. "Thanks." 

She'd been thanking me since she picked me up, and her gratitude caused my stomach to churn because once I confessed to Rhys, Piper might be taking my place. I forced a smile and took a sip of the bitter beer. Swal owing hard against a dry throat, I said, "Have you seen Rhys?" My voice sounded hoarse. 

"No, I heard he's out with Veronica." "I thought he was dating Brooke." 

"Nah, she was just pissed her parents wouldn't buy her a Land Rover. But they caved when she started hooking up with him. Rhys promised to be more trouble 

than a monthly car payment." Piper leaned closer and lowered her voice. "I also heard Thane caught Rhys with Portia. So, I doubt he'd show up at Thane's going away party. Portia either." 

I shouldn't have felt relief again, but I did. My shoulders eased at the reprieve. I swal owed another gulp. I'd talk to Rhys later tonight when I got home. "Look at your smile, I knew you'd like that," Piper said. 

I let her misinterpret my expression. The fact that Portia had cheated on Thane wasn't the worst news I'd heard al week, even if it wasn't the true reason for my lift 

in spirits. 

"You're going to have epic stories to tel when you come back for your birthday." A smal frown flitted over Piper's pale face and her hazel eyes lifted. "You'l be back your birthday weekend, right?" 

I nodded. "No matter what." I turned eighteen on Hal oween night, and my favorite band was playing at the pavilion. That concert ticket alone would be worth every crap job I worked last summer. 

"Okay, good." Piper dug in her purse and removed a smal lip gloss and a compact. After she finished, she held the mirror up and passed me the tube. I layered on 

a coat of the sparkle-red. 

Piper winked. "Now I'm ready to find Jacob. Catch you in a few." 

As soon as she left, I veered right and headed down the corridor, away from the influx of guests. If the school administrators would believe I switched my test for Rhys's and put him in my spot, I'd speak up-even if doing so meant everyone thought I was a cheat and hated me. But I couldn't guarantee that the outcome wouldn't be a ful audit or retest and I wasn't risking Piper's future without even talking to Rhys first. 

Maybe I should wait until Alaska to confess. Surely, they'd change me out with Rhys without an investigation if we were that far away. I put the cup to my lips but tasted only fumes. Only a few drops of the bitter beer remained at the bottom of the white wel . Weird, I'd never finished a whole beer before. I usual y carried the cup to keep people off my back. 

Laughter ahead drew me into a game room. A smal group sat on the hardwood floor, in front of the big screen, playing Spin-the-Bottle. Thane was with them. He wore jeans and a pale blue T-shirt. No doubt someone had told him the color matched his eyes. What an ego. The bottle's neck swiveled and landed on him. I expected him to jump up, bow, or rate his own kiss, but he said nothing. His perfect mouth tightened, ruining its curve and the girl beside him snickered. Her laughter had a mean edge. I fol owed her gaze and realized why. Thane's ex, Portia, was here tonight and she was the spinner. I laughed too. Thane had to kiss his cheating ex- girlfriend. Good one. 

Portia snatched the bottle. "Oh, I don't think so. Spinner's choice." Her gaze jumped over the girls in the circle and peered through the crowd. Her eyes narrowed and she pointed the cap. "You." 

Me? 

The laughter increased in volume and meanness. One guy said, "Yeah. Let's show them what isolation in Alaska looks like." He jumped up and snagged my elbow.

Two footbal players grabbed Thane and a third opened a closet door. They shoved him in. "Seven Minutes in Heaven." 

I wrenched my arm to pul free, and my skin burned with the effort. "Don't." The behemoth must have benched more than my body weight daily because my struggles weren't affecting him at al . He dragged me across the hardwood. Swinging my free arm, I went for a right hook. 

"Oh no," one of the other barbarians said, laughing. He grabbed my waist and they pushed me into the closet with Thane. 

I landed against a wool coat, and the musty smel was a welcome reprieve when compared to the cologne worn by the behemoths. I pitied their dates. More laughter sounded from the other side of the door. I turned, banged on the wooden surface, and jiggled the handle. It refused to open. 

Furniture scraped against the floor. The scraping stopped with a thump. They'd barricaded us in with something heavy. My breath came in pants and I stared at the doorknob, trying to think of a way free. 

Thane sank to a seated position. "What? No kiss?" He didn't sound pissed at al . 

"Great friends you got there." Narrow light shone under the bottom of the door. I dropped to my hands and knees, keeping my gaze on the gap, and touched the light with one finger. "Nice girlfriend." 

Thane didn't respond to my observation. He shifted, making himself comfortable in our two-by-four space. "They're going to pay." 

It was the first time we'd ever ful y agreed. "Yeah. They are." 

He kicked out a foot, nudging my wrist. "This must be a dream come true for you." 

And, we were back to disagreeing. I sank onto my butt and swiped at the winter coats hanging overhead, shoving the hems out of my way. When it was clear, I 

pushed Thane's knees with mine, trying to steal some room. He stretched out his long legs, taking up more of my space. 

Laughter, chatter, and loud music filtered steadily through the wal . I breathed in and out. One Mississippi, two Mississippi. 

Thump, thump, thump. The noise sounded like the side of a fist high against the door. "We don't hear any kissing." The behemoth fol owed his remark with the smacking sound of fake kissing. 

They'd pay. I dropped my forehead to my knees, knowing I didn't real y have time to make them regret this. I might be leaving in the morning, depending on Rhys. 

My heart thumped harder. I hadn't even packed. My wardrobe of T-shirts, shorts and jeans wouldn't be warm enough in Alaska. I could layer, I guessed. My old coat didn't fit anymore. 

The music shut off, creating a sudden void. The silence gave clarity to the voices in the room, the inane chatter. A panicked voice said, "Cops." 

My eyes widened, and my heart rate increased. From the other side of the door, plastic cups thumped against the hardwood and shoes scurried. Thane's 

expression was unreadable in the dark and I dropped my gaze back to the light under the door. I imagined the embarrassing headlines: Selectees lose their positions in 

National Immersion Program due to underage drinking. Further investigation reveals cheating scandal. Trallwyn teens head straight to Juvie. 

"IDs, everyone," an authoritative voice said. "Take them outside. Your parents wil pick you up or you can ride back to the station with us." 

Partygoers spewed out feeble protests. The idiots shouldn't have been so slow to run. The slowest always got caught. I'd have escaped, if I hadn't been locked in here. 

Abrupt silence fil ed the room, and the light clicked off. My heart pounded hard like I had made a run for it. I grabbed for the doorknob, pul ing myself up. "Hey," I 

said, and banged on the door. 

Thane sprang up beside me, his big body taking up the space, and his hands closed over my fists, stil ing them. "Stop it. Shut up." Thane whispered something else, but I couldn't distinguish the words. My focus was stuck on the horrible darkness. His face lowered to mine. "Shh." 

I twisted free, threw my arms around his neck, closed my eyes, and kissed him. Looking for escape, I used his warm, smooth mouth as a distraction. I didn't 

expect the jolt of electricity that shocked through me when our lips touched. 

Thane's head jerked back. "Holy shit." 

If he didn't talk, I could pretend he wasn't Thane, and I wasn't here in the dark. I had to shut down more brain cel s before I became a screaming lunatic. I leaned into him. "Don't talk." 

My mouth met his, and his hands dropped to my waist, lowering us back to the floor. He tugged me onto his lap. The hardwood pressed into my knees and I sank against him, relishing the solid feel of his body beneath me. Keeping my eyes tightly closed, I concentrated on the sensations. Everywhere he touched me tingled. 

His hand slid from my waist to my chest. Blood rushed through my veins, threatening to real y pul me under, but I didn't let it. After a smal delay, I moved his hand 

back to my waist, setting the boundaries. He slipped his thumb under the hem of my shirt and rubbed my skin. The sensation arced through me like Texas lightening, the glowing heat that lit up the clouds during a thunderstorm but never reached the ground. I gasped against his lips and tightened my grip on his shoulders. What was this? 

Thane threaded his fingers into my hair, cradling my head in his palm. He lifted up and turned, shifting me until I lay underneath him with the hard floor against my 

hips. His lips drugged me. He tasted like mint, and warmth, and light. 

Music jangled through the closet, an insistent repeated chorus. I pushed on his shoulders. "You have a cel ." I meant to express my outrage, but my voice came out breathless. After sliding out from under him, I snared his phone. The screen lit with an incoming cal . I hit decline and dialed Piper. She'd get me out. I could always count on her. 

Click. "Hel o?" 

"Piper. I'm trapped in the den closet. With Thane. With an armoire in front of the door. I need you and Jacob to circle back and get me." "OMG. With Thane? How did that happen?" 

"I'l tel you later." 

"I'l hurry."

"Please," I said, and clicked off. "Can I have my phone back now?" 

I shook my head, making sure the screen stayed on, brightening the closet. 

Thane grinned and raised his eyebrows. "She might take a while. Do you want to-" "No. And we're not talking about it."

***

Breakfast came with cereal and smiles: relieved ones from Mom, proud ones from Dad, and watery ones from my sister. The boys were too little to know what was going on. They had one goal, to fight over the remains of the Fruit Loops. Caleb won and emptied box over his blue plastic bowl, shaking it to get the powdery sugar from the bottom. 

"Mom," Mark said. "He's taking it al ." 

Caleb shook his head and threw a green loop at Mark. Mark caught the cereal with his mouth, and they both started laughing. 

My own mouth was dry, and my stomach churned. The symptoms weren't caused by the beer I shouldn't have drunk or the guy I shouldn't have kissed. They were caused by sick anticipation. I'd left a note at Rhys's trailer, and I expected him to drop by any second and pound on our door. Or blow up our car. 

Last night, during the drive home, Piper had thanked me, over and over again. Piper, who'd snuck back into the party with her boyfriend to free me. Piper, who counted on me. But, I couldn't steal someone's future, not even for her. 

Mom put a plate of pancakes and bacon in front of me, fil ing the trailer with a breakfast aroma. "Honey, we just wanted to thank you again for doing this. We know leaving isn't your thing, and I suspect a lot of your decision has to do with the money we'l get." 

"She knows she doesn't have to go." Dad snagged a piece of bacon off my plate. "The school wil be great. And don't you worry, we'l fly you home for your birthday and Christmas." 

I made a show of finishing breakfast and spent the day with my family. Al of us tried to act normal y. The tension of holding back my own tears while catching my 

family cry at odd moments brought back the worst memories of Dad's accident, and it was almost a relief when it was time to head for the airport. Up until the time we got in the car, I stil had expected Rhys to show up. He didn't and my family drove me to Intercontinental Airport where we said our goodbyes.

***

The flight to Alaska lasted eight hours, not counting the layovers in Seattle and Anchorage. I reclined my seatback and pretended to sleep but was conscious of 

Thane the whole time. He sat beside me and his big shoulders crowded my space. 

The airline attendant's voice came through the speaker: "We'l be arriving in approximately twenty minutes, so now would be a good time to power down those laptops, and bring your seatbacks and tray tables upright for landing." 

I ignored the instructions, shifted against the thin navy fabric, and drew in a breath. We'd gotten cereal before landing in Anchorage, but nothing on this leg of the 

journey. The cereal had helped clear part of the fuzzy feeling I had after the long trip, but not al . I yawned and wished for caffeine. The flight attendant had said the trip from Anchorage was too short for a drink service, but I bet she had caffeine hidden in the gal ey. 

Thane shifted, and his big shoulder bumped mine again, this time on purpose. "Hey, I want to clear the air before we get there." I stretched and yawned, keeping my eyes closed. 

"I get that you're probably into me." Thane paused. "But, I just broke up with Portia, and we're headed to a new campus. So let's see how things go." He 

interrupted his own insulting words with a shrug and his shoulder bumped into mine. "You know." 

My eyes sprang opened and I pinned him with my stare. I raised my eyebrows and shoved his big arm off the armrest so I could take it. He placed his back beside mine, and we struggled for a moment before leaving our arms side by side. 

"I know? I know what?" 

Thane said nothing. 

Not playing it cool, I leaned over Thane, straining toward the oblong window, searching down through the clouds for a view of the town and the school. First, I 

saw patches of land divided by natural barriers, mountains, lakes, green stretches, then I saw a manmade building-an igloo. 

My head tilted, but the building's appearance stayed the same-an igloo shoved up to the side of a mountain. From this vantage point, the structure seemed smal , but I knew the school had to be huge to hold al the students. I braced a hand on the plane's cold beige wal and leaned closer to confirm my impression. It didn't change: mountain, ice, igloo-those were not words we used in Houston unless we were talking about beer, soda, and a cooler. 

The plane banked and whistled as the brakes flapped out of the wings, drawing us down. Bright sun shone through the windows. The flight attendant repeated her 

instructions, slightly more demand in her voice this time. 

I shaded my eyes and moved back to my seat with a big yawn. My ears popped, easing the pressure of the descent. I depressed the button to raise my seatback, and thought about what I hadn't seen: houses, stores, civilization. 

"It's a sunny warm one today, with a high of 62." The pilot spoke in a cheerful tone like he'd had his morning caffeine. 

My mouth snapped shut when Alaska's temperature registered. 62? In what world was 62 warm? The weather stil reached triple digits back home. 

Thane stiffened beside me. He probably wanted his letter jacket. I mental y dared him to ask me its fate. Besides, no one wore their old school's letter jacket to their new campus. Wearing your old jacket said, I don't want to fit in here , and Thane always fit in. Not that he'd be cold; no doubt his mommy had packed him al

kinds of specialty mittens for the trip. Big baby. 

The loud speaker crackled, and the pilot said, "Flight attendants, please take your seats." 

The flight attendant took one final walk through the cabin, staring at our waists with half-suspicious, half-indifferent expressions. My seatbelt was worn low and tight across my waist when she passed. As soon as she took her jump seat, I undid the buckle and wiggled into a more comfortable position. 

The brakes whined and the wheels hit the tarmac with a smooth solid thump, making me slide forward a bit. I turned to the window. The forest zoomed by, 

providing me with my first close-up view of my new town in Alaska. 

The plane came to a sudden stop several yards from a grey metal warehouse. This regional airport was one-third the size of the Anchorage airport where we'd switched planes, and a fraction of the size of Houston's intercontinental airport. Sudden silence fil ed my ears, then seatbelts unclicked and passengers jammed into the aisles. 

One of the directors said, "Fol ow the path around to the shuttles. They'l take you up to the school. We'l offload your bags and they'l fol ow later."

***

I got in line behind a welcome table marked with the letter C, and took in my surroundings. A male coordinator wearing a lab coat handed me an 8 x 11 envelope stuffed ful of papers. "Here's your welcome packet." 

I ignored the forms and lifted out a smal translucent baggy. It held seven silver pil s. "One vitamin per day. You'l get a new supply at the end of the week." 

I shoved them back inside. 

The coordinator said, "Explore al you want. Your room assignment is written on the pink flyer inside your packet." 

"Thanks." I started walking, with no clue as to where I was headed. Everything smel ed new: the Berber carpet, the fresh plaster. The acrid scent was a cross between pleasant and headache-inducing. One cool feature of our igloo was its faux ice block wal s. They arched up several stories. At the top, they thinned and met a sheet of glass. The glass formed a dome over top of the school. If the faux blocks were a waffle cone, the clear dome on top was the ice cream. 

Every wal was covered in the faux ice blocks except the back one. An actual mountain served as the back wal . I brushed my fingertips along the rough granite. 

The surface ascended at an angle and climbing anchors had been instal ed at intermittent points. I leaned close to test one. Houston had no mountains, but my family used to road trip out of state to indulge in climbing trips. My hand fel away, heavy with the memories. 

Other kids swarmed around, exploring, or sitting and reading their packets. I found the cafeteria next. Baskets of snacks had been laid out and I snagged a cinnamon granola bar and a bottle of water. After peeling back the wrapper, I bit into the oat-flavored snack, and the crunch helped shake off a threatening headache. 

A girl peered over the rail, gnawing on her own breakfast bar. Light poured onto her shiny red hair through the overhead dome. "It looks like heaven." 

"It looks like an amusement park," the dark-haired girl beside her said. 

You could see most of the school from this vantage point. The inside of the school looked like a pampered hamster habitat. The outdoor atrium, with its twenty- foot wal , would probably only hold half of us. We'd have to take timed outdoor breaks, like they did on prison TV. When I leaned over the rail, I could see the lowest point of the habitat, the underground amphitheater. If our new school was an ice-cream cone, the amphitheater was the chocolate bite at the bottom 

I wandered away, taking a ramp up several floors. At the top level, security panels were mounted beside the doors. The bulb in the nearest sensor panel turned 

green. I reached for the lever, but had to back up when the door opened and a coordinator strode through. She was dressed in a suit, with her hair in a bun, and she wore a frown. She was the one who'd visited Tral wyn for the announcements. Coordinator Steele. I blinked and backed up another step. "Hi." 

She pointed behind me and didn't act like she remembered me. "Upper levels are restricted to staff only. Didn't you read your packet?" 

I nodded the lie, and retreated to the ramp. The next level down held a theater, a media room, an internet café, and a huge library. A jogging track encircled the recreation floor, and an Olympic-sized pool centered everything. The new building had been planned to accommodate every type of school activity I could imagine. 

Fake spruce trees had been placed in groupings around the interior. They provided the only touch of green here. Day one and I missed the color green. Even the 

outdoor atrium wasn't green. It was Zen bridges, koi ponds, and paths lined with bluish-black river rocks. 

I sat at the base of one of the bridges and dug through my packet. Class schedule, map, meal schedule, and room assignment. Dormitory Malthus, South Side, Room 1024. 

The interior wal s leading to the dorm rooms consisted of normal painted sheetrock. The way to mine had an Alaskan outdoors theme: running wolves, eating wolves, wolves alone, and wolves in groups. They al pointed the way to room 1024. 

Before leaving, I'd read that there would be three girls to a dorm room. Each room shared a bathroom with one other room. The dorm door beside mine was ajar and I saw a red-headed girl, and two brunettes arguing inside. My suitemates. Given the ferocity of their disagreement, I didn't introduce myself. 

Room 1024 had a closed door. I swal owed and tapped out a knock, and went in. Two girls sat inside on the twin beds furthest from the door. I sank down on the 

unoccupied bed. "Hi, I'm Elena." 

They introduced themselves. My two roommates couldn't have been more surface opposites. Geneva was a self-described military brat: capable, wil owy, and dark-skinned. Kaitlin was pale, petite, and wide-eyed. She had a Cupie dol appearance that would let her get away with a lot. I envied that. 

They talked about their trips here. I wanted to learn more about them, but the mattress felt soft, like heaven, and my whole body sank into the surface. I was thankful to be flat after my long flight and time spent exploring. 

Geneva nudged my shoes until I looked up. The whites of her eyes appeared bright against her dark irises. My own eyes felt raw, and scratchy. 

"No go. Suck it up. We've stil got orientation." Geneva stretched. "I could use a nap too. I had a good four-hour flight from Seattle." I groaned. A blue light flashed above the entry before I could describe nine hours in the air or take her down with a good kick.

Kaitlin bounced out of her cross-legged position. "Blue means we go to the amphitheater. I read about the color system in the welcome packet." I rol ed to my side and yawned. 

Kaitlin twirled her chin-length bangs high and clipped them into her curly brunette ponytail. "I wish we had time to shower before meeting everyone." "No go." Geneva moved toward the door. "We've been stationed some crazy places, but nowhere as remote as this." 

I struggled up to fol ow them. "It is far. What do you think the odds of transferring are?" 

"After that commute? Not likely." Kaitlin peered around our space and the tip of her tongue stuck out of the side of her mouth. "Our room's tiny. But we'l make it cute." 

This dorm room was bigger than our trailer's living room and the bedroom I shared with my sister combined, but I didn't say anything. 

"I don't know what to do about the bathroom situation though." Kaitlin's mouth twisted and she shook her head. "Six girls, one bathroom. Impossible math." 

The light flashed again and a voice came through a square speaker. "When the blue light comes on, stop what you are doing and gather at the amphitheater. Make your way down either main ramp." The voice sounded like the bun-wearer from the top floor, slightly condescending, highly commanding. 

Kaitlin and I fel in behind Geneva, not only because she had longer legs, but also because she seemed to know where to go. We moved at a fast clip and people 

got out of Geneva's way when she neared to overtake them. A neat trick, one I'd like to learn. 

Down, down, down, we trudged. Getting to the amphitheater was al descent, ending at the bottom of the habitat. There weren't any more instructions, so we shoved onto the bench-style seats, sliding to the middle. Geneva sat straight and rigid, and Kaitlin curled up cross-legged. I leaned back on my palms, tilted back, and stared straight up through the center of the school, al the way to the domed sky light. The hour had to be at least eight p.m., but the sun shone through the glass like it was noon. 

Geneva noted my gaze. "It's cal ed the Midnight Sun, but we're coming to the end of the cycle." 

"Cool." Daylight at night-I might love this place. I dropped my gaze to the crowd, checking everyone out. With al of us gathered together, I got my first comprehensive look at the student body. 

Ahead of us, a man in a suit stood behind the lectern. His arms were crossed over his chest and he possessed an air of authority like my old principal, but he didn't carry a cane. His slim body leaned forward until his mouth touched the microphone. "Welcome. I am your director, and these are your coordinators." He waved a hand at a group of adults seated in chairs lining the stage. 

I recognized Coordinator Steele from the restricted area and the lab coat wearer from the entryway. I whispered as much to my roommates. 

Geneva whispered back, "The Director, the Scientist, and the Enforcer. Those are their new names." I nodded. 

Kaitlin giggled. "Okay." 

The director's right arm arched toward the sky with one raised index finger. "First of al , I'd like to thank you for your sacrifice. What you do here is for the greater good of your community and you shal be rewarded." 

My fel ow students clapped. I kept my weight on my hands, not real y digging his use of the word sacrifice. My annoyance and the slightly acrid smel of new seating kept me alert. 

He continued, "Some of you may not have understood that your cel phones wouldn't get great reception up here." 

For great, read none. Kaitlin shifted. Geneva muttered something under her breath. They and the rest of the student body were going through a type of withdrawal at the loss of their phones. I understood. It had happened to me two years ago. 

The director waved his hands in a quiet motion and stuck his lips near the microphone. "You have unlimited access to the phones here. We'l have them up in a few days. You al have schedules. Each dorm has a coordinator who wil answer your questions." 

A metal ic echo accompanied his words, so he backed off before running through the dorm names and asking the coordinators to stand up. He got to ours. "Malthus Dorm. Coordinator Steele." She stood up. Her lips pursed, and she didn't say anything. Some of the other dorms had gotten positive coordinators who said things like, "Go Darwin," and "Yeah, Ehrlich." Not us. The announcement of Malthus Dorm was acknowledged with a nod and a pained expression. 

Geneva flexed her fingers. "Great. The Enforcer Dorm." 

"Regular classes start tomorrow at eight a.m. Alaskan Standard Time. We'd like to end this assembly with exciting news. Your delayed baggage has arrived." The director lowered his hands to quiet the excited murmurs and waved to the bun-wearing coordinator. 

Coordinator Steele stepped forward and spoke into the microphone. "Line up at the front exit. One row. We'l pass the bags down, fireman bucket style. When your bag reaches you, get out of line, and take it back to your room." 

Geneva jumped up. "Come on." She hurried to the aisle, passing other kids who hadn't reacted to the announcement with her speed. Kaitlin and I raced to keep

up.

"I'l help whoever gets her bags first, if she'l come back and help me carry mine," Kaitlin said, from behind me. I looked back. "How many did you bring?" 

Kaitlin flushed, and she sounded defensive. "Three." 

I didn't even own three bags. I'd packed one besides my carry-on. "I'l help you." "Me too, I only brought one," Geneva said. "We military kids travel mean and lean." Military kids liked to rhyme. I wondered what that was about. 

We stopped talking because Geneva had us running al out now to get a good spot. Crossing the threshold to the exit and into the crisp air shocked my senses for a

moment, and I slowed to take in the view: one road, mountains, Christmas trees growing straight from the ground. Everything was so different from home. I breathed in, trying to identify more foreign features. It was more what was missing than what was here: pol ution, buildings, civilization.

A coordinator held up a yel ow flag and we dropped into line, probably about ten kids down from the front. Not bad. "I can't believe we have to carry our own bags," the lanky guy behind me said. 

I thought he was half-joking, but Geneva lifted her eyebrows and tilted her head to mock him, making Kaitlin and me giggle. I'm not real y a giggler by nature, but 

Kaitlin had one of those infectious laughs. 

Thane stood about five kids ahead of us, easy to spot with his height. He had a competitive streak and I knew he wouldn't be one of the last students rol ing out of the building. 

Kaitlin clapped and I fol owed her gaze. Heavy, weighted engines rumbled as two eighteen-wheelers ground up the incline on the uneven road. It would have made 

more sense to me if we'd just carried our own bags over on the shuttle. But they'd insisted the luggage would fol ow. I bet they needed the extra time to search them. About a hundred yards out, the lead truck's airbrakes whooshed and he turned. The semi backed our way, with the double doors facing us. Several kids made a backup beep sound. 

Their joke cut off when the earth shook. Branches on the Christmas trees swayed deep. The world was in motion. Several kids broke the line and ran screaming toward the building. 

"Earthquake," Geneva said. 

I turned to fol ow the runners and another jolt made me throw my arms out for balance. Like a warrior two yoga position would save me. "Stay here," Geneva yel ed. "Remain in the open, away from the building." 

Shelter sounded safer, but Geneva's family was currently stationed in the Pacific-Northwest, so no doubt she knew better than a native Houstonian. The earth jolted again, and I fel back on my butt. A sharp kick landed on my ankle, and I rol ed clear of a fal ing Kaitlin. 

"Sorry," Kaitlin said, windmil ing her arms, trying to stay up. 

Geneva fel next, sliding a foot. The truck's screeching brakes made me turn back to the road. 

Boom. The ground cracked open with a sound like rocks fal ing on a gravel path-but louder, much louder. Boom. 

Gears squealed as the driver tried to shift forward, but his rear tire caught in the widening crack. The semi-truck's trailer sank back, and the front end rose a foot off the ground, its tires suspended in mid-air, like a bucking horse at the rodeo. The driver leapt from the cab and sprinted toward the trees. The truck hung there for a moment, then the whole vehicle slipped backwards into the hole and disappeared from sight. 

The driver in the second truck jumped out next and ran toward the woods. A large fissure continued to split the black surface of the road like a piece of beef jerky. 

The widening chasm wrapped around the second truck. The weighted front end went down first and its tail flipped up in the air. Then it, too, vanished. 

The ground had consumed both trucks, the same way I ate candy from Dad's Star Trek Pez dispenser-gone in seconds. The earth stopped moving, and in the crisp Alaskan stil ness, only the sound of my pounding heartbeat remained. 

The coordinator's voice rang out with commanding adult authority. "Inside now. Everyone inside."

Chapter Four

We trudged back down to the amphitheater, instinctively gathering again. 

The director ran a hand over his head and stuck his lips near the microphone. "Earthquakes are common here. You all handled yourselves very well. No injuries." I flexed my bruised ankle and stared at him. 

"The building may have sustained some minor damage. Nothing for you to worry about. This is an important time for you to review your pamphlet on earthquakes. If you are outside, stay where you are. If you are inside, get under a sturdy table. It's that simple." 

Simple? He had a different definition than me. The ground just ate our stuff. 

"Unfortunately, your things are not quite recoverable." 

I wrapped my arms around my waist. Kaitlin and Geneva tensed beside me. Several girls started to cry. I've been through worse than this. I repeated the thought like a litany because an earthquake on top of all my stuff being gone unnerved me far more than it should have. 

The microphone squeaked, and the sound reverberated throughout the amphitheater. "We've stocked plenty of uniforms, and we'll distribute them early. You'll 

have everything you need. If there's something we don't provide, get in contact with your coordinator." "OMG," Kaitlin said, true horror in her voice. 

The director held up a hand. "Some of you may have noticed that the shiny plastic eggs mounted on the cafeteria walls have your names on them." 

Murmurs erupted from the students. Okay, that was random. 

"I want my stuff." Kaitlin's gaze shifted to the exit. "What eggs?" "I didn't see them," Geneva said. 

"By the food preparation room," I said. "It looks like Easter." 

"Those are treats, and the rewards will be revealed later. For now, mingle. Try to enjoy the rest of the evening, and swing by the entry hall in the next hour or so. You may pick up your uniforms there." The director waved his arm in a long, looping motion. "You're dismissed."

***

I fell back on the mattress, wearing black sweatpants and a green T-shirt. We'd each been given three T-shirts and three pairs of sweatpants. The colors were navy, black, and green. The school's emblem, a teal igloo and a gold star, was printed on the upper left of the shirts. 

I was exhausted. My eyelids lowered and I thought I'd sleep for hours, but the second I lay down, I was wide awake. Not wanting to disturb my roommates, I 

moved slowly, and carefully clicked on the bedside lamp. Each bed had a lamp, either a tableside lamp or a clip-on. I liked that I had the larger version. The incandescent bulb lit half the room and I relaxed. 

Geneva popped up, waving her arms. "What? What?" Kaitlin didn't move at all. 

"Sorry, I was going to read." 

Geneva shoved her eye mask off in irritation. "It's the middle of the freaking night. Turn the light off." She made a humph sound and rolled to her side. 

I hesitated and Geneva kicked the covers out of her way and got up. She knelt and struggled with the small clip light attached to her headboard. A few curses later, she pulled the lamp free and held it aloft like a trophy. "If you have to have the light on, use this one." 

"I don't have to have one on." I hurried over to take the gift from her and hooked it up. The clip lamp made a nice low wattage glow so I turned off the big bright one. Darkness crept around the room, and I rolled to my side so I could see the light under the door, too. I concentrated on it until my eyes became gritty. I needed to sleep and the more I thought about sleeping, the more I couldn't. My body was wiped out and heavy, but my mind raced. 

When the alarm rang, I thought I'd be tired, but I felt a kind of exhausted euphoria. I walked with Kaitlin and Geneva to our morning class, Biology Two. The lab- coat-wearing coordinator gave an introduction. It included his real name, but the new moniker didn't stick. Geneva had nicknamed him The Scientist at orientation, and my tired brain refused to embrace an alternative. 

"As part of the program, you'll be expected to do four hours of chores each week," The Scientist said. "Not all kids are destined for college, so your chores allow you to learn both technical and life skills." He walked down the row, passing out 3x5 cards and assessing each of us with teacher eyes. 

Geneva rolled her own eyes and flipped her card over so I could read it. Baking. 

Kaitlin held hers up. Baking. "Mine too." Her voice held doubt, and she raised her hand. "Um, baking? I'm going to be a doctor." The Scientist nodded. "Learning measurements will be a useful skill." 

Kaitlin frowned and wrinkled her nose, but she didn't protest further. I flipped my card over. Laundry. 

Geneva looked over my shoulder and snickered. "Baking's not so bad."

***

The dryer room hummed with the rotation of the machines, creating a nice white noise. My duties consisted of filling the row of dryers with wet laundry. After the laundry dried, I was to throw it into wheeled bins. 

I went to the first machine and popped open the round door. The rush of heat steamed the already warm room, making my hair frizz. I checked the clothes to see if

they were dry. Heat and dampness met my searching fingers. 

The main door opened and two students popped in and introduced themselves: Declan the washer and Nevaeh the folder. Declan was dark-haired and cute. He whined about the vats of soap. Nevaeh had dark spiky hair and pointy features. She reminded me of an anime character brought to life by an angry artist. Although I hadn't met her officially, she was one of my suitemates. 

Nevaeh rolled her eyes at Declan, then snapped at me to remove the dryer sheets before sending the loads through to her. She palmed the spikes in her hair. "It's 

so muggy in here. Sucks to be you." I shrugged. 

We talked a minute longer while they fidgeted in the heat, and then they left. While humid, the air had nothing on Houston. I could take it. The hum of the machines, 

the clean soapy smell, and the warmth made me relax. I'd sleep great tonight. I wheeled the bin of blankets toward the folder's door, eyeing their fresh-from-the-dryer fluffy warmth. 

Last night had been cold. The administrators had allotted one blanket per person and our room was no exception. I snagged three before pushing the bin through to the other side. 

Back in my dorm room, I put an extra blanket at the foot of each twin bed, then made my way to the bathroom, catching it free of roommates and suitemates. 

Rare. Day two and our suitemates hated us. Geneva took the longest at the makeup counter, I spent the most time in the shower, and Kaitlin liked to take long soaks after her dance class. 

Our suitemates complained about us almost as much as they moaned about the advanced subjects we were all taking. I tried not to whine about the living situation, because at the end of the day, I was relieved no one had pointed at me and screamed, Imposter! 

I came out of the bathroom, rubbing my wet hair with a towel. Geneva and Kaitlin sat on their beds, reading sheets of paper. Discarded envelopes lay beside their 

hands. 

A similar one was propped against my pillow. I plopped down, and noticed a cupcake balanced on a paper plate on my nightstand. Its icing had slid halfway down the wrapper, like someone had iced it while the cake was still warm. The desert smelled like a fruit combination I didn't recognize: coconut and cantaloupe? I poked at the top and shoved the sugar into my mouth before prying at the thin closure on the envelope. 

The flap tore and I read the top sheet. Due to technical difficulties, all students are being forwarded transcribed emails. Please use the computer room at your convenience to reply. I held four pieces of paper: emails from my parents, my sister, brothers, and Piper. 

The messages from my family were short, but chipper. Mom described the bills she'd paid with the government check. Dad said he was thinking they shouldn't take the money because I was getting a first rate education along with free room and board. Mom told me not to worry. They'd decide later and let me know. 

I drew the extra cover over my legs and rolled to my side. Sometimes I wanted to shake my parents. On the other hand, since they didn't care about the money, it 

wouldn't be so hard on them when Rhys and I changed places. The boys sent a brief description of the cartoon they were watching and my sister detailed how she was redecorating our room. I saved Piper's note for last. 

I bought a new honeysuckle perfume. And the smell didn't bother me. I repeat, the smell didn't bother me. Anyway, thank you for being such a great friend. Hope you love Alaska. Miss you and can't wait to see you on your birthday. Tell me all about your school. More scoop later. Piper. 

I could still smell her honeysuckle perfume. Every morning she sprayed it on without fail, except last week when she said she was pregnant. Did her email mean she 

wasn't pregnant? I hoped so. 

Geneva folded her paper into fourths. "My brothers say to give them hell." She laughed and waved the paper in the air. "Via snail mail." She tucked her message under the base of the bright lamp and clicked it off. 

Kaitlin's emails crackled as she crumpled them in her fist. "My parents say to work hard." She tossed the wad on her nightstand and reached for her lamp. "My 

friends are all like: Why don't you have a boyfriend yet? Men in Alaska outnumber the women eight to one." She sighed. "No pressure." 

Click. The second lamp went off. 

I really needed to go to sleep. I kicked the blankets and rolled over, then flipped my pillow to the cool side. 

Go to sleep.

***

I had an early laundry shift, and for the first time was truly glad I'd been assigned the mindless job. My sleep had been so fitful, I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on any chore more complicated than scoop and lift. The noise of the machine hummed with the tumbling of the clothes, and its smooth shiny white surface beckoned me. I climbed on top, knowing the timer would wake me when the load finished. From this angle, I could see hoses attached to a huge vent in the corner. 

I rolled to my back. Above me, a square grate was set into the ceiling. The dryers vented out the back wall, and central air came in through smaller rectangle holes, 

so I wondered what the large square opening was used for. I stared until my eyelids drooped, trying to see where the closure was. 

There. A metal lever, like the one on air-conditioning vents, fit against the side. My fingers fluttered, but I didn't feel any increased air flow. I inhaled the soapy smell and the warm humidity, and tried to relax, but the inexplicable feature bugged me. 

I climbed to my feet and flipped the metal tab. The grate came off without difficulty. I dropped it behind the dryer and snagged the flashlight I'd hidden there earlier. The industrial storage room, where we got the dryer sheets and laundry soap, also held other supplies: dry goods, paper products, flashlights... I'd hidden one in our room too. 

Click. 

White light shone into the hole. Interesting. It was as if I were standing at the bottom of a tubular waterslide, or, the receiving end of a laundry chute. With the

flashlight tucked into the waistband of my navy sweats, I jumped to lift through and climbed. There was enough light from below that I didn't have to turn on the flashlight until I got much higher. Counting in my head, I reached 40 before the chute stopped sloping. The angle leveled off and formed a flat rectangular platform. The most interesting part of the new area was its ceiling. I was at the very top of the boarding school, under the clear dome, and the sky stretched out above me. 

A climb I'd have considered nothing two years ago now challenged muscles long unused. I laid down, resting my cheek on my arm. Warmth from the sunlight shone through the glass. With a yawn, I relaxed, and since I didn't want to go back down just yet, I slept.

Chapter Five

A few weeks in, the blue lights flashed again, ca ling us to the amphitheater. The rest of the school had lost most of its new carpet sme l, but the auditorium sti l carried an acrid bite, probably because we used it less. 

"Welcome. Thank you for aiding in this effort to improve our nation's educational system." The director stood behind a lectern and repeated his opening. "Your 

efforts as students got you here. You represent the best and brightest in our country. Continuing in that vein, those of you who excel here deserve the opportunity for additional rewards." His arms waved through the air in one of his lean snaky motions. "Today we announce the autumn opportunity. Five winners wi l get to go home for the weekend. Home, any one weekend this year, paid for by us." 

The words paid for by us seemed to echo because he stuck his mouth to the microphone when he said them. My heart rate increased at the thought. I wanted this. A major part of the program was immersion. Trips home and visits were restricted, despite what they'd said before we left. 

Whispers began. I hushed the guy nearest me, and leaned forward to hear a l the details. 

"Players wi l be chosen from the top third of each dorm." The director waved a hand at the screens above him. Names flew across the surface, landing in alphabetized boxes. 

I crossed my fingers and held my breath as the letters settled into place, not releasing it again until I found my name, Elena Carlisle. I locked my gaze there, fearing it would disappear. 

"Bold names are your team leaders." 

Names brightened. Including Thane Trallwyn. I hadn't seen Thane much since we'd been here, and I liked it that way. Figures he'd be a team leader. The director said, "If your name's bolded, come down to the stage so we may start team selections." 

Team Anyone But Thane, here I come. 

Once the leaders, who were a l male, had assembled, the director waved, and their names disappeared from the board. He faced the team leaders. "Select a player from the remaining names to play in each leg of the race. Part of this cha lenge wi l be to show how we l you've gotten to know your dorm mates. Choose wisely and you' l select a winning team." 

Thane's chin tilted and his gaze examined the board. 

"If your name is up there, rise and take a seat in the front two rows." I maneuvered down the aisle, happy to see my roommates. Our study sessions had paid off. We three took seats together. 

The team leaders lined up on the stage, spaced evenly apart. 

Coordinator Steele held out a box to each leader so he could draw a number. Thane drew. A number flashed on the screen overhead. One. He'd draw first. 

The director said, "There are five legs in this competition. Four wi l be named. One wi l remain a mystery. If we name a task you could excel at, volunteer." The screen went blank then flashed. Leg One: Art. 

Good one. Art's not a sport. 

Kaitlin was the first to jump up. Before I could warn her, she waved both arms in the air. Thane selected her. 

They reshuffled the numbers for the next set. Thane drew fourth. The category popped up. Swimming. Geneva sprang up beside me. The first team member picked a guy, so did the second. 

Geneva's face fe l. "They never think African Americans can swim." 

"They don't believe that." I bounced up and waved her arm high. "A l state swim champ." Team leader three stared hard, then selected a strong-looking white guy. Thane was next. He didn't even hesitate. "Geneva." 

I stood in the pool of unchosen players. Three categories remained. I had to volunteer soon or my fate would pick me. They shuffled the numbers again. 

Thane drew a one. He pumped his fist in the air. "Yes." 

The board flashed blank and the new category appeared. Rock Climbing. 

Thane's turn. 

I kept my hand down. 

Thane said, "Elena Carlisle," without looking away from the category. 

Thane knew I could climb. Everyone who knew the story of my dad knew it. But I was surprised he put our history, our animosity, aside and chose me. If our roles had been reversed, and they had ca led soccer, I'd have never picked him, though he'd led our team to state last year. 

I joined the others on stage, a little dazed. Both my roommates hugged me and while I returned their hug, I looked past them to size up the other teams. We were the only team with three girls, so I bet they underestimated us. Good. 

The screen blanked and next category came up. Diver. 

The coordinator tossed the hat aside and pointed at the board. Names scrambled. "The final team member wi l be chosen at random." 

Team Thane popped up on the board, then the name Declan Pritchard. I knew Declan and his pout from the laundry room. He high-fived us but didn't look thri led, and I had to admit we weren't the brawniest group. Other than Declan and Thane, we had no brawn at a l. 

"Lean and mean," Geneva muttered. "Lean and mean." 

The screen flashed blank, and a question mark appeared. The director leaned into the microphone. "The fifth leg wi l be run by your team captain. As we stated earlier, it wi l be a mystery category to be announced during the race." 

The crowd murmured. 

After the final placements concluded, they handed out a sheet of rules. The top ten winners advance to next round. The top three winners of the second round

move to the finale. 

One player started complaining, and Coordinator Steele stepped up to the lectern. "Teams are final." She tapped on the microphone and an annoying ring reverberated through the amphitheater. She looked out at the remaining two-thirds of the student body. "Before each round, you wi l vote for one of these teams to win. If you choose correctly, you wi l be exempt from one exam or homework assignment of your own choosing. There are three rounds. That gives you the opportunity to win three exemptions." 

The remaining students, who'd been apathetic at best, perked up with this news. They started sizing us up with greedy stares, as if we were new apps on the ce l phone market. 

"And of course, the team who wins the finale wi l be excused from classes one Friday to enjoy a three-day weekend at home." 

I'd get to go home for my birthday without taking money from my parents. Home: TexMex, movies, my family, my lamp. I could find out how everything was going with Piper, and I could talk to Rhys. I bounded up to Thane and stared straight into his blue eyes. "We're winning." 

His eyes glinted and a smile curved his lips before he nodded. "Practice every day." Geneva waved her hands in the air. "Team Thane's bringing the pain." 

We walked back to the dorm as a group, trying to guess the specifics of the cha lenges we'd face. 

***

One of my ta ler competitors in the rock climbing competition bent low and jumped for the second set of anchors before scrambling higher. "Wearing new hiking shoes sucks." 

"Yeah, I'm wearing my old sneakers while we practice," another said. He bounced up and down on the first row of anchors, testing his weight. "No blisters." 

The idiot needed to break in his gear. But I wanted to win, so I didn't correct him. I pasted another adhesive bandage on the side of my foot to cover a stinging blister, then slid two pairs of socks on over them. 

Anyone strong enough to lift his own weight could easily scale this wa l. This course consisted of a set of anchors leading to an outcropping. Once there, contestants 

crawled across boulders for 20 feet to reach the second grouping of anchors. Then they climbed to a large ledge where the divers waited to be tagged. Next, the diver moved to another ledge and leapt from there into the swimming pool. 

The problem was, they'd made the course so easy that my experience as a climber wasn't much of an advantage. The only positive besides my experience was the strength I'd gained in my arms from the laundry room chores. 

"Hey." Declan sank onto his butt and leaned back to watch the climbers practice. 

"Hey." I suppressed my irritation and shoved the adhesive bandage wrappers in my pocket. Declan should be at the top of the rock, diving or jumping, not down here. But people don't like to be told what to do. I slid my shoe on, and the pinch made me give in to annoyance. "Shouldn't you be up there?" 

"This is just a game, and a l I get to do is dive. Big whoop. I should do the climb." He kicked some of the loose rocks. "Or the mystery event. We'd win for sure if 

I'd have picked the players. Instead, I'm stuck on the girl team. No offence." "You're going to win because you're on this team." 

Geneva walked over for the last bit of our discussion. She wore a wrap over her swimsuit and carried one of the strawberry cupcakes from this morning. She'd 

swum twice a day without fail since the announcement, and the sme l of chorine surrounded her. "Yeah, suck it up, buttercup." She sank down beside Declan, but addressed her next words to me. "How's the climb?" 

I tied off my laces and nodded. "I've got this." 

Declan said, "I'm not saying you don't. I'm just saying I could do it too." I ignored him. Picking a fight wouldn't help our cause and we had to win. 

"Good, because Kaitlin's ice cream poem is kick ass." Geneva bit into the cupcake after offering me some. 

I chewed and swa lowed. She was right. Kaitlin hit on some of the things missing here: pets, ma ls, old friends. She'd coated a l the sentiment with humor, which was critical, because her segment depended on the audience's vote. They'd key in a score after watching her perform. Unless they hated life, she'd win. 

Declan shifted so he lay flat on his back and lowered his eyelids. "I don't know. There's a chick in the north dorm who can sing. We' l probably lose that round to her."

***

I ro led one of my extra blankets under my pi low and propped up on it to see my roommates better. "I could imagine liking it here, if the cafeteria served TexMex, the city had a ma l, and my family lived closer than nine hours away. Basica ly, if they plopped the igloo in the middle of Houston, it'd be okay. Bizarrely out of place, but survivable." 

Geneva snorted, and shook her bottle of bright orange nail polish. The manicure caused our whole room to sme l like a poorly ventilated salon, but Kaitlin and I 

didn't care. Our suitemates had bitched about the stench, and their grumpiness made us not care even more. 

Kaitlin lay curled in a ba l. She flushed a little. "I kind of like being here. I'm not so alone." I thought of Piper. "My best friend's an only child, I get that." 

"Lonely Only." Geneva shook the bottle again, and the little ba l rattled. "I have three kick ass brothers in the Navy. When they're home, I share meals with men who do pushups in the mud and eat things that crawl on the floor. I'd loan 'em out to you." 

"My younger brothers eat stuff off the floor and play in the mud, too."

Geneva nodded. "Genetic barbarians. I've dated some of the kings of the Y chromosome." 

Kaitlin stared, eyes wide. "I haven't been around guys much." She ro led on her side, plucking at the extra blanket. Her face flushed. "I've never even been kissed." 

Geneva shook the bottle with more force. "Lady. What are you waiting for?" 

Kaitlin shrugged and blushed a deeper, painful-looking red. "I was always shorter, sma ler, younger. Guys treat me like a kid." "You're normal-sized, just petite." 

"This summer, I grew and got curvy." Kaitlin curled into a seated position. "But the boys sti l acted like I was their sister." 

"That's just sad," I said. 

"Sad?" Geneva said, half in agreement, half in question. "Who've you been kissing?" 

I breathed out, clasped my hands overhead and stretched. "My last kiss was a shithead back home, but he could kiss." I grinned at the electric memory. 

Geneva swiped a hand in front of her throat and pointed at the door. Our team leader leaned against the doorjamb, wearing a tight navy v-neck shirt and a cocky expression. 

"He could kiss, huh?" Thane said. 

"That's the part you heard? Not the shithead part?" 

Thane shrugged and dropped beside me. His weight depressed the mattress, upsetting my balance. 

Geneva's eyes narrowed with enlightenment while Kaitlin buried her face in her pi low. Clearly, Kaitlin hoped he hadn't overheard the first part of our conversation. I wished he hadn't heard the last. 

I poked his thigh with my foot. My bright orange pedicure stood out against his navy sweats. "Are you here to talk strategy or have your ego stroked?" 

Thane ignored my toes, leaned back on his arms and shrugged, making his biceps bulge in that guy who works out and eats protein way. "Can't we do both?" Geneva put her polish away. "I'm up for some strategizing." 

Thane hung out with the three of us for a couple of hours, talking about the other teams and how best to take them down. 

Declan never joined us.

***

Game day arrived. I stood at the base of the mountain, assessing the anchors. Rising on my tiptoes, I stretched my arms overhead, enjoying the pu l of muscles and looked up high, trying to spot Declan. He stood with the other teams' divers on the outcropping at the top of the ramp. He lowered to a seated position and kicked his legs out. 

Grr. The other contestants stood ready at the edge or stretched like me. And, I knew they'd practiced. Declan's refusal to rehearse unnerved me and I tried to shake the sensation. 

Eager tension helped a climb, sick nervousness hurt. I had enough going on in my stomach with Kaitlin's Good Luck cupcake lying there like a blueberry rock. She had baked daily for practices. This morning Declan had refused his cupcake like always, his lucky cupcake; not that I'm superstitious, but sti l, no practice and no luck equaled losing. 

The bandage on my pinkie toe poked into my fourth toe and I wiggled them around, wishing I had time to fix it, but taking my shoe off now was too risky. If I lost this chance to go home because I had my shoe off when Kaitlin rounded the corner, I'd never look at shoes again. 

I crossed my fingers, and gazed at the screen, watching for Kaitlin's turn to recite her poem and dance. Fina ly, it was her turn. She leapt across the stage, a high acrobatic leap, no shyness in her dance, just athleticism, and grace in motion. She had this. When we'd started, she had talent and lifelong lessons behind her, but even so, her rigorous practices had upped her ski ls unbelievably. When the final scores popped up, cheers came up from the amphitheater echoing to our level. I stared at the entry and knew she'd be running in first. 

I blew out a breath and swung my arms to loosen up. I'd practiced. I had experience. I had this. 

Feet pattered on the floor, and Kaitlin rushed around the corner, hair flying, arms waving. "Go," she ye led in a breathless, excited voice. 

I reached for the initial anchor, breathing in the granite from the mountain's surface and chlorine from the nearby pool. The sme ls were familiar because I'd been at this daily. I scaled the first section with easy sure movements. My nerves disappeared by the time I reached the boulders, and I scrambled across them with ease. Do this and you get to go home. The mantra cha lenged my focus, so I pushed it aside, keeping my head in the game. Using Kaitlin's cheers to block my competition's grousing, I enjoyed the moment: the height, the rush of power that came with a climb, and the adrenaline tempered by control. I reached the next set of anchors and heard the second contestant below me scream, "Go." 

I smiled. We so had this. I shouted up, "You'd better be ready, Declan." If he was sitting on the ground when I reached the top, I'd kick his ass. I stretched for a hold in the granite above me, going through the second section with even more speed. 

A final pu l carried me over the ledge. "Go," I said, sti l on my hands and knees. 

"How are you already here?" Declan seemed surprised. "Go," I said again. 

His mouth twisted and he walked to the edge of the outcropping overhanging the deep end of the swimming pool. "Good job," one of the other contestants said. He held out a hand, and helped me up. 

Good sport, I thought. "Thanks." 

"I don't know. Maybe, I should take the ramp." Declan's indecision came through his voice and I froze for a moment while his words tumbled through my brain.

Take the ramp. Running down the ramp was the alternative to the dive or jump, and that route took ten times longer. "Fine, then run," I said, screaming this time, not hiding my anger or frustration. 

He should have run the second my palms hit the grass if he didn't want to jump. I moved to the outcropping, and he just stood there. "What are you doing, are you trying to lose this? Move." 

"I'm thinking the dive would be faster." 

The second climber finished the bouldering. Declan's indecisiveness was eating our lead. "Of course it is. Do one," I said, thinking, Jump, please jump. 

Declan went to the edge and lifted his arms overhead, staring down. I breathed in, my heart racing. 

The second climber heaved his body over the top. Panting, he tagged his teammate. His diver took a running leap over the side, destroying our lead. 

"Do it," I said. 

Declan shook his head and backed away. Gloved hands crunched against crumbling rocks as the third climber fo lowed the path of the second. His jumper leaned in and tagged him the moment he crested. The third guy chose the ramp. He ran with fast, long legs and pumping arms. 

"I'm not jumping," Declan said. 

While he dithered, the thump of the fourth climber's shoes landing on the grass reached us. "Do something," I screamed. 

Declan turned back to the edge, looking down. 

I shook my head, ran at him, and pushed him over. 

His feet skidded on the rock, resisting, and his scream fi led the habitat, echoing ho lowly then was drowned out by the sound of a loud, flopping splash. The remaining divers laughed, but I ignored them, staring over the side. 

Declan popped up, coughing, spitting water and outrage with the fervor of an underwater politician. 

With the splash, Geneva started her swim, using an Australian crawl while Declan paddled to the side, and lifted free from the pool. Standing on the edge, he aimed a glare up at me. I folded forward and flipped him off, then looked for Geneva. 

Geneva's swimming was economy in motion, minimal splash, maximum speed. Her long strokes ate the distance between her and the other swimmers. It seemed as if they slowed, and her talent moved us into second, letting me breathe again. 

She tagged Thane. "Go." 

As soon as she did, the screen lit up with his task. "Fo low the arrow-marked path. Run to the finish line at the bottom of the amphitheater." 

Thane didn't hesitate. He tore off at the first flash of the word. We already knew his destination. The mystery task had appeared for the first contestant. Ours was the same. Run down the ramps, through the amphitheater, and to your spot on the stage. First one in wins. 

Thane hadn't been on the track team, but he played footba l and soccer, so at least he had the stamina to go the distance. 

The next climber tagged his teammate, the guy who'd helped me up. The good sport moved fast. He ran to the ledge and leapt. Arms and legs pumping, he overran the central drop point and was going in at an angle. I leaned over to watch his progress. He hit the water feet first with a clean splash, but his arm swung out and smacked the side of the pool. 

I winced. Ouch. 

His swimmer took off, and I waited for the jumper to propel himself to the top. Nothing. I waved at the contestants below me. His runner stood at the other end of the pool, bent low, ready to tag the swimmer the second he surfaced. Geneva stood near him, holding a towel, wiping water from her face. From that end, they lacked my vantage point and were so busy concentrating on the next leg I worried they couldn't see what was going on at this end of the pool. 

I sucked in a deep breath, held my nose, and jumped off the edge. The fa ling sensation lit up every nerve in my body. My feet kicked, like they could grab purchase, and then the almost solid smack of the water reverberated through my shoes. I sank. The weight of my clothes and the force of the fa l sucked me to the bottom. 

I sprang off the floor and opened my eyes to the sting of chemicals. A blur emerged a few feet to my left. I pu led through the water toward the jumper, kicking, resisting the urge to surface for a breath. My fingers brushed fabric. I strained and caught him. Lungs burning, I crossed my arm over his chest. My shoulder wedged against the side of his chin. While fearing I was choking him, I didn't know how to adjust the hold and I had only one priority-kick. 

My free arm scooped while the pressure built in my lungs and face. I blew out though I was dying to inhale. Swiping at the water, I broke the surface with a gasp, 

sucking in air, and turning the jumper so his face was clear. 

Other contestants ran along the deck, shouting something at me, and they dove in to help. They took the jumper, swiftly maneuvering him to the side and out of the water. He coughed a huge gagging sound. Water gushed out of his mouth, and over his chin. Hands grabbed my arms, pu ling me from the pool. As exhausted as I was, I let them, fa ling to the concrete. 

The jumper coughed and grabbed his wrist. "My arm." 

Coordinator Steele and The Scientist reached us. The Scientist helped him rise. "Let's get you to the clinic." He led the wounded guy from view. 

My hands and knees pressed into the prickly concrete and I sucked in another gulp of oxygen. I had plenty of air; I knew that. My body just needed time to accept it. The chlorine surrounded me, covering my heavy wet clothes and dripping from my hair. 

Orange-tipped toes came into view and Geneva crouched beside me. She slapped a cold hand on my shoulders and dropped a towel in front of me. I clutched at 

the warm dryness and buried my face in the terry cloth, breathing in the fragrance of the detergent. The familiarity calmed my heartbeat and I imagined myself in the warm, humid laundry room, sleeping on the dryer in a nest of newly-dried towels.

"Good job." A new respect and surprise echoed in Geneva's voice. "I didn't see him go down." She tugged at my elbow with a strong hand, forcing me up and out of my laundry-room delusion. "Come on. We can take the elevators with the others." 

We trudged across the deck, dripping, but my breathing had steadied. I dabbed at my face with the corner of the towel. 

Kaitlin and Declan stood ahead of us at the elevators. "Good job, guys." Kaitlin's usual perkiness layered her words. "We caught everything on the monitors." The elevator dinged open, and Declan stepped into the doorway with his arms extended, barring my entrance. "I was about to jump." 

"I know," I said. 

"You shouldn't have shoved me. I could've broken my arm, too." "I know." 

"You keep this shit up and I' l quit." 

Geneva slapped a hand on his shoulder and pushed until he dropped an arm. "Suck it up, buttercup. It's over. Let's go down and see where we rank." 

A rush fi led me at her words and we moved into the elevator. The top ten teams advanced, so I felt fairly confident we'd made it to the next round, but things derail you when you least expect them. The elevator ride seemed twice as long as normal. The moment the doors parted, I shoved through, renewed by the thought of a win. We ran to the auditorium via the spectator route. The stage below us lay empty. 

We took seats in the auditorium with the students who hadn't participated in the physical legs. At the sound of rushing feet, we turned to the amphitheater's 

entrance. 

Thane and another contestant skidded around the corner, appearing at the top. Picking up speed, they headed down the roped off aisle side-by-side. There were no signs of any other teams. These two were competing for first. 

They reached the end of the aisle with the other guy one step ahead of Thane. He veered left, going for the stairs. From this angle, we could see the right set of stairs were positioned a few steps closer. 

The watching students shouted encouragement, and we tried to shout over them. "Right, Thane, go right." 

Thane ran straight. Using one hand against the front row of seats, he prope led himself onto the stage and into one of the ten circles. The crowd roared as he beat 

Lefty by at least four feet with his ridiculous, awesome leap. 

With the win, a rush of excitement fi led me and I leapt in the air, screaming, relishing the elation. 

Feet pounded down the aisles as the other runners vied for a spot in the top ten. We cheered for them, too. Kaitlin bounced up and down, one of her hands on 

Geneva's arm, one on mine. Geneva waved her fist in the air, and I screamed until my voice grew hoarse. 

The director moved to the lectern and clapped with waving arms. "Exce lent. Everyone, please take a seat. Winners of this round, join your Captain on stage."

Chapter Six

Winners. We'd smashed the competition. The director went on and on about our skil and speed. Lefty's team hated us. They turned and glared our way, four brawny guys, and my suitemate, Nevaeh. They had been the odds-on favorite and they were not proud to come in second. They were watching us now, but we were too high to care. I didn't even mind when the Alaskan folk music the coordinators liked to play kicked on. 

The director said, "Such an exceptional job." Everyone clapped except team Lefty. "Team Thane has earned the first reward." The crowd cheered. I stil ed, leaning forward. Kaitlin's arm tightened on mine. 

"Those of you who voted for Team Thane to win wil of course get a pass on an exam of his or her choosing." A few weak claps sounded through the auditorium. 

The director waved for the crowd to quiet, as if they'd been loud. "In addition, Team Thane members have won a day outdoors-a nature hike."

***

Two days later, we exited the habitat for the first time since orientation. The sun sank into my skin, and I nodded, almost giddy at the sensations. Fresh air. I 

breathed deep and shared a grin with my teammates. "We're number one," Geneva said. 

Kaitlin did a victory dance. 

Declan rol ed his eyes. "I'm headed down to the lake." He took off on a downward slope through the grass. Kaitlin's face lit up. "I want to see the water." She headed down to the lake with Declan. 

Man, we had a pool inside. "I'm going up," I said, pointing to the cliff, almost dizzy on the thin, fresh air. 

"Hikes wil be escorted until you know the area." Coordinator Steele tucked a strand of hair into her bun and scanned the heavy trees as if they were about to attack her. She snagged white berries from underneath a bush and started sucking on them. 

"You can't eat those," Thane said. 

The Enforcer ignored him and continued gnawing. With a sigh, she set off, going upwards at a slow trudge, flinching at every piece of brush. 

The branches flew back and we had to dodge them as we hiked behind her, taking the worst route on absolutely the best landscape: cold air, fal colors. I reached for some of the white berries myself, plucking a few from under some leaves. 

Thane slapped them out of my hand. "You can't eat those." He pointed to some dark blue, nearly black, berries. "Blueberries. Eat those." 

I snagged a navy one and popped it in my mouth. Ripe, sweet, bursting, the flavors exploded. The fruit didn't taste like any blueberry I'd ever eaten at home in my fast food yogurt. I grabbed a few more. 

Thane opened his mouth and I fed him one, remotely registering how odd that action was. What a wonderful day. I bent my knees and stretched, looking up at the pale blue sky, the white puffy clouds, the mountain. "First one to the top," I said. 

"No." Coordinator Steel's voice was sharp, but we al ignored her. 

The three of us sprinted, leaving the guide behind. We weren't in it for the race, just the freedom, the sensation. Geneva's laughter and Thane's heavy steps came from behind me. 

I ran until my side hurt, until I couldn't draw the thin air into my lungs anymore, until my legs burned, and then I sank to the ground. I rol ed onto my back, sucking in the oxygen, enjoying the bright rays of unfiltered sun on my face. When my breath came easily again, I ran my hands over the ground. The soft puff of wildflowers surged above the rough green grass. I hadn't pictured wild flowers in Alaska. I'd imagined mounds of snow and rocky edges. Flowers dotted the mountainside. 

Fast breathing and steps alerted me to company. Thane came into view, wearing his own wide grin. Hands on his hips, he wasn't as winded as me, but he wasn't 

as fast either. Red brushed his cheeks and he pointed. "Look," he said in a hushed whisper. 

Holy crap. I stil ed and stifled an instinctive retreat. A moose grazed in an open glen not far from us. Huge. Majestic. Real. For me, they had an almost imaginary status, seeing one up close was stunning. Thane lowered beside me, and we lay like that a long time, watching, maintaining our silent truce. He held a blueberry to my mouth. The edge of his thumb against my bottom lip felt warm. A rushing sensation hit the spot. I sucked the sweet blueberry into my mouth and bit my bottom lip to erase the feeling. 

"Hikers." Coordinator Steele's shout from far below was faint, but the moose's head lumbered up. His ungainly steps moved him out of the glen. "I want to go there," I said, looking at the opening, where the wild flowers edged the smooth surface, and a moose hung out. 

"Me too." 

"Hikers." The Enforcer's voice sounded strident and pissed. 

I sighed and Thane clenched his fist in the grass. We rose and turned with reluctant steps to edge back down. Thane clearly had climbing experience too. He knew how to use his feet. He took advantage of the natural holds in the earth. 

We met Geneva halfway down, lounging on a rock, and she fel in beside us, keeping pace until we got low enough to reach our annoyed guide. "Where were you? You went way too high," Coordinator Steele snapped. A twig stuck out of the side of her bun; it looked like an antennae. "Just climbing," Thane said. "Didn't you say to climb?" 

"Your time was up 30 minutes ago. We have to get back." She stomped flat-footed down the path, grunting with each stab from the thicket. She led with a quicker pace now that we walked in a direction she wanted. 

Our steps trailed behind, and we were distracted by every sight and sound, like my little brothers when we went anywhere. Fifty feet from the habitat, Geneva ran 

ahead, darted to the right, and crawled up some low boulders.

"We're going back." Coordinator Steele's tone said her patience had ended. 

"I think these are raspberries," Geneva yel ed, holding red berries high in her fingers and waving them at us. "I can take 'em and bake 'em." 

I wanted to check out the wild berry patch, but thought the guide's head would explode so I kept trailing her. With her long legs, Geneva could catch up easily if she wanted to. 

"Ew, what's that?" Geneva asked. 

"Get away from there," Thane said, his voice sharp and urgent. 

I heard the buzz of flies and smel ed the decay before I saw the carcass. "I think it's part of an elk," Geneva said. 

"Get away from it," Thane snapped, like Geneva wasn't already backing away with her shirt over her nose. Thane grabbed my arm, pul ing me left and downwards, making me walk faster. 

Coordinator Steele's mouth opened and closed in terror and her finger pointed straight out. A bear. 

He ambled beyond the nearest outcropping, tal er than the boulder behind him, blonde hair, smal round ears, shoulder hump. 

I stood there, stupidly thinking, I thought bears were brown. 

Thane froze beside me, and spoke very quietly, calmly. "Everyone stay stil . Let the bear go away." The bear rose on its hind legs. Oh. God. Tal , over six feet. 

Coordinator Steele screamed, jerking her arms wildly in the air, and ran. 

"No," Thane said. Geneva took off too. 

The bear charged, a mass of fur and muscles. 

Thane tightened his grip on my arm, holding me stil , keeping me from tearing after them. The animal stopped abruptly, dirt puffing around his tracks. Thane drew me back a step. Geneva had reached some trees and was climbing. 

Coordinator Steele continued running and screaming. The bear charged again, giving chase, moving fast. Thane tugged me down, face down, and put my hands over the back of my neck. "Be quiet, don't move." Geneva screamed. 

Thane rose and moved away from me. "Geneva, get higher. Get a lot higher," he said, stil using a soft voice but one loud enough to carry. 

I turned my head. Thane moved with cautious steps toward the trees. Geneva perched on a high limb, and the bear circled the base of the tree. Then the beast charged. 

Geneva lost her grip and I couldn't stop my scream as she hit the ground only feet from the bear. His muzzle swiveled toward us when Thane made loud noises and waved a stick, but only for a moment, then he turned and lunged at Geneva: clawing, biting. 

Thane ran toward them, and Geneva curled into a fetal bal , covering her head. 

The ground crumbled under my feet and I slid, skidding, trying to reach them too. Not thinking, just moving. 

Before Thane got to her, and long before I did, the bear stopped. He'd had enough, enough mauling, enough blood, I don't know, but he moved on. Geneva lay there, eyes closed, chest rising and lowering in shal ow breaths. 

"Go get help," Thane said, and lifted her. 

Geneva cried out in pain. 

I scrambled down the mountain, screaming as loudly as I could for help, and when I reached the habitat, I pounded on the door with both fists. The sides of my hands burned, but I didn't let up until the door opened. 

The Scientist stood on the other side. "The other two were back ages ago. Where have you been?" 

"Bear. Attack. Geneva." I gasped out the words and pointed toward the trail. Two of the other teachers pushed passed The Scientist. "Get inside." 

I ignored their instructions. With my hand pressed hard to my aching side, I fol owed. About ten feet up, I noticed something I'd missed on the way down. A 

sensible shoe abandoned below a huge boulder. I moved closer. Coordinator Steele lay sprawled behind it, unconscious. She must have slipped while hiding when the bear attacked Geneva. I bent and checked her breathing. Her eyes were closed but her chest rose and fel with ease. 

My fists clenched and I almost didn't want to cal for help. But this was as much my fault as hers. I'd known we needed gear. I'd known the hiking guide didn't 

know what she was doing. Her badge hung from her col ar: Teacher, Coordinator. She didn't deserve either title. I snatched the laminated card from the clip. 

Gravel crunched as two of the teachers came into view, carrying Geneva between them. 

Thane stared at me. "What?" His voice sounded breathless, and he bent, hands on his knees, sucking in air. I shoved the badge in my pocket. "Coordinator Steele must've slipped." 

The third teacher, The Scientist, ran to us, pushing me out of the way and bent to check the guide's vitals. I backed toward Thane. 

Additional coordinators had left the habitat and were running up the path toward us. "Go in now," one said. Thane and I left them to deal with the fal en guide and hurried through the door. A bunch of students had gathered near the entrance, blocking the way, trying to see out. They attempted to question us. 

"Let them through," a coordinator said. "This way." 

She ushered us to an elevator and from there, through the restricted area into a nurse's office. The clinic was extensive: lab equipment, cabinets, hospital beds. I'd

never seen anything like it outside of a hospital. The nurse's office back home consisted of an exam table, a desk, a sink, and a few cots. This deluxe arrangement made me worry how far we were from the nearest real hospital. 

The nurse who met us asked about the incident and any injuries. We had none. Next, she ran through our usual weekly health check questions. "How are you 

feeling?" 

Thane said, "Fine." 

I said, "Freaked. How is Geneva?" 

"She's in good hands, don't worry. Do you feel freaked regularly or is this new?" 

Her cool tone brought out the worst of my sarcasm. "It's new, since the bear attacked my roommate." "Is the feeling mild, moderate, or severe?" 

"Severe." 

She checked my pulse with cold fingers and noted something in the chart. "Do you think this wil keep you up tonight?" "I never sleep." 

Her head popped up from the paperwork and her eyes grew intent. "Since when?" 

I shrugged and didn't want to say, On and off for two years. 

"When you got here or before?" "Before," I said. 

She nodded and lost interest. "Check in with me tomorrow about your anxiety levels. I'l need an update daily until the symptoms resolve." 

At this point, I was wishing I'd just said fine, like Thane. I'd say it tomorrow. The loudspeakers came on and the blue light flashed. 

"Go ahead to the assembly," the nurse said. "You two are fine." "But Geneva..." 

"We'l take care of her, and your coordinator. Give them time." 

Neither of us had asked about the coordinator, but I was glad she'd be okay. We made our way to the amphitheater and were the last to squeeze into the back row: dirty, bloody Thane, and tear-streaked, unkempt me. I brushed my palms over my torn sweatpants and kept my gaze on the director, ignoring the students who stared at me and Thane with curiosity. 

The director spoke too close the microphone as usual and the metal ic echo was especial y strident today. "There have been some bear sightings. Wild bear, so 

until further notice, al outdoor activities have been suspended." 

Groans of protest covered the startled murmurs at the word bear. "Our decision is final." 

Thane stomped out of the amphitheater. The anger poured off him. He hit the wal with his fist. "What was that?" He didn't fol ow his question with muttered curses. The obscenities came out loud and clear. 

I had no clue what to say. I stood there, feeling the same outrage and worry about the whole weirdness of this place. 

"What kind of wilderness guide runs, screaming, from a bear?" I wet my dry lips and put a tentative hand on his arm. 

Thane said, "This place is whack, and I know you see it. Or are you just accident prone?" I dropped my hand, feeling like he slapped me. 

"What, walking away? Running off in the middle of the argument and planning something nasty as revenge later? You're good at that." 

He wanted to fight and I had a thousand things to shout back at him, a thousand reasons to scream. One thing held my tongue. One inescapable fact-Thane 

Tral wyn had just saved my life. I shook my head and ran off, leaving him in his blood-splattered anger. 

I stood under the shower way too long, and Kaitlin had returned by the time I got back. She seemed lost. Her eyes were teary, and she kept wringing her hands. I'd never seen Kaitlin without her chipper self-possession. I patted the bed beside me. She sank into me and sobbed. After a few minutes she sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Sorry." 

"She'l be fine." 

Kaitlin moved away and clicked on the big lamp. "We'l leave it on. If Geneva returns in the middle of the night, she'l know we were thinking of her." 

Geneva wasn't coming back tonight, but I didn't tel her that. I left her some hope. Besides, I'd never be the one to argue for darkness. I lay back and wondered what my family was doing: watching some reality show, eating TexMex, or hanging out. I wished I could hear Mom and Piper's take on what happened. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about the incident. 

I wouldn't have said I slept at al , but the flashing blue light woke me. I only had a moment free of memory before my gaze met Kaitlin's bloodshot eyes. 

"Geneva." Kaitlin twisted into a seated position. "She's fine. Right? Get dressed, and we'l go check on her." "Right," I said and scrambled up. 

Kaitlin lifted the smal mango lotion off Geneva's nightstand. "We'l take her stuff to the clinic later. And I can bake a Get Wel cupcake." 

I twisted my hair into a ponytail and lifted a navy sweatshirt over my head. Despite the chil , I normal y hated to wear the clingy thing, but today, I felt the cold worse than usual. 

We ran to the amphitheater, and got seats on the first row, close enough to have a view of the director's socks: one blue and one black. He was colorblind or lazy. 

I squeezed my eyes tight for a second. Our clothes didn't matter. I tried to get a read on the announcement by his expression but couldn't catch a clue from his sil y

putty face. 

As always, he waited until the last student sat before speaking. "After yesterday's misadventure, we decided it was time to break open some good news. I mean that quite literal y. As one of our favorite literary characters would say, 'A new game's afoot.'" 

"How's Geneva?" Thane shouted the question from the back. 

The director's mouth tightened. "Geneva and Coordinator Steele are doing wel . They need rest. We are not al owing visitors until they've recuperated. In fact, they may be sent home to get better. These decisions haven't been made. I'l update you when I can and wil send your wel wishes." He turned up the volume on his microphone. "Now, back to the game. Everyone, go out and retrieve your egg. Bring them back here." 

Because we were seated in front of the stage, Kaitlin and I were the last ones out, but like the others, we knew where our eggs hung. Everyone had been obsessing over these since the day we walked in, so the buzz of noise and excitement was high, except for me and Kaitlin. Today, we didn't care about the egg game. 

"I guess letting her rest makes sense," Kaitlin said, removing her egg from the wal , and poking at the seal with her index finger. "What do you think?" 

Hmm. I made a noncommittal sound. "We'l try to see her this afternoon." "Okay, yes." 

I snatched mine and turned to go back down to the amphitheater. We got seats in the middle this time. 

The director pointed at the kid nearest the stairs. "Come up here. Read the information inside your egg into the microphone." 

The student climbed the steps and swal owed. He assessed the crowd, tapped his egg on the side of the lectern, which made a few people laugh, then broke it open. "Uh, the shel has my own name, Bobby McQuire. Inside reads number 400,003, and 80%." 

The director chuckled. "High percentage." He clicked a remote control, and the overhead screen lit up. "You see, when we did those tests back at your old 

schools, we weren't only searching for the best and the brightest." 

I straightened, my gaze narrowing in. They'd hinted more than once that our selection wasn't random. 

"We were also looking for compatible pairs. We cal it the Soul Mate Project. To a high degree of probability, we matched you with other teens around the country. Then those of you with the highest compatibility were stationed together." 

Students shifted in their seats, but stayed silent, intent on his every word. 

"Using science, we have found your soul mates." The director typed on his laptop and the number 400,003 appeared on the screen. The image of a girl popped up next. "We wondered how many of you would find each other on your own, before we made this announcement. That's why last week's questionnaire asked you who you were dating." 

The girl on screen rose and walked down the aisle. 

"Creepy," I said, thinking how Geneva would make a wedding march joke, one that rhymed. "Compatibility." Kaitlin tilted her head and sat up straighter, her eyes interested. 

The director motioned for the next kid in the row to come up with his egg. One by one, he went through each row. 

If their soul mate program worked, I hadn't just screwed with Rhys's academic future, but also with his love life. My switch ruined two couples: Rhys and his match, Piper and hers. My palms grew sweaty, and the egg almost slipped from my tight grip. I was holding Piper's egg. No. Don't be stupid, Piper loves Jacob . She didn't want some random igloo guy, no matter what her compatibility exam said. 

The director said, "Now remember, this isn't 100%, but we believe in the science." 

He cal ed Kaitlin next. Yesterday, she'd seemed like one of those girls with two parents and a new car for her birthday. Nothing bad had ever happened to such a sweet face. This morning, she had shadows under her large sad eyes. "Kaitlin Hildebrandt, 678,324, 98%." 

The room ooh'd over her statistic. 98% was the highest they'd cal ed. "Thane Tral wyn." 

Oh God. This was her something bad. Kaitlin matched with Rhys 98%, not Thane. Rhys, who was back home. Should I warn her? Should I shut up? Should I tel 

Thane? I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth. 

A sharp nudge jabbed into my side. They must've cal ed my name. I rose, wiping the egg on the hem of my sweatshirt, and climbed the steps. I leaned toward the microphone, talking too loud. My words were accompanied by a metal ic piercing sound, and I read what was real y Piper's information, "Elena Carlisle, 222,987, 

60%." I hesitated over the name. 

"Declan Pritchard." I swal owed, and tried to make a nice smile. 

Declan jogged over, with a pout on his face. "Sixty percent? Whatever, it's probably stupid, but we should hang out sometime. You know, test their theory." 

I had no idea what to do. After wetting my dry lips, I said, "Sure." My voice squeaked. I don't have a squeaky voice. Girls were giggling around me, two of the new couples kissed. Ugh. "Um, sure, later." I headed down the steps. The director continued to announce names behind me. 

Declan fol owed. "You look kind of a mess. Did you just wake up?" 

"Yeah, I'l go clean up." I grabbed the excuse and picked up my pace, losing Piper's supposed soul mate at the exit. Wel , he had a 60% chance at being her match. On my way down the hal , I passed more than one crying girl. Sobbing. As if their boyfriends were going to break up with them over this stupid game. This was just a staged distraction to help us forget about their incompetence as guides. 

I didn't believe these tests for crap, but from the expression on Kaitlin's face and her pleasure over the 98%, she did. Thane might too, but not if I knew him at al . Stil , I had to talk to him. I had to tel him about switching his test with Rhys's. Not that he couldn't stil go out with Kaitlin and break her heart anyway, but he had to be told first. 

I stopped retreating, and turned on my heel, returning to the amphitheater. The lights had lowered and a silver disco bal hung overhead. The decoration screamed 

the age of the coordinators, much more so than the Alaskan folk tunes they pumped into the room. When I went home for the holidays, I'd play music 24/7, al kinds,

but nothing folksy and nothing Alaskan. 

The program cal ed for immersion, but we'd planned on having our own stuff: music, access to the Internet. Stupid earthquake. I'd suggested a climb down the crevice to retrieve our bags, but the coordinators had said no and painted an image of the earth contracting that had made me let go of the idea. 

As I searched the crowd of couples for Thane, I wondered who got Geneva's egg, and if he'd be al owed to see her. God. Claw marks. I shook the images out of my head and moved through the couples, wondering if this was the first time morning light had ever bounced off a disco bal . 

One of the sunbeams glinted against Thane's hair, giving the strands a bronze cast when his hair was more a sand-washed color. Kaitlin was whispering excitedly to him, words I couldn't hear, and people walked by, slapping Thane on the shoulder like he'd been amazing for coming up with a definitive 98%. I swal owed and stepped up to the couple. Thane seemed distant. Kaitlin's eyes shone glossy, big, and brown up close. No matter how this fel out, she'd at least be better off with the truth. 

I didn't care about Declan. Piper would hate that weasel. But Rhys was cool, and cute, even if he was a mess. I'd tel Kaitlin al about him and maybe she'd forgive 

me and not look at Thane as if he was her hero. 

Thane didn't seem enamored. His suspicious blue gaze switched to me and I swal owed. Would he stil keep my secret once he knew we didn't belong at the boarding school? Or would he try to give Rhys his shot? They'd said during orientation that no one could leave. But what about someone who wasn't supposed to be here? The knot tightened in my stomach and my voice came out a whisper. "Thane, may I talk to you a second?" 

Thane made one of his smirks. "Who'd you hatch? Unlucky bastard." 

I wet my lips again. 

Kaitlin seemed a little shocked, and slapped Thane on the arm with a light, playful brush. "Behave." 

Thane didn't have much patience for correction, at least not when it came to me. He straightened and said, "Later." 

Kaitlin's gaze flew from him to the people near them. Pink flooded her face. "You can't just leave me alone at the 'get to know your soul mate' mixer." "I'l send him right back," I said, trying to placate her, because Thane wasn't going to. I hurried after his stomping feet. 

When I caught up to him, Thane said, "There're about to break out the champagne and the engagement rings. None of them have given Geneva a second thought. Have they contacted her parents? Why can't we see her? Why did they send us out with an incompetent guide?" He stopped and turned to me. "You were going to run screaming too, weren't you? The bear could have gotten you. Turned on you." 

"Shh." I looked around. Normal y I wouldn't care if one of the coordinators took a shot at Thane, but I needed to admit everything without an audience. I had to 

confess before he and Kaitlin made some mistake, further screwing with Rhys's life. 

Thane crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't have time for your petty shit, Elena." 

"Okay, let's go back to the clinic. We'l check on Geneva for ourselves and then you can talk to me. Okay?" Thane straightened with purpose, and he strode directly to the elevators. 

I grabbed his wrist and shook my head. "They said no visitors. We won't get in that way." 

"Ah, I forgot, I'm standing beside someone who says, Why use the front door if we can crawl in through the ceiling tiles? What's your plan?" 

My first plan was to maintain my temper and ignore his return to the snarky-butt he'd been these last two years. He saved my life. I repeated it to myself: Thane saved my life. I stuck the side of my thumbnails between my teeth, thinking, not real y biting. Piper cal ed this my plot-hatching pose. Geneva had been working with me to stop the habit, because the biting ruined my nails and she thought they would look better if they consisted of more than chewed up nubs. Right now a nice manicure no longer mattered. 

"Wait here." I raced toward my room. Of course, Thane didn't wait. He stayed right behind me every step of the way. I went to the corner in the sty I cal ed my 

third of the room and dug through the dirty clothes pile, grabbing for the hiking shirt. Ignoring the browned, dried stains-Geneva's blood-I grabbed the badge and lifted it to show him. "When the coordinator fel ..." 

"What are you two doing in here?" Nevaeh asked from the doorway. "Practicing some egg-stasy?" 

I shoved the I.D. behind my back and schooled my expression into innocence as Nevaeh stepped in my room. She was holding hands with a guy I'd seen making out with a red-headed diver. I remembered, because he had red hair too and the flaming affection was difficult to miss. Guess he dumped the redhead for his egg soul mate. 

Thane moved behind me, taking the badge from my fingers despite my resistance. "We were saying our goodbyes." A heavy arm landed across my shoulders. 

"Weren't we, love?" "Uh." 

"Don't be shy now, everyone has a past." He bent his head toward me, reaching for my mouth. 

I jerked back a step, watching the smirk cover his pursed lips, and slapped him in the arm, hard. There was nothing playful behind my gesture. "Later, lover. We have an audience." 

"Lover?" A gasp came from the door, and a flushed Kaitlin looked at us with her wide baby-dol eyes. "Lover?" Her voice was soft. I don't think she'd ever said 

the word before, much less used it twice in a row. She appeared ready to faint. "I didn't know." Her eyes seemed tormented, going from me to Thane. 

I tried to convey an apology in my own. "Kaitlin, I'l explain later." 

Nevaeh leaned forward with greedy attention, eager for drama. "They're saying their goodbyes." Her blankets were so disappearing tonight.

Chapter Seven

"We'l talk later, Kaitlin," I said, as Thane towed me from the room. He must have stashed the keycard in a pocket because he was using both hands on me, steering me through the cafeteria toward the stairs. 

One of the video screens blinked on. Someone had framed the monitor with a cutout in the shape of a heart. Photos of each new couple flashed every two 

seconds. It was like a dating website gone live. Real y live. 

Thane slowed. "Not much for some people to do, I guess." He stopped at a copse of spruce trees. 

Each tree sheltered a couple. We checked the game room next. The few private nooks were al occupied by newly matched pairs. 

He tried to drag me toward the dorm rooms again and I jerked to a halt. "I know where to go." Not many people made out in laundry rooms, at least, not in my experience anyway. Not that my experience was extensive, not like Thane's. Stop it. This wasn't about making out. 

No one was on duty given the matching ceremony, so the dryers sat idle. Without their usual hum, the buzz of the overhead fluorescent lights sounded loud. The air was different too: cooler, less humid, but with the same soapy smel . I climbed on top and took down the grate, passing it to Thane. 

"Stash it there," I said, and swung up into the tube. He muttered something I didn't catch and fol owed me. We climbed. 

After we'd reached the plateau, I also showed him my newest discovery, the slots in the wal . "See these openings? I peeked through them, and think they drop down into the restricted area." I pried the seam and demonstrated. "I think this was supposed to be a laundry chute. Or maybe it stil is, and the janitor chooses not to use it." The large slot opened into a smal storage room: linoleum floor, brooms, discarded boxes. The smel of cleaning fluids wafted through the opening. Thane's mouth half opened in a sly grin and his eyes brightened. 

"We can..." I didn't finish the sentence. 

Thane swung onto the ledge, his broad shoulders fil ed the slot from one side to the other. He grunted and maneuvered to slide through, dropping the ten feet or so to the linoleum. The room was lit by the dul orange glow of a recharging dril . I flicked off the flashlight and left it behind. On the other side of the chute, Thane raised his arms. 

I assessed his six-feet plus height and the drop. His height, plus mine, wouldn't leave me far to fal . I curled into a seated position, swung my legs out of the opening, 

and pushed off, my feet swaying like a pendulum. Thane grabbed my hips. 

I shook my head. "I got this." His hands tried to guide my descent. My fingers clung to the edge. His fingers tightened harder. "Let go, I've got you." 

My fingers tightened. You had to trust someone to let go. I couldn't release my grip. "Move. I can make the jump." 

Thane grunted and yanked. I landed half against him and pul ed away as soon as my feet touched the floor. 

"Come on." Thane opened the door and stepped out into a grey hal way. I didn't recognize the area, but it had the same new carpet smel as everywhere else in the habitat, though the carpeting was covered with a plastic runner. The wal s up here were normal grey plaster, no faux ice blocks. 

My heart thumped faster than our slow pace warranted, and I tried to take even breaths. When we got to the first door, I dropped to my hands and knees to check for distortions in the light that would indicate movement in the room: nothing. I gave Thane a thumbs up, and he placed the coordinator's badge over the sensor. The light stayed red. He swiveled the card around, trying to make solid contact. The light changed to green and a metal ic click released the lock. We slipped inside. The room had an unused air. Plastic sheets covered the carpet, crinkling under our feet. I could see no visible purpose to the room: no equipment, no desks. We checked for staff and eased back out. Ahead of us, closed door after closed door lined the hal way, each one barred by a sensor panel. 

I desperately wanted to peek in and find out what they hid, but who knew when we'd be caught. If this was our best chance to see Geneva, we had to make it count. We slipped down the hal , hugging the wal to stay off the runner. Anytime we crossed it, no matter how softly I stepped, the plastic gathered and crunched. I flinched with each sound, and tried to make my strides longer, to match Thane's. 

We reached the intersection and froze at the blur of movement. Thane pointed. A mirror hung in the ceiling, showing both sections of the corridor. No one was 

coming. The flash I'd seen was our reflection. I rose from the crouch I hadn't realized I'd sunken into and fol owed Thane around the corner. The carpet here was uncovered. We were getting closer. A door stood ajar five feet ahead, revealing a room with a large conference table surrounded by empty chairs. Hugging the wal , we moved further down. To our right was more carpet and to the left, tile. 

"Tile," I said, barely above my breath. Thane lowered so his ear was closer to my mouth. "They wouldn't carpet a clinic. Too messy. And there was tile under our feet when we came in from the hike." 

He nodded. The further we walked, the heavier the medicinal odor grew. A heart rate monitor beeped. The mechanical rhythm was slower than my own thumping heart. 

I swal owed and looked into the room. Coordinator Steele lay in a bed with her eyes closed, hooked up to al kinds of machinery. The top of her head was 

wrapped in a bandage. She appeared not ashen or jaundiced but actual y green-tinged. On top of that, her skin had the oily sheen of an acne commercial. "I told her not to eat those berries," Thane said, his voice quiet. "You never eat white berries in Alaska." His voice didn't hold pity as he turned away. 

One door over, we heard more beeps. Dad's room had sounded the same after the accident. My muscles relaxed. The sound meant life. I stared at the entryway, and stiffened again, suddenly not wanting to go in. I didn't want to see the other side, my friend in pain. 

Thane had no such hesitation. 

Geneva lay stil , covered in bandages, but her dark eyes were open and they locked onto us with recognition. 

"Hey," I said softly and moved to her side. "We're not supposed to be in here, but I wanted to check on you, find out if you needed anything." "And that you were stil alive," Thane said. 

I refrained from kicking him.

Geneva swal owed and her voice came out in a hoarse rasp. "No, it's okay. Got me pumped ful of pain meds, so mostly sleeping." She looked at the door. "Everyone else okay?"' 

"Yeah. They aren't al owing visitors. So we had to sneak." 

Geneva nodded, and raised her bandage-covered hand an inch before letting it fal to the white sheet. "This is real, but I'l heal." Relief washed over me, and I grinned. Outside the room, wheels squeaked on the tile floor. "Okay, feel better, we gotta run." "Okay," Geneva's eyelids flickered lower. Al in al , she seemed better than the coordinator. 

I peered out and up, checking the hal way for mirrors, but there weren't any. I couldn't spot the source of the noise. I darted into the hal , heading for the unoccupied carpeted area. Thane sprinted too, pacing me, not pausing, racing to beat the sound of wheels on tile. 

We reached the utility room, and I slid inside and took a breath, palm to thumping heart. The vent seemed higher. Getting up would be harder. Thane didn't give me time to think. He grabbed some boxes and stacked them. "I'l go first and pul you through." He climbed up. 

We heard the wheeled sound again. 

At this point, Thane hung half out of the tube with the boxes below him. 

The wheels stopped. I jammed the broom handle under the door lever and unstacked the boxes as Thane slid out of sight. Behind me, the door handle depressed and the broom shook in warning. I leapt into the corner. The broom wobbled. I shrank down, trying to become invisible. The door opened, and I watched with a pounding heart as the janitor's yel ow cart shoved through. The door snapped shut behind it, leaving me alone. Steps sounded from the hal way, then silence. 

I shoved the cart flush against the door and crawled on top, balancing on the hard plastic edges. I held my hands up to Thane, feeling the pul in my arms as he lifted me up and over. We col apsed on the plateau and I grabbed one of my blankets, clutching the softness. Thane's chest rose in a steady motion. The back of his fingers rested against mine. 

I don't know how long we stayed there, but we didn't speak, not even when we rol ed up and headed back down the chute. Not until we jumped from the dryer to the floor of the laundry room, back to reality. 

My palms grew damp. I had to confess. "Thane..." I fol owed him, clearing my throat and spoke louder, "Thane..." 

He didn't answer. I swal owed my words, and fol owed him al the way to his dorm room. We needed privacy for this discussion anyway. 

We didn't have it. Kaitlin stood in the doorway of Thane's room, holding one of her cupcakes. "There you are. I made you this. It's strawberry. Uh. Hi, Elena." I took a step back. "Hi." 

Irritation flickered over Thane's face and his blue eyes held no hint of warmth when he looked at Kaitlin. 

Wait a minute. If Thane didn't like Kaitlin-if her pretty Cupie dol appearance didn't do it for him-then I didn't have to betray Piper. My tension eased with the realization. Thane wouldn't be fal ing for Rhys's match, so Kaitlin wouldn't be hurt. This would al work out. "Catch you guys later," I said, and jogged down the wolf hal way. 

I patted the painted snout of one of the running wolves as I turned the corner and almost bumped into The Scientist. "Sorry," I said, stepping out of his path. Teachers seldom ventured down here. 

He waved a smooth arm. The laboratory coordinator wasn't overly muscled. He moved with the weird fluid grace of a bal et dancer. Something about him creeped 

me out, or maybe I was just disil usioned by al the coordinators now. I stepped around him with a fake smile. 

He said, "How is your anxiety, Elena? Mild, moderate, or severe?" "Gone," I lied and picked up my pace.

***

In Biology class, we'd learned that the soul mate program hadn't seen much success. The Scientist put charts and graphs on the smart board and pointed out our failings. He concluded that teenage rebel ion created the problem. We didn't like our matches because they told us to like our matches. Therefore, al couples had to put forth more effort. They mandated date night. 

I didn't want to go out with Declan, not now, not ever. But oddly enough, I sat here, spearing a tater tot on a fork, opposite my faux soul mate. I chewed the crispy oblong potato and thought about laundry. My shift had caused date night to start late. With Declan pouting about how hungry he was, I hadn't even had time to shower or change. Sure, we al wore sweats 24/7, and Kaitlin always said I smel ed like fabric softener after my shifts, but my hair frizzed, and I would have liked the chance to redo it. Out of everything we'd lost when our bags had been swal owed by the earth, I missed my hair products the most. 

Declan sat across from me, flicking a crumb with his forefinger. "Everyone blames us for messing up the hike. No one can go outdoors because you guys screwed

up."

"What?" I brought my focus back to him and off the next bite. 

"Yeah, if you guys hadn't screwed up, we wouldn't be on lockdown." 

The cabin fever had been getting to me too, but I wasn't jumping down his throat about it. I wanted out of here as much as everyone else. No, more. I'd tasted

freedom, and this hamster habitat hadn't been my first pick to start with. "I'm from Texas. We don't have bears. Of course, I didn't know what to do." Declan didn't respond and his pout puffed out his lower lip. Sulking became my least favorite quality in a man. 

I jabbed my fork at the tray, spearing a runaway tot. We'd been on a real veggie kick lately and tots were as high calorie as the meal got. If the waist on my sweats got any looser, I'd have to drop a size. Or, maybe al the climbing was slimming me down. I thought they were supposed to fatten us up for the winter to conserve body heat. Instead, they'd placed us al on diets. Whatever. I pushed my plate away, rejecting the broccoli squash casserole. Make peace, I told myself, because I didn't 

need a new fight. Piper wouldn't thank me for it later, when al this came out. Not that this loser could be her match. I'd never believe that. I needed a new topic. "Are

you ready for Round Two?" 

Declan said, "I hear there might be a reward after Round Two. We need a do-over since our last reward was ruined. Redemption, man." "The reward is you advance to the Final Round and win a trip home." I swal owed and attempted a smile. "Any news from your family?" "Of course, I get the weekly email transcriptions, like everyone else." 

I tried to look interested, widening my eyes and lifting my eyebrows. "Where are you from again?" 

"Nebraska," Declan said with an impatience that told me he'd already shared that fascinating tidbit. He smashed another crumb between his fingertips and the table. "My little sister got an 'A' on her English test, and they al went to a movie to celebrate. I'd kil to go cruising, mudding, anything, to get out of here. But we can't. You know. The bear and al ." 

He said the word bear with doubt, as if he didn't believe we'd seen one. How did he think Geneva got hurt, if it wasn't a bear? 

"It's about my bedtime," I said. "You know, a sleepy inhabitant's an unhappy inhabitant." I popped up and left him alone with my tray of half-eaten dinner. He could return it and be happy I didn't throw it in his face. That was what guys did on dates here. The height of romanticism was carrying your date's tray to the tray return. Geneva used to make the best stupid military jokes about the tradition. Lead, follow, or pick up my tray. 

I glanced up at the restricted area. When were they going to let us visit Geneva already? Kaitlin and I asked daily, but no go. I stomped into the hal and down to 

our room. Empty, though a new envelope lay on my pil ow. I flipped onto my back and ripped it open. Hope you are doing well, blah, blah, blah. All is so great here. The money is coming in handy with the bills. Thank you. I shifted onto my side and scrunched up my pil ow. 

Kaitlin tiptoed in. "We're 98 % compatible, so how come my date with Thane was so bad?" Her words made me feel guilty, so I lowered my eyelids as if I were fal ing asleep. 

The sound of a fist beat on the wal , bang, bang, bang, and Nevaeh yel ed from the other side. "Can y'al shut up already, and turn out the lights?" I sat up, crawled out of bed and spritzed Geneva's mango perfume under the door into the shared bathroom. Nevaeh hated the smel . 

Kaitlin giggled, curled into her bed, and flipped off her lamp. That left one on. "Kaitlin." 

"Yes?" 

"Would you want to see if we could get out of here somehow for a few hours?" 

"What do you mean? Outdoors are prohibited right now because of the bear." Her cheeks leached of color and her eyes took on a distant look. "Did you know people are blaming us?" 

"Yeah, I heard." I lay back on my pil ow. "Did you read your note from home?" 

"They mixed mine up with someone else's. It said, Your little sister got an 'A' on her paper, so we went out to a movie to celebrate . I don't have a sister. I 

went to ask and at least four other people got the same message. The coordinator said they were working on the Internet connection." "Declan got that email too." 

The glowing lamp reminded me of al the nights my sister let me keep the light on, and I swal owed the lump in my throat. I didn't even know if my message came from my family, not with al the mess-ups lately. I'd have to find out who transcribed these. When I found him, he'd lose dryer sheets privileges until he got them straightened out. 

I flicked a finger at the blanket and my stomach felt hol ow. "I didn't get much for dinner. Do you have any more of those cupcakes?" 

"No. I gave the blueberry ones to Thane. I'l bring you one tomorrow." She sounded pleased I'd asked. "Thanks." I flipped to my other side. "I think I'l go find something. You want anything?" 

"No, thanks." Kaitlin sounded sleepy. 

I threw on the sweatshirt and went back to the corridor. We didn't have lights out or curfews, so I didn't worry about getting caught. I wandered, exploring like I 

often did at night. Al the closed doors gave me an idea. I knew what I could do, but I needed the keycard to make the plan work.

Chapter Eight

I tapped on Thane's door. "Thane," I whispered at the seam and tried the knob. He roomed with Declan, and I wondered, not for the first time, if their sharing caused Declan's random placement to our team. Their dorm room was configured the same as ours even though the space held only two guys. Instead of mango, their room smel ed like cologne, and everything was suspiciously neat. I bet one of their girlfriends cleaned for them. 

Both guys were inside, though they didn't get up at my knock. Thane lay across his blankets, tossing a soccer bal between his hands. He wore black sweat pants and an olive T-shirt stretched tight over his chest. With blue eyes, he shouldn't have looked so good in green, but he did. 

Declan stood going through a chest. He wore navy sweats, like me, and turned at my entrance. I didn't care how he looked. 

A cocky grin crossed Declan's face and he abandoned the chest. "What do you want? It's midnight." 

"It's not even ten." I stepped inside, hoping my next words would make it clear that I had no intention of playing his Cinderel a fantasy. "Thane has something I 

need for one of our projects." 

"Sure," Declan said. "What, did you want to hang out?" "Um, no. Got to work on that thing. Right, Thane?" 

Thane didn't respond. I moved closer to his bed. I'd do more than short sheet his extra-long twin if he kept the badge from me, maybe dry his sheet with salt. The bal thumped between his hands and his eyes flicked to the lamp on this nightstand. 

Please, I have siblings, the eye flick gave him away. I backed over to the nightstand, trying to look casual, and perched on the edge. Thane bent a knee and pushed up straighter. I knew he could see my hands going for the base. I felt underneath, searching, and touched a laminated corner. With a smal motion, I eased my prize forward. 

"Whatever, I'm going out." The second Declan cleared the door I secured my hold and moved to jerk away, but Thane had great reflexes. He snared an arm around my waist and pul ed. 

Oomph. I landed on his hard chest and slid to the side of the bed. "The keycard is mine." 

"I'm not ready to let your card go just yet." His voice softened. "Are you going to see Geneva?" 

My cheeks heated at his kind question, forcing honesty out of me. "No, I'm going kind of cabin-fever crazy. I thought maybe I'd take a short walk-outside." Thane's head tilted and his eyes widened with blue intentness. "Outside?" 

I spoke in a rush. "Not far, near the perimeter, or maybe I'l hike up to the airfield." 

Thane bounced out of bed with unflattering speed and grabbed hiking boots from the back of his closet. "Let's go." 

"Uh, okay." His enthusiasm stirred mine higher and my idea went from possible to probable. "The grate in the laundry room vents outside. If we go through there, we won't have to risk the monitored exits. I only want the badge as a precaution." 

"Yeah," he said and fol owed me, sticking by my side, throwing an arm over my shoulders. If we caught the gaze of any late night wanderer, we looked like any other couple out for a strol . 

The first week here, no one wandered but me, but lately people moved around at wil . The end of the midnight sun was messing with everyone's sleep patterns. 

We reached the laundry room and I turned on the light. Thane flipped the switch back off and I froze. "I need the light to see the way out," I said in a strangled tone. 

The overheads buzzed back on and I breathed again, moving toward the grate. "Steam exits through here and out." 

Thane nodded. "At home, our laundry room vents through the bricks, but the opening's the size of a piece of paper. Neither of us would fit." 

"Industrial-sized drums, industrial-sized vents." I didn't describe the utility room at our trailer. Its ventilation system consisted of a thin silver hose hanging out a window. The foil tore regularly and we repaired the rips with duct tape to stop the little fuzzies from escaping and flying around the singlewide. And we were the lucky ones. More than one trailer let their unmentionables dry on an outside line, and several carried baskets to their cars, which meant a Laundromat. 

Two years ago, at my old house, I didn't even know vents existed. I took the utility room for granted. Back then, I took everything for granted. I breathed out the memory and reached for the bolts. I pried at one. It didn't budge. "Hmm," 

"Got any tools for this escape plan?" 

"I didn't plan this. Do you know where they keep the tools? What's your job?" "I sort the library." 

I stopped twisting and examined his big body: broad shoulders, muscled arms-what a waste of his strength. "You're kidding? I cart heavy loads of sheets out of these dryers and you alphabetize books?" 

"Within subgenre of course." 

I blew out a breath. "Wel , that'l real y help us." 

Thane twisted the bottom bolt. "That's not going to come off without tools." 

I thrummed a finger against the cold metal. During the day, the surface warmed with heat from the dryers. But at night, it cooled to match the outside air. My heart jolted at the possibility. "Let's go back up." I pointed to the ceiling. "Utility closet." 

"Okay." 

We sailed through the ascension, and handled the tube drop like circus pros. Though cautious once our feet hit the restricted room, I stil clicked on the overhead light. Bingo. Several tools hung off the side of the cart. Thane sorted through them. He snagged a wrench and a pair of pliers. I grabbed another flashlight and lay a mop against the side, so it would seem as if it had fal en into the tools. 

"Okay, let's go," Thane said.

I hesitated a moment, looking at the door to the hal way. "We should check on Geneva." 

He nodded. "First, let's stow these." He lifted me, and I shoved the tools through the chute. They landed with a loud clang. I winced and held my next breath, but no one came running. 

Thane eased me down and we went out into the hal way. One careless step onto the plastic runner and my hiking boots clung to the plastic. It was like the time my sister microwaved a frozen chicken too long. We had to throw it out because the plastic wouldn't come off. 

I kicked to get free. The rip threatened to reach both sides of the wal . "Hold stil ." Thane bent and undid my laces, then his own. 

I wiggled out of my shoes, and we threw them into the utility room. Jogging back with quieter feet, we made our way down the dark corridor. 

Nighttime running lights edged the carpet like at the movie theater, lighting our way to Geneva's sickbed. The room lay dark and empty. My gaze flew up to Thane. His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed. 

A footstep sounded on the tile. 

Thane grabbed my arm and we ran, retracing our steps. 

A male voice echoed toward us, distorted by the distance. "I'm tel ing you, it's not working." 

The intersection lay another ten feet away. Top speed wouldn't be enough. If they looked up, they'd spot us in the mirror. 

I slapped the badge on a sensor. We fel into the nearest room, and the door closed with a soft snick. Squatting low, I struggled to keep quiet. My gaze glued to the light under the door, watching for shadows that would indicate movement. 

I recognized the thin nasal tones of The Scientist. "We're not on schedule." 

I recognized the other voice too, Coordinator Steele. "You don't know that. We don't have al the results yet." "Maybe there's more we could do: their food, their drinks. Something." 

"Later, but not yet. We don't want to have negative side effects." "You don't understand science. A negative effect is stil an effect." 

Every muscle rigid, I held my breath. The light under the door wavered, revealing their passing shadows. Thane tensed and rose, his usual nonchalant stance gone. 

He stood as tight as a freshman facing the principal's office for the first time. 

"Coordinator Steele's better." I looked up at him from my squatting position. "What do you think they're talking about?" 

Thane took my elbow and raised me. Now that my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I could see the room better. The space was bigger than I'd thought. Labeled vats lined the wal s. 

Thane tore one of the white labels off. 

"I-" 

Thane pocketed it and shook his head. "Shh. Not now. Let's get out of here." 

We snuck back out and thankful y didn't run into anyone else on our way to the utility room. After grabbing our shoes, we jumped through the chute. Sitting on the platform, my shaking fingers had problems with the ties, and I had to do the loops twice. I sank back to the plateau floor, and concentrated on deep even breaths, trying to calm down. 

Thane handed me the torn label and I clicked on the flashlight. Bolded words read, Capable Tech Pharmaceuticals, CT-8180503. Lot 45682. Expiration 

March 2020. For experimental use only. "I don't get this." 

"Don't you? They cut us off from the outside world, and now they're experimenting on us with a vitamin regimen." 

"Maybe vitamins are something you have to take living in Alaska. Frozen winters. Nothing to do. I don't know." My voice took on a shril edge and I cupped my palms over my eyes as if not seeing would help. "Maybe they're for some future science experiment, or-" 

"It's not tragic, just stop taking the vitamins." Thane drummed his fingers on the side of the tube. "I'm headed back down." He crawled away two steps before I voiced what we were both were thinking. "Where do you think Geneva is?" 

Thane didn't look back and he didn't sound convincing when he said, "Probably airlifted home to recuperate, like the director said." "Maybe. Leave the tools." 

"No." 

"Yeah, I'l work on the bolts during my shift. We'l get out on the next sunny day, and we'l hike to the nearest town. Check in at home, then cal Geneva's family in 

Seattle." 

Thane nodded. "We could hike to the airstrip. There has to be communication there. For now, lay low and don't lose your temper." 

"I'l try." I didn't say anything else as he dropped the tools and left. I scooted to the other end of the platform near the dome, and lay back, staring at the night stars.

***

I had a simple plan: loosen the bolts, remove the grate, and explore outside. But other students kept coming into the laundry room, wanting to chat about the upcoming competition, or their soul mates, or some other random topic. They'd never bothered me until I needed them to be gone. 

At the end of my shift, I'd made progress with one bolt. I hated to admit it, but I needed Thane's strength, or cooking oil from the kitchen. I hid the tools behind the 

dryer and headed out.

Kaitlin caught me in the hal . "Hey." 

Sometimes I felt guilty about not tel ing her about Geneva, but the only thing I could say would upset her and get us in trouble. I didn't want Kaitlin dragged down with us. Right now, she could truthful y deny al knowledge of my wrongdoings. 

Kaitlin said, "Declan's been looking for you. I think it's about the dance tonight." 

My mouth twitched to the side in instinctual revulsion. I'd rather be on a blind date than go out with Declan. "I'm not real y feeling it with Declan." I paused. "And maybe you shouldn't have so much faith in these soul mate statistics. Love's not a statistic." 

"True." Kaitlin's voice softened. "But if it were, then 98 is pretty high." 

"It is. Um, and on a random note, I'm not taking their vitamins anymore." 

"My parents don't believe in vitamins, but if they make you feel better." She shrugged. 

"They don't." I don't know if that was strictly true. Other than my guilt over Rhys and my worries about Geneva, I'd never felt better. "I don't trust The Scientist who gives them out." 

"Why not?" 

"Why won't they let us visit Geneva?" "True." 

I fol owed her back to our dorm, thinking about the dance, and staying under the radar. Lay low. I agreed with Thane on that much. 

"We got a shipment of special dresses," Kaitlin said. "I hung ours on the shower to steam out the wrinkles." 

I felt a ridiculous rush of joy at the thought of wearing anything other than T-shirts and sweats. "I don't know how they can get clothing shipments in, but not the 

Internet." 

Kaitlin giggled. "Wait 'til you see it." I groaned. "Navy or olive?" 

"Nope." Her look became mischievous and when I caught sight of the dress I knew why. Red: slit down to there and up to there, backless, no way Mom would let 

you wear it, red. I swiveled the dress on the hanger. "Would you wear something like this back home?" "Never." 

I wouldn't dare wear something this trashy. However, staying under the radar meant fitting in-and that meant uniforms, even if they were slutty red dresses. Besides, if I had to wear the sweats to one more outing, I'd pul a Scarlet O'Hara and make a dress out of the wolf wal paper. 

"We get slutty shoes, too." Kaitlin held a pair of black super-high heels in the air, suspended on her index finger by black bal et ribbons. 

"Those are meant for a walk of shame in bright morning light." Kaitlin laughed. "I kind of like the shoes." 

I did too. I peeked into the hal way to see if others were real y wearing them. A sea of red strode in the direction of the amphitheater. The dresses were cut the same, but no one looked the same in them. The skirts were super short on the tal girls. They looked like models on those fashion-designer reality TV shows. The ones where the designer used up al his fabric, so he made a skirt out of his remaining strip, then he sent the model down the runway, hoping the judges wouldn't notice. 

I went to the bathroom and slipped on the dress. Being just above average height, the skirt fel to a decent mini-length on me, but my boobs curved out of the low 

neckline in a way that would have had Mom driving me to Walmart for a tank. 

Kaitlin tugged at her straps. "OMG." 

I laughed. The skirt fel to a respectable length on her, but her upstairs pushed the limits of the top worse than mine. I held up Geneva's mango perfume and spritzed the air in front of her, and then in front of me. "For luck." 

A knock sounded on the door. 

Declan stood on the other side, waiting. 

I tried to remember why I'd agreed to go to the dance with Declan, but the decision seemed so long ago. Now that stupidity was staring at me in greeting. "Hi, ya," Declan said. 

His dark hair waved straight back and he looked handsome in his black tuxedo. Even his good looks irritated me. I kept wondering if Piper would like him, then 

got mad for giving any credence to the soul mate project. "Hi." 

"You look real y hot. Like, real y hot." Declan's gaze didn't lift higher than my chest. 

I hated the note of surprise in his voice almost as much as I hated his choice of cologne. He wore a beachy, coconut scent. The fragrance didn't smel bad, but the summer hues reminded me of everything missing in Alaska. 

Kaitlin scooted around me. "See you two later." 

Declan stepped aside to let her pass, and his gaze shifted from my chest to hers. Kaitlin placed one hand over her gaping neckline, and let the other swing by her side. I bet she'd maintain the modest pose al night. 

I cleared my throat so he'd look up. "Can you come in a second so we can talk in private?" Bril iant, invite a boy you don't like to your bedroom when everyone else is going in the other direction. My face heated and I didn't know how to retract the offer. 

Declan glanced down the hal . "We don't want to be late. They announce surprises in the beginning." 

How deflating. I pul ed the door closed behind me and joined him, meeting him shoulder to shoulder. Matching his height was one of the good things about my super-high heels. I blew out a breath and wiggled my pinkie toes in their cramped cages. "So, we only matched 60%, right?" 

A faint flush covered his cheekbones and his steps slowed. "Yeah, so what?"

"Wel , from what's been said, they coupled the highest percentages first, then filtered through the rest. Other girls probably matched you with a much higher score than I did." 

Declan straightened his lapel. "How do you mean?" 

"Wel , say a girl matched some guy at 90% and you at 89%. They assigned her to the other guy and stuck you with the next girl on the list, right?" We walked on, nodding to some of the other couples. He seemed to know a bunch of them. 

"So?" Declan drew me out of the main traffic. "What are you saying?" 

"We're not compatible." I left the rest unsaid: even if I were Piper, she wouldn't be interested. "You're breaking up with me?" 

We were together? "Kind of." 

"Right before the dance? Cool move, Elena, you're a real sweetheart." Declan pivoted and stomped back into the crowd. 

I went the other direction. My hands shook and I didn't know why I felt so rattled, but I did what I always did when I was upset here in Alaska. I climbed to the platform, and stared up at the stars. 

Country music wafted through the air and I stil ed. We'd heard nothing but Alaskan folk tunes since we arrived. This music, coming from beyond the utility room, reminded me of home. Without thinking, I descended the chute and went to get the only other person I knew who would appreciate the discovery in the same way. 

Bracing against the archway entrance, I tilted sideways to slip my shoes back on and paused to enjoy the scene: women in red, men in black, al carefree under the 

domed night sky. Music pumped through the speakers, the native Alaskan tunes they played al the time. The current song was about a whale and a harpoon. 

Searching, I spotted Thane easily. He was one of the tal er guys, and like at home, he had a crowd around him. He hadn't taken Kaitlin to the dance, and I had no problem interrupting him with anyone else. I shoved right between two girls, ignoring their annoyed stares and the abrupt stop of conversation. "Thane, come with me." 

His eyes warned me he wasn't in the mood to indulge anyone. "What now?" 

Again, I didn't care. I grabbed his tuxedo-covered arm and tugged, disregarding the curious gazes in his group as easily as I had ignored the hostile ones. "Come on." Thane had several inches on me even with the heels, but I stood much closer to his height than ever before. I used the angle to an advantage, imploring him with my gaze. 

Thane nodded and stepped outside his circle to fol ow me. 

When I crossed the archway again, I slipped off my shoes and ran. 

We reached the laundry room. I dropped my shoes by the dryer and hopped up, while trying to maintain some modesty. Thane leaned against the edge of the machine. "Is it Geneva?" 

I stil ed. "No, nothing like that. Nothing about this place." 

"I thought we agreed to lay low. You should hold off on the climbs." 

Now wasn't the time to tel him I slept up there sometimes. How to explain? To say I heard music and it wasn't Alaskan folk music sounded too simple, too smal . To say it sounds like home would take too long to explain. For al I knew, the music had already stopped. I reached up and lifted through, starting the climb. "Do what you want." The worst lead climber ever, I never looked back, just ascended. 

The sounds of him climbing behind me told me he fol owed. He muttered something under his breath when we reached the plateau, but I didn't ask him what he 

said. I moved to the back of the platform, where the dome met the ceiling, lay flat, and patted the floor by my side. 

Thane dropped beside me, his tal body taking up much of the space. His warmth and life chased away the empty feeling brought on by night. The music washed through the air. 

Back home, I wouldn't have said I liked country music very much. Country would have ranked third on my playlist. But here, the rhythms sounded like home. I 

swal owed a lump in my throat. 

Thane turned his head. "How are we hearing this?" "I think maybe the cleaner left it on," I whispered. 

"Texas." His voice sounded reverent. He relaxed and stil ed beside me with the back of this hand against mine, close enough for me to feel his warmth. Above us, high in the sky, pink, green, and blue lights swirled amid the stars, the aurora borealis. 

"Wow," Thane said. His fingertips touched the dome. He traced the glow. 

The music surged around us as a new song kicked on. Alaskan Northern Lights swirled above us and sounds of Texas played around us.

***

Later, we walked to my room, holding hands, but not talking. Thane kept time on the back of my hand, silently playing out the last song we heard. Each press brought a lingering memory. We stopped at the door to my dorm, not wanting the moment to end. 

He closed his hands over my bare upper arms, lowered his head, and kissed me. There was no lengthy delay, no questioning blue eyes, just Thane's mouth on mine. He tasted like mint, and Northern Lights and home. And he used his whole body in the kiss, every facet of him focused on me. 

I pressed into him, trying to understand the sensations, but quickly lost the ability to think. I touched his hair, and he shoved me back. The weight, the hardness, the sensations felt wonderful. 

The door at my back moved, and I stumbled into the dorm room with Thane's arms around me. He lowered me to the mattress, his lips on my neck. I clutched his 

shoulders, not letting him move away. A tingling sensation spread through my skin, and I pressed up against him, searching for his mouth. 

"You keep the lights out, sometimes, I see." Nevaeh opened the door from the bathroom and a fluorescent glare shone into the room. She giggled and her voice

came loud and sarcastic. "You two are so cute. Now tel the truth, were you a couple back home?" Thane jerked away, off me, off the bed, and backed up a step. 

I lifted to my elbows and my insides twisted at the question. Back home? No. We were not a couple back home. We could never be a couple back home. "What?" Her head swiveled between us. "What'd I say?" Our expressions must've warned her she'd said something disastrous. She grinned. 

"Nothing," I said. 

"Whatever." The door snicked shut behind her retreat. "I'l , uh, I'l catch you later," Thane said. 

The door to my room closed behind him, leaving me alone. I reached for the lamp and turned the switch on before dropping to the pil ows.

***

Kaitlin plopped down on her bed, raised her feet high in the air, and toed off her stilettos. "These don't fit me right." She tossed them in her corner of our messy room, and rubbed her arches. "Al girls are not supposed to wear the same shoe style. My feet are on fire." She rol ed toward me. "I miss shoe shopping." 

I swal owed, not wanting to think about home. "Did you have fun? Dance a lot?" 

"Yeah." She sighed. "At first it embarrassed me when Thane didn't ask." One shoulder shrugged, and her voice sounded wistful. "Everyone always talks about our 

98% match being the highest in the habitat. But we just don't seem to click. Wel , we do okay as friends and teammates, but not as dates." 

My face heated and I wanted to say something before Nevaeh did, but I'd dug a hole so deep, I didn't know where to start. I turned off the big lamp and clicked the little one as a concession. 

Kaitlin turned off her own, darkening the room. I rol ed to the edge of the mattress so I could see the light under the door as I tried to fal asleep.

***

The next day, heat steamed up the laundry room. I emptied the dryers and shoved new wet loads in. The guy assigned to the shift before mine must have worked more diligently than me-al the machines had been ful . I set the button on low so the clothes would take longer to dry, and walked down the row, pressing start. The machines hummed into motion, making a soothing, tumbling noise. 

I moved to the grate and ignored the immovable bolts in favor of working on the sealant. Using a butter knife I'd pocketed from the cafeteria, I chipped away at the white rubber. Satisfaction surged each time the knife slipped through the seam and clanked against the metal vent. Progress. No doubt an easier way to remove the seal existed, but without the Internet or a cal to Dad, the rounded, dul knife would have to do. 

After my shift ended, I stashed my tools, showered, and went into the kitchen. The baking area smel ed like chocolate and cinnamon. I breathed in deeply. "Hey," I 

said to Kaitlin, who stood working alone today. 

Kaitlin looked up from behind a pile of cupcake pieces. "Hey." She lined one on top of another, forming a pyramid. 

I didn't doubt she'd get the structure built, but did wonder how she'd transport something so tal without the wal s col apsing. Leaning against the counter, I watched in silence for a while, and took in the industrial sized supplies: sugar, flour, cooking oil. I noted the location of the cooking oil, and made a plan to get it when I returned my dinner tray. 

"I'm making a smal one for Geneva in case she returns today." 

Kaitlin often broke my heart with comments like that. When she made cupcakes for the team, the container always held an extra one for Geneva. 

I joined her against the wooden butcher block and lowered my voice, though there was no one else in the room. "There's something I want to tel you, a secret. About Geneva." 

Her hands immediately stil ed and she turned her big brown eyes up to me. "What?" I explained how I saw Geneva in the clinic, before she left. 

"And you didn't tel me?" Her voice rose. 

"We snuck in, and I didn't want you to have to lie." "We?" 

"Me and Thane." 

"Oh." Her gaze dropped to the cupcakes and she picked up a pliable spatula and slathered butter cream icing around the base. "How was she?" Concern replaced her outrage. 

"Bandaged and weak, but awake. I hope the director sent her home, and maybe he did. But I don't know." I blew out a sigh and spoke fast. "I should have told you before now, but I didn't want you to have to lie. But I was wrong, I should have told you. I'm sorry." 

"Okay." Kaitlin stacked another brick, her expression thoughtful. 

Her lack of anger made me feel worse. I'd have been furious about the secret, about Thane. She was a far better person than me. I shoved my guilt aside. "Need any help?" 

"Sure, carve out some more blocks." 

"Okay." The carving knife slipped right through the spongy chocolate cupcakes with no resistance. My hand tightened around the handle, and when we were done with the stack and Kaitlin had inserted toothpicks into the top stone to hold the structure in place, I fil ed the dishwasher for her, loading everything except one carving knife.

Chapter Nine

I escaped the kitchen, feeling bad. The guilt I carried about the switch compounded every day. Surely, if Rhys cared, he would have contacted me. I would have tried to reach him again, but I still doubted our emails were going to the right addresses. 

Thane grabbed my arm and towed me over to the wall, effectively pulling me out of my head. I breathed in his cologne. 

He thumped one of the posters. Its painted words advertised the next dance: Bring your soul mate and rock out in celebration of Round Two. "You going with 

Declan?" "No." 

"I'm supposed to ask Kaitlin." "I know." 

He lowered his voice and tugged me closer. "You've got nothing else to say?" I swallowed. "You can't invite Kaitlin." 

"Why not?" His thumb brushed the blue veins in my wrist and the sensation made my hand jerk. His eyes sharpened. "Why?" 

"She's not your match." 

He stepped closer. "No?" He sounded playful. 

I closed my eyes a second. "She's Rhys Zukowski's match." Thane stilled, and the fun tone left his voice. "What?" 

I retreated a step. "I was upset that day in the principal's office and I switched your results with Rhys's." Good or bad, the relief that swamped me in that moment 

of truth was everything. My stomach unknotted and I let out a breath. "I wrote your name on top of Rhys's results and his on yours." 

Every bit of tension I'd released seized his body. "You put my name in the winning pile, and you took Rhys's out?" His voice rose. "Why would you do that?" "That's not what happened. You spilled cranberry juice on me, and I got mad, and when I-" 

"Juice? This is over juice? I accidently knocked into you." 

"You did it on purpose." 

"I did not." His voice flattened. "When I realized I bumped you, I acted like I did to piss you off. It was an accident. You thought it was okay to screw up my future over an accident?" 

"The placements weren't random. I knew they'd pick you. Your parents did too. Remember? They said they started packing." 

"So you thought you were giving Rhys a shot and stealing mine?" Thane looked at me as if I'd slapped him. "Who are you?" 

"I was mad and I reacted. My actions weren't part of some master plot." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Rhys could have been chosen. He's smart, athletic. You just can't tell because he works after school, so he can't go out for sports. And half the time he's asleep in class because he worked the night before." 

"So why didn't you say something when they called my name? Why didn't you make sure?" My stomach churned and shook. "The situation is complicated." 

"Too proud? Like your dad? Your dad could've taken the settlement and made your life easier. But no, he said he was responsible. He shouldn't have let your 

helmet lights go out." 

My stomach knotted, and my breath quickened. "Those caves should have been lit. It was Trallwyn Construction's responsibility to ensure they had light." 

"Yeah, and my dad offered to pay for the mistake his company made, and everything would have been less tragic. But your dad goes around in that chair, living in that pathetic trailer park, causing everyone to feel sorry for him. Everyone considers my dad a villain. Is that why you did this? To get back at my dad?" His voice hardened. 

My fists clenched and I rose on tiptoes to look him in the eye. "That's not how it is, and you don't know anything about my father." 

"No, but I know a thing about you, and I know there's more." His eyes gleamed with the beginnings of understanding. "This wasn't just one of your petty revenge pranks." His head sprang up and realization covered his face. "You didn't only take Rhys's spot. You stole someone else's shot too. That's why you didn't confess. You're not supposed to be here either." 

I blinked and backed away. 

Thane pivoted on his heel, leaving me alone in the hallway, but not before I saw the disgust on his face.

***

That night, I couldn't sleep. I needed to go home. And, if I couldn't get there, I needed to talk to someone from home: Mom, Dad, my little sister, Piper, Rhys. I 

had to know what was going on. 

According to the coordinators, the communication system remained down. They kept putting us off with promises of next week. Next week was no longer an option for me. Thane could blow my secret at any second. I had to hike to the airfield, and I needed to do it now. I'd use their communication system. The clock read 6 a.m. 

Kaitlin slept on the other side of the room, oblivious to the Thane drama. Everyone here was. No one knew our history. That had been the best thing about Alaska. No one looked at me as that poor Carlisle kid with that poor dad, after that poor accident. I loved the anonymity. And now, when Thane came forward, my privacy would be blown away. 

I got up and dressed in double layers and hiking boots, then snagged an extra spare blanket from the back of my wardrobe. Going for speed, I jogged down the

hall to the laundry room. With the help of the cooking oil, I made quick work of the bolts and piled them at my feet. After wrapping my hands in the ends of my poncho, I stuck them into the grate's two vented holes and tugged. I pulled until my arms burned. The grate didn't budge. Grr. 

I felt around the edge, clenched my teeth, and fought the urge to throw something. I must've missed a bolt or some sealant. I couldn't even locate the holdup. 

Nothing. The metal must be tight from the cold. 

I needed leverage. How many times had Dad and I moved impossibly heavy boulders out of our path when hiking? Tons. I stuck the wrench between the wall and the grate, meaning to wedge the tool behind the lip and shove at the handle but the thick end wouldn't fit. The grate was adhered to the wall with more caulk. I needed a knife and more time. 

Not wanting to wait, I hid the tools behind the dryer and slipped into the hall, thinking of another plan. I touched the badge in my back pocket. I could go out the 

delivery door. I'd need water, the flashlight, and other supplies. 

I gathered what I needed and snuck around the corner, breathing hard. The coordinators would know I left because the exits were monitored, but I'd run the second the door released, and deal with the punishment when I returned. Hurrying to a side exit, I flattened the badge against the security sensor and tried the door handle. Nothing. The badge didn't work anymore. I stared at it, refusing to believe I was locked in, and felt my heart sink. 

The blue light flashed above the door, signaling everyone to go to the amphitheater. The sounds of doors opening and students entering the hallway reached me. I 

did not want to get caught standing here, staring at my stolen badge. After stashing my supplies in a copse of trees, I moved into the crowd. Down we went, into the amphitheater. 

I slid onto a bench at the back and curled my arms around my legs, but could only stay still a moment. Overheated from the layers of clothing and my efforts, I 

yanked off my top, olive-colored sweatshirt. 

What now? 

The director, as always, waited until everyone sat before speaking. "We have an update on Geneva. And I didn't want to keep you waiting." 

He waved an arm toward The Scientist who stepped up to the lectern. "As we previously reported, we sent Geneva to recuperate at home. We've received word she's not doing well enough to return this semester." The Scientist said the words, the wrong words in the right way, but his face didn't hold any true emotion. 

Every note rang false. I don't believe him. 

"In the interest of safety, we've decided to keep the grounds closed, to honor Geneva and to keep you each safe until your parents arrive in December to escort you home for holiday break." 

December. They were trapping us in here until December? Everything in me screamed with the urge to jump up and run. 

"Of course that excludes winners of the autumn competition. Round Two's coming up soon. I hope you've been practicing." The director stepped back to the lectern. "Thank you. Students are dismissed." 

I hugged my legs tighter, while people filtered out around me, not focusing on anyone but myself until Thane shoved in beside me. "Let's go. Forget everything for now. Pick a day. Plan it. Because, we're getting out of here. I need to talk to Rhys myself, and I'm not going through the administration to do it. My family has suffered enough scandal." 

"The badge doesn't work anymore." I spoke in a low voice. 

"What?" 

"I tried to leave earlier and the badge didn't work. Someone must've deactivated it when Coordinator Steele got her new badge." His eyes looked accusing. 

"I could have made it alone. It doesn't take two people to jog a few miles." "Because you did so great before: eating the white berries, running from a bear." 

"I don't want to talk about the bear." I tightened my arms, not wanting to think about Geneva, but unable to stop. I glanced down at the stage. "They had to be 

lying because we saw her, and she was okay. And don't talk to me like you care about my going alone. We aren't friends." 

"Oh, I know. I've always known. I didn't think you were quite so selfish, though. You were leaving me behind. Your newest plan not only failed but lost us our only access to the restricted zones. Can you explain that to me?" He stood up in the aisle, hands on his hips, forcing the crowd of exiting students to turn the other way or crawl over the bench to go around him. 

I stood on the seat so I could look down on him. "Why didn't I come here with one of those broody, silent cowboys? How'd I get stuck here with a mouthy whiner?" 

"Stop with the solo plans. We don't have to like each other to work together. We go tomorrow. Meet me at six, and we'll sneak out." I grabbed his shoulder, stilling his exit. "Look, can we really talk?" 

Most everyone had left by now, and Declan stepped into our aisle. "Planning how to sabotage your teammates during Round Two? Be careful Thane, she kicks." 

"Stay out of this," I said. 

"Fine, enjoy yourselves." Declan strode to the exit and slapped his hand on the wall, flipping the silver cover over the main switches. "Don't," I said sharply as he did it. 

The light vanished and we were plunged into sudden darkness, the unbelievable blackness found only below ground. I looked up, but the cloudy morning made even the dome dark. We were in a cavern. My mouth dried up, my heart pounded, and my stomach moved to my throat. I'm not in a cave. We just need to flip a switch. Sweat broke out over my skin, and I felt suspended in the air like I couldn't tell up from down. 

I heard footsteps and giggles as people made their way out, but I couldn't tell which way to go. I sank to the bench, patting the surface. I'm in the amphitheater, not in a cavern. 

Darkness.

In my mind, I was back in the cave with Dad before the accident. The straps went taut between my fingers as Dad swung out. The weight of his body pulled at the rope. He muttered as he tried to gain a hold on the rock surface he couldn't see. The anchor popped free under my right hand. His weight pulled me. The rope severed with a snap. The nightmarish second I realized what was happening. The brush of air as Dad fell. I screamed until my voice grew hoarse, but my panicked pleas were met only by silence. 

When Dad came to, he said, "Climb. Get help. Higher." 

The darkness made my ascent almost impossible. Clouds covered the moon and the stars. My fingers clawed at the wall in the dark pit. I could barely find the anchors. I couldn't gauge my progress, and I couldn't stop. My movements were accompanied by the sounds of Dad's cries of pain echoing through the darkness. The task felt impossible, and probably was, until the clouds shifted. After that, the brilliant glow of the moon lit my way, showing me how to get out. 

A weightless sensation lifted my body and brought me back to the present. Thane was carrying me. When we reached his dorm, he bent his knees and maneuvered the door open without letting me go. He lowered me to his bed, murmuring apologetic, comforting words. 

I shifted, breathing in, feeling weak, feeling heat enter my face at the knowledge that I'd just gone catatonic in public. Then I didn't care. I let my head sink into his pillow and breathed in his cologne. I'm in Alaska. I'm above ground. I'm safe. 

Thane touched my cheek with light fingers. "I'm sorry about what happened to you and your dad." His hand dropped away. "And about the juice." 

I blinked, but didn't say anything. 

"On the way to school that day, Mom had me drop a check at the bank. The cashier recognized my name and took a really long time on the transaction. People do that now, give my family these passive-aggressive insults." Thane's mouth tightened with the memory. "She made me late, and I missed breakfast. I know it's not an excuse, but I got there, and the breakfast line had closed. You were headed to dump your tray, and you looked good and smelled good, and I was mad at myself for noticing, angry at the situation, and I bumped into you on purpose. 

"I knew you did." My voice sounded rusty. 

"I know." His gaze searched mine for something. "I'm sorry." 

"Okay." I paused for a moment then said the words I thought would explain everything. "Piper's pregnant." "Shit." 

"She didn't want to come to Alaska and her parents would make her. She's smart, so I thought the government would pick her. I switched my test with hers so she wouldn't have to come here." 

"That's why you didn't say anything?" 

"Yeah. I'm sorry." My gaze flew around the room, this trap I'd put him in. I couldn't speak for a moment and choked back regret to finish. "Not for helping Piper, 

I had to. She wanted me to, and you don't have to understand that. But I shouldn't have done this to you. I wouldn't have, if I'd known how it would fall out. I swear." I pleaded up at him with my eyes, trying to convey my sincerity. "And I would take it back, or speak up now, or switch place with you if I could. I just don't know how to fix this without making everything worse." 

He drew me closer to his warmth, close to him in a way I never thought we'd be again and I hugged him tight, not wanting to let go. "I'm sorry." 

"Okay," Thane murmured. He leaned back, tilted my chin and his mouth met mine, soft and warm. He tasted like all the best parts of home and all the excitement of a forbidden mystery. He was all I could wish for from the past and all I could hope for in the future, and his kiss said he'd forgiven me.

Chapter Ten

"No. No. No." Kaitlin crumpled the paper in her hand, making the page sma ler with each word. She pointed to an envelope on my bed. "Read yours." 

We're reshuffling room assignments. Expect notification soon in regards to your extra bed. 

I sank down on the mattress, staring at the empty twin separating Kaitlin and me. "We don't have an extra. That's Geneva's." "I know." 

I could sti l sme l Geneva's mango lotion in our room. Her orange nail polish sat on the nightstand. "Her stuff's sti l here. She's coming back." 

Kaitlin didn't say anything, just ro led onto her back, and clutched her pi low to her chest. "Kaitlin, there's something I have to te l you." 

She wiped a hand over her face and turned back to me, wetness traced her cheeks. 

I breathed out and didn't want to do this, but I had to te l her. I spi led the secret of my being here, everything: my best friend Piper being pregnant, switching the tests, trying to contact Rhys and failing, stealing Rhys's spot, te ling Thane. 

Her mouth gaped open, but she didn't interrupt me. When my explanation slowed, her legs straightened and she flopped back, staring at the ceiling. 

"Say something." 

"So that's why I didn't connect with Thane. He's not my 98%." I ro led up. "Forget their stupid soul mate game." 

"Maybe compatibility's important to me, maybe you could just ask why instead of mocking me." Kaitlin got out of bed to leave. 

"Wait, please." I caught her before she got to the door. "Why do you believe in their tests?" 

Kaitlin swa lowed and didn't meet my eyes, her bravado replaced by embarrassment. "My parents aren't compatible. They have work in common and me. But that's not enough. So they work a lot, and avoid each other, and are stilted when they're together. It makes for a big empty house around a big empty life." She sank onto the edge of her bed and twisted her hands together. "When they announced the soul mate project, I thought maybe I'd have a chance at being with a guy who fit me. One who'd never stare out the window to avoid my gaze or rush out before I got up so he didn't have to talk to me." 

I didn't know what to say, but let her talk about her family and then told her about my own.

***

Thane and I sat together by the koi pond, my back against his chest, him leaning on the fake spruce. Most places were so public here, but we had a brief moment of privacy in this sma l corner. 

"I don't understand Kaitlin's reaction. She straight out told me what was wrong and opened up. She didn't leave, throw anything, threaten me. I would be so pissed. Like you were." I tightened my arms around my bent knees. "Now that the whole story's out, I feel this weird combination of bad about everything and better." Thane brushed a hand over my hair. "I'm not mad anymore, and Kaitlin's a whole lot sweeter than both of us." He paused and laughter rumbled in his chest. "Can 

you see her with Rhys?" 

I laughed with him. "No." 

Thane drew my hand to his knee, threading and unthreading our fingers. "Are you going to te l her about our hike to the airfield?" 

"Maybe. No. I don't want to be responsible for her getting in trouble." I adjusted my head on his shoulder, breathing in, blocking out the world. "Yes. I wi l. I don't want any more secrets." 

"Okay." 

Flashes of orange peeped through the water as the koi splashed around their sma l habitat. In the distance, larger splashes sounded from the swimmers in the human pool. "No one else seems to have a problem with this place. They don't see the weirdness. They're frolicking in their pond like the koi, like nothing's wrong." 

"No one knew what to expect or had a sense of what would be normal. And we haven't even been here two months." 

Heat rushed my face and my fingers flexed. "I know, but something's off here, like the vitamins, like the messages." 

His hand tightened on mine, warm and secure. He kept his gaze straight ahead, but something flickered in his eyes, some recognition, and I knew he felt the same way. I'd long known it. 

I said, "Your family has money and resources. Why aren't they doing something more to see you? How is email enough for them?" "I guess it's like we went off to co lege. People go back to living their lives." 

"Maybe my worries are stupid-cabin-fever. But I have to talk to my family real time. Not through a delayed email." 

Thane nodded and gazed down at he me. So close, I could see the flecks of grey in his blue eyes. "The clouds have been getting worse." "So we go soon. If we're outside when the storm hits, we can wait the weather out before hiking back." 

"A storm here could last days. If there's a blizzard, even one this early in the season, the snow may not melt until spring." 

My heart jumped. I couldn't begin to take in that kind of cold, but if it was true, I knew one thing. "We have to go soon, or we may not get another chance." "Not until our team wins." 

A l the coordinators' talk of two easy trips home hadn't factored in the weather or the communication problems here. And while I'd given up my dream of a concert in Texas on my birthday, I sti l had to talk to my family, if only by a phone ca l. Without the keycard, and without the grate, I could only think of one exit: me, the atrium wa l, and a free climb. I turned in Thane's hold and slid my arm over his shoulders. I whispered in his ear, "So, tonight? We go tonight?" 

"Okay," he said, and kissed me.

***

No plan this half-assed should succeed, but I lay successfu ly on top of the 20 foot wa l, flat on my be ly. I rested there a moment, with my cheek pressed to the rough granite, catching my breath and scoping out the view. I don't know what I thought I'd see on the other side, but it seemed normal, beautiful even: mountains, lakes, blue skies-Alaska. 

I dropped my supply pack on the other side of the wa l. Then, I ran my hand over the rough granite, searching for a way to anchor the rope. I didn't find any of the grooves I'd norma ly find with natural stone. I sucked in a breath of fresh crisp air and tried to think. The rope wouldn't support Thane without leverage, and without equipment, Thane couldn't make the climb. 

A sound I hadn't heard in weeks fi led the air. An engine. Airbrakes. My heart thumped, and I blinked twice to make sure I was seeing correctly. A bus was pu ling 

up to the school. The door opened with a whoosh, and teenagers got out. New students? 

When the new room assignments had come out, students had run with a l kinds of theories. One was that new arrivals were due, but I hadn't believed it. I watched each face avidly. My breath quickened as I recognized one of the guys: Rhys Zukowski. If Rhys was here, Piper could be here. 

I swung around, dangling my legs over the habitat side of the wa l. The granite scraped against my sweats, tearing at the fabric. "What are you doing?" Thane asked in a loud whisper. 

The skin of my palms burned under the climbing gloves with the speed of my descent, but I didn't answer him until my feet thumped to the ground. My voice held enthusiasm and shock. "Rhys is here. There are more kids, a whole busload." I removed my gloves and dragged the rope to the corner. I took a risk to leave it, but behind the shelter of the sma l trees, it might be okay. "Come on." 

I ran toward the amphitheater, and Thane fo lowed, almost slamming into me when I stopped. A realization had hit me. "Rhys is here. They must know I switched your tests." 

"You said there's a bunch of kids. You don't know what they know." Thane grabbed my arm, and we started forward again at a slower pace. "Calm down. Don't 

give anything away." 

Blue lights flashed above doors and the other students joined us. Curious murmurs accompanied their steps as they speculated on the reason for the ca l. "Elena, Thane, wait up," Kaitlin said. "What's going on?" 

I tucked her arm in mine. "New arrivals, I saw them. Kids from our old schools. Rhys Zukowski is here." "My Rhys?" Kaitlin's voice held surprised excitement. 

"Yeah." My own enthusiasm dimmed at the thought of having to apologize to Rhys in person. I hadn't told him everything in the note, and I hoped the details would 

be enough to make him forgive me. I didn't want to end up as charred bits on my mattress. 

Kaitlin, Thane and I took a spot by the main entrance. I balanced on my tiptoes, trying to peer backwards, looking for Rhys and Piper. 

The director appeared on the stage. The microphone whined in preparation for his mouth. "We are privileged to announce a surprise. New arrivals. New students who also tested in the top percent of their classes." 

Murmurs rose and everyone peered around, looking for the new people, thri led by the news. 

"As we said in the beginning, we always anticipated a larger number of students, but we wanted to start with caution. Your successes here have a lowed us to broaden the population. In fact, we have been so pleased by the immersion, we plan to continue in that vein. New students wi l also wear the school uniforms." 

Students groaned half on their behalf, half on ours. 

"I know you wi l make the newcomers feel welcome. Please remember your nerves from the first day, and welcome your newest classmates." 

The first new student entered, a pasty guy our age. He looked at the crowd, paused a step then continued down the sloping aisle toward the stage without looking up again. He wore black sweatpants and an olive T-shirt. The students around us clapped. Other newcomers filtered in behind the first guy, a l moving slowly in their uniforms, like a poorly dressed graduation processional. 

I grabbed Thane's wrist. "I can't see Piper." 

Thane didn't answer. 

Rhys Zukowski crossed into view. He leaned one arm on the rail, his gaze under his overlong bangs assessed the crowd, the seating, and the dome. Despite his nonchalant posture, his expression said, F.U. and which wall do I blow up first? 

"Who's that?" Kaitlin sounded a little nervous, a little excited. I swa lowed. "Rhys Zukowski." 

"My Rhys?" Her voice squeaked and her eyes widened. 

"Uh, maybe you shouldn't ca l him that." 

As if Rhys heard us, though he couldn't have from that distance, his head turned and his eyes narrowed-on me. He pointed, and said, "You." Rhys put one foot on the rail, climbed up and over, and was in front of us fast. 

Thane tensed and let go of me, moving in front of me. 

Rhys dodged Thane and his fingers gripped my arm: tight, pinching the skin, cutting off the blood flow. "Why did you pu l me into your little game?" Thane grabbed Rhys's shoulder and wrenched him away. 

I stumbled at the sudden release. The release from the fire in Rhys's ocean green eyes and the loss of his grip. Thane clenched his fist and swung, landing a punch on Rhys's jaw. Rhys's head snapped back. 

I couldn't believe Thane was defending me. I watched the two guys struggle and became worried. Rhys wouldn't rea ly hurt me, but he'd hurt Thane. Thane's

privileged upbringing and footba l training didn't compare to Rhys's trailer park fighting ski ls. "Stop," I said. 

Rhys rebounded, and in that moment, looking at the light in his green eyes, I became certain he'd driven out the meth lab. 

"Guys," I said, and they ignored me. Rhys kicked hard into Thane's ankle, and Thane went down, landing in the aisle. Students jumped back, forming a circle, no one interfering, everyone watching. 

Rhys crawled over to throw a punch into Thane's cheek, and the back of a bench caught his arm, slowing the motion. Thane's head snapped to the side and he 

used his larger weight to shove into Rhys. 

Rhys fe l back, his T-shirt untucked and tangled around his six-pack. Thane stumbled to his feet and stupidly waited for Rhys to gain his. He should have taken advantage of his position with Rhys on the floor. I would have, Rhys would have. Trailer park 101: life rarely sends you an advantage, so if you get one, jump on it without hesitation. 

Kaitlin threw her body over Rhys, her arms straight out. "Don't hit him." 

Rhys snaked an arm around Kaitlin's waist, trying to pu l her away. She turned and clung to him like a piece of taffy stuck to the wrapper the week after 

Ha loween. "I'm Kaitlin." Her hands griped his shoulders and her hair fe l around their faces like a curtain. 

Rhys pushed the strands away, gently, just enough so he could stare at Thane. "I owed you one. But you only get one." 

Oh. Thane hadn't been defending me. The beat down had happened because Rhys had hooked up with Thane's cheating ex. "Here now, here now." Coordinator Steele moved in. "None of that. What are you doing?" 

"Just greeting my old friend here," Thane said, and offered Rhys a hand up in one of those inexplicable guy gestures. Kaitlin and Rhys came up together. 

"That right?" Coordinator Steele asked. 

Rhys nodded. His feral grin didn't reassure me at a l, and I doubt anyone else bought it either. "That's right." "Okay then, up on the stage with you, young man," Coordinator Steele said. 

Kaitlin's hand lingered on Rhys's arm, and she trailed after him, talking about the matching, and percentages. Rhys glanced down at her a few times, not saying 

much. 

Rhys wouldn't te l on me, not with his subversive nature, but he would get revenge. We l, I would in his position. I listened with half an ear as the director thanked everyone and talked about room assignments. 

I checked each row, each face twice. My stomach tightened each time I failed to see Piper. The second the director dismissed us, I said, "I've got to talk to Rhys." 

"Let him cool off." 

"I have to." 

Thane walked to the exit. "Come with me." 

"I can't." I ran down the aisle, forcing my way through the crowd, the huddled groups who were greeting old classmates, and meeting the new people. Cementing my new relationship with Thane was important, having Rhys not want to ki l me was important, but most of a l, I needed to find out what happened to 

Piper. I made it to Rhys and got right into the sma l circle surrounding him. "Where's Piper?" 

Rhys shook his head, further tousling his long bangs. "Houston, I guess." 

"What do you mean? She wasn't on your plane?" My voice dwindled as he shook his head again. 

Rhys didn't seem inclined to expound at first, but my desperation made him relent. "I got a letter over the weekend, and I flew out on Monday. Your family said to ca l when the phones are fixed." 

"Thanks." My shoulders sagged. "When I saw you, I thought Piper would be here." 

Rhys crossed his arms over his chest. "Piper said to te l you honeysuckle doesn't bother her. And she's dying for you to write." "What does that mean?" 

"I don't speak girl." "Please, Rhys." 

"She got her period, Elena. That clear enough for you?" My shoulders relaxed. Thank you, God. 

Kaitlin moved closer to Rhys and stared up at him. "So, you know. We should go out, no one else matched at 98%." 

That was incredibly brazen for Kaitlin. Good for her. 

Rhys stared at her like she was confusing math problem. "I'm not rea ly into assigned dating." "He's rea ly not, Kaitlin. He's rea ly not your type." 

Kaitlin frowned at me and shook her head, then turned to Rhys. "You let Elena take your opportunity. Are you going to let her take me from you too?" 

"When you put it that way, I guess you could show me around." Rhys threw an arm over Kaitlin's shoulders. Trouble glinted in his eyes. I said, "Rhys, she's nice, rea ly nice, don't-" 

Kaitlin's face turned red, and her eyes pleaded with me to stop. "Stay out of it, Elena." Rhys drawled out my name with his Texas accent. 

I loved the sound, but I had to defend my friend. "Don't take out being pissed at me on Kaitlin." "I'm not the one with the misplaced rage." 

Ouch. "No, you're a l surface rage and action, and Kaitlin's a l heart and open. I'm saying don't screw her over."

Rhys's gaze dropped to Kaitlin. "What can you show me?"

Chapter Eleven

Before they could take off, more students shoved into our circle, greeting Rhys the same way they'd welcome a new cel phone-eager fascination. Especial y the girls, Rhys had that type of appeal. He took their fervor in stride and assessed the habitat. "What's up with the phones here? Why aren't they fixed?" 

"They're trying," someone said. "It just hasn't worked." 

Rhys looked dumbfounded by their response. "This is Alaska, not Canada." Kaitlin said, "The earthquake messed with the lines and the satel ite tower." He made a derisive noise, but his rage had definitely left. 

I said, "Yeah, it's weird here." 

Rhys checked out the crowd. "What kind of weird? Flash mobs, plankers?" 

Kaitlin's eyes narrowed and her smal frame tensed, looking just beyond me. "What do you want?" She threw an arm around Rhys's waist as if to hold him back. I fol owed her gaze to see Thane. The crowd surrounding Rhys retreated. 

This was as hostile as I'd ever seen Kaitlin. Guess she didn't like the welcome her match had received from Thane. 

The weight of Thane's arm curved around my waist. His face blocked my view for a moment and his lips pressed to mine in a quick warm kiss that jolted my insides. He straightened. "What are we talking about?" 

Rhys's mouth gaped then shut and his eyes widened with unholy glee. "You're not dating him." I shook my head. "No." 

"Yes," Thane said. 

I rubbed a hand over my forehead, no clue how to explain. 

"They're not matched or anything. Elena's match, oh, I guess that would have been Piper's. Which makes so much more sense, because Elena and Declan don't get along at al . But they were only 60% anyway." Kaitlin shrugged and Rhys looked confused by her incomprehensible speech. 

"Yeah, Declan's a douche, and no way Piper would date him." I turned to Kaitlin. "Did you explain about how you're the most compatible pair here?" I completely 

kept the sarcasm out of my voice. I needed this distraction. "Oh, yes." Kaitlin said. "It's a lot for him to take in." 

Rhys had been in my Calculus Three class. I'm sure he grasped the math, but I didn't disil usion Kaitlin. If Rhys wasn't jumping on the bandwagon, wel , she was better off, way better off. 

The director went to the microphone and announced a group meeting for the newcomers. Kaitlin left with reluctance, but I was happy to get Thane out of there.

***

A tap sounded on the door and someone I didn't recognized handed Kaitlin and me official notes instructing us to go to the director's office. Kaitlin waved hers. "What do you think?" 

I shrugged. "No clue." 

We climbed the ramps to the restricted area. Near the top, Thane caught up to us carrying his own note. We sped up. We had one major thing in common: Geneva. 

Kaitlin knocked on the administrator's door with sharp, impatient raps. The Scientist escorted us to the director's office and left us there. Thane and I raced to the seats in front of the director's desk, while Kaitlin paced by the bookshelves, scanning titles, twisting her hands. The doorknob clicked, and Kaitlin hurried over to the third chair. 

The director sank behind his desk. Up close, he seemed smal er, probably my height: average for a woman, smal for a man. "Thank you for coming." His hand surfed the air as he gestured at us while his gaze rested on some papers. "We have a delicate situation, so I thought I'd bring you up here to discuss it privately. You're going to need a replacement team member." He slid a piece of paper to the edge of the desk. "You need to replace Geneva." 

My stomach sank. His words ended the imaginary hope that he'd have good news. "How is she?" "Fine from al reports. Her family's understandably protective and want to keep her home." 

That didn't sound like Geneva or her suck it up family, but when a bear attacks your kid, maybe you alter your philosophy. 

"As I said, we're here about your shortages." He looked at Thane. "As team captain." He glanced at Kaitlin and me next. "And as roommates." 

Kaitlin stiffened and stared at Thane, as if daring him to talk. "We already asked one of the new students, Rhys Zukowski, and he's agreed to join our team." A frown wafted over the director's face and he drummed his nails on the desk. 

Kaitlin flushed, but looked at me for support. My lips twitched at her lie, but I owed her. "Yeah, he agreed." 

"Okay." The director grabbed his keyboard and typed in high arcing strokes. "He can room with Mr. Tral wyn then." He passed one more piece of paper across the desk. "And you girls wil also need a third roommate." 

Kaitlin took the page without looking at it. 

"We've shuffled some of the girls to accommodate the new students and address issues where people weren't getting along with their roommates." The director flattened his hands on the desk and looked at the door. "That's al . You're dismissed." 

We got up without further discussion and stepped into the hal way. I unfolded the page to read the name of our new roommate. Nevaeh Jorvanson was scrawled 

across the top.

"She's not new." Kaitlin's usual y sparkling voice held dislike. 

I could barely stand the one minute each laundry shift that I spent with Nevaeh. She was also the bitchiest of our suitemates. My stomach sank. Kaitlin glanced up at Thane. "Trade you?" 

Thane read over my shoulder and his mouth twisted. "No way."

***

"Yo, yo, Byotches." Nevaeh threw her bag on top of Geneva's bed. Her inky black hair had been chopped in a shorter style, and she wore one of Geneva's hair clips above her left ear. 

"Hi," Kaitlin said, her gaze glued to the hairclip. 

I snatched Geneva's lotion and nail polish from the nightstand and put them on Kaitlin's table. "You're not new. How come you're moving?" 

Nevaeh blew a big bubble and smack popped it. "My room had four, and I knew y'al had an extra bed after kil ing your last roommate and al ." She spun her gum around on her finger and pointed at me. "I'm on to you. So don't try any of your crap with me." She eyed Kaitlin's spot. "I'm not real y a middle bed kind of girl, so you'l need to switch." 

I breathed in and out. "Kaitlin's staying right where she is. And that's Geneva's bed, so you need to talk to Coordinator Steele about another room assignment." 

Kaitlin grabbed Geneva's nail polish to her chest. "Get out."

***

Four of us sat at a table together in the dining room: Thane, Rhys, Kaitlin, and me. On the surface, we probably seemed like two cute couples. No one could imagine the baggage underneath. 

I took a bite of the puff sugar cupcake Kaitlin had brought and swal owed. "We should warn Rhys about the weirdness here." I poked my finger in the icing where 

Kaitlin had drawn a heart. She'd made four special cupcakes: blue hearts to match Thane's eyes for him and me; and green ones for her and Rhys. She wisely didn't tel the guys of the significance. They ate theirs in two bites. 

Rhys licked some green icing off his finger. He sat beside Kaitlin, his body twisted away from mine. From the tension in his frame, I knew he hadn't forgiven me. My offer to fil him in was partly to make up for my transgressions and partly because we needed him on our side. 

Rhys said, "Weirdness. Yeah. Elena dating Thane. How's that going to work at Thanksgiving? Can you pass the gravy? Can you give me my legs back?" 

Kaitlin frowned and glanced between Thane and me, not understanding Rhys's snide reference. 

I didn't answer. His description sounded bad and not so far off. Being here made me ignore the real world. No reality existed where I could date Thane, not with our families' histories, but the real world didn't live here. I subtly tried to withdraw my hand from underneath Thane's, but he tightened his grip, not letting me go. 

Kaitlin inched closer to Rhys. "When couples face chal enges, they just have to work them out." 

"Off subject, people. The layers of freakiness go deep." I drew a breath and lowered my voice. "They have vats of drugs in the restricted area. I've seen them." "When?" Rhys asked. 

I'd already told Kaitlin. "When Thane and I snuck upstairs to see our friend Geneva who got sent home." 

"We can't make sense of this if we don't have al the pieces. So if you see anything weird, share the information." Thane slid a hand into my hair, and I leaned on his shoulder. 

Rhys shook his head. "Dude, that's so weird." I think he meant Thane's hand, rather than the drugs, or the suggested spying. He glanced at the restricted area. 

"Why wait? Let's go up there." 

"We tried, but once we lost the access badge we couldn't get in anymore." I withdrew one of the vitamin packets from my pocket and turned the label so they could read it. "What vitamins are marked for experimental use only?" 

"I always thought the payment for being here seemed large," Rhys said. "If I'm going to be in this zoo, I want to know the real reason I'm pushing a lever for a food pel et." 

"No one else seems to notice or complain," Kaitlin said. 

"Oh, they notice," Thane said. "They're just not complaining." Kaitlin shuddered. "We'l figure out something, I know we wil ." 

Rhys looked at her with bemusement. There wasn't a lot of belief laced with optimism floating around the trailer park where we came from. 

Thane said, "We need another badge." 

Rhys's green eyes glinted. "We could set off a smal explosion, use it as a distraction." Kaitlin bit her lip, but didn't protest. 

I grinned and felt a new freedom now that I had people on my side and no more secrets. "Distraction's good." 

Kaitlin smiled a sweet smile and made her eyes big. "Everyone says I have an innocent face, so I get away with lots of stuff." "What kind of stuff?" Rhys asked 

I shook my head and chewed on the edge of my thumb. "I'm a better thief." "True," Thane said. The other two nodded. 

My parents would be so proud at how fast they agreed. "At the next opportunity, I'l steal another badge. Then, I'l go through the ceiling, and let y'al in to gather

information." 

"We have a plan," Thane said.

***

We stood in the cafeteria with the ten other teams. Each contestant did his or her own pre-game ritual: stretching, chatting, praying. Everyone kept to themselves except the team who came in second. I liked cal ing them Team Lefty, but most students cal ed them Team Runners-Up. They hated the nickname. 

They wouldn't have been my favorite team anyway with Nevaeh on board, but I admired their single-mindedness. Each member had used the time between rounds 

to up their efforts. The already-brawny guys spent double-time at the gym; and they'd shaved their whole bodies to increase their speed. Their shorn heads, white and untouched by the sun, gave them an oddly similar appearance. Nevaeh had cut her own jagged black hair back to an inch in length. 

My group stuck to their usual work out, incorporating Rhys into Geneva's spot and doing our best to motivate Declan. 

Something must have worked because Declan placed Kaitlin's banana cupcakes on one of the nearby tables with an ingratiating smile quite unlike his usual sulk. "Here you go." 

No, that was too helpful. Something was up. 

Rhys narrowed his eyes. He and Declan hadn't gotten along from their first meeting. 

"Thanks," Kaitlin said and centered the box of desserts to face us. Bright yel ow, chipper, gooey icing read, Good Luck, Final Ten. 

I checked my laces, then cupped my hand over the top of one shoe and lifted it behind me, stretching my quads while keeping an eye on Team Lefty. They neared us like shoe salesmen paid on commission. Their bald brawniness blocked our exit. 

Thane said, "Hey, Runners-Up." 

Their captain, the biggest of the group, flicked a cupcake, and stared at the yel ow on his fingernails. "What's this? You trying to slow us down with sugar blobs before the competition?" He wiped the back of his nails on his black sweats. Four yel ow streaks stood out against the fabric. 

Kaitlin straightened the corner. Her face flushed. "They're banana. They have potassium." 

"Looks good," I lied and examined the selection. Uncooked banana blobs poked through. Kaitlin hadn't used the blender to mix the ingredients, and the black tips of the wrappers revealed that she'd left them in the oven too long. Rhys must have distracted her, because she had perfected most of her flavors. 

I chose the smal est one. Then I backed up, while toying with the wrapper. I edged my way over to a plant, and used the leafy branches as cover to discard it. The last thing I wanted was a banana cupcake expanding in my stomach during a climb. I already felt anxious enough about Round Two. Not that I could pinpoint the reason for my worsening antsy feeling, maybe the cause was just the increased chal enge in my competitors' stares, their determination to knock us out of the top spot. 

One of the brawny guys pointed at Kaitlin. "She probably poisoned the dough." In response to his accusation, his teammates snickered, including Nevaeh. Four 

brawny guys and one mean girl mocking Kaitlin's precompetition kindness. I'd make them pay. "She didn't do anything to them." Declan laughed. "Eat one, Kaitlin. Prove it." 

Kaitlin flushed and reached for a cupcake, but Rhys's arm blocked her. When she dropped her hand, Rhys braced both of his palms on the table and leaned forward. The position caused his biceps to bulge, and his eyes gleamed with a wild light. "I'm sure you're about to say, thank you, Kaitlin, and eat one yourself. Maybe two." He leaned deeper. "I'm real sure." 

"Oh, no, they don't have to," Kaitlin said, twisting her hands together. 

Rhys, tal er, but leaner than our competitors, had an advantage over them. While they seemed tough, none of them had the reckless light in their eyes that said, I 

won't stop, and if they drag me out of here, it will be in pieces, carrying out pieces of you. 

I hoped Rhys believed me about switching the tests, how I didn't do it to hurt him. 

Rhys's gaze didn't waver, and two of the Runners-Up snared a cupcake. The first guy wrinkled his nose and scarfed it down in three big bites. His face turned a shade of green I'd seen before. 

The second guy took one bite, worked his mouth like he couldn't swal ow, and fiddled with the wrapper. I'd done similar maneuvers myself to avoid tasting some of the cafeteria food. 

Rhys looked at the other two and Nevaeh. "Now fol ow your teammates' example." Kaitlin groaned. "They don't have to." 

The first chewer's cocky face turned panicked. He pivoted, bent at the waist, and puked al over the remaining cupcakes. Sick, retching, heaves. Once he'd 

thrown up, the second guy spit out his own mouthful. Then he wiped his chin with his hand and rubbed spittle and chewed cake on the side of his shorts. 

I tugged the neck of my T-shirt over my nose and backed away from the bile smel . 

Their drama brought two coordinators around, Coordinator Steele and The Scientist. The Scientist said, "Okay, son, let's get you to the infirmary and see what caused this." He curved an arm around the back of the bent-over puker, and his white lab coat took a few nasty hits after the first step. 

Coordinator Steele said, "Who made the cupcakes?" 

I said, "I did." 

Kaitlin shook her head. "Me. I make them al the time." "Did you change ingredients?" 

She shook her head. "No, I open new vats when I run low on ingredients, but it's the same stuff as always. I do change up the fruit and spices." Her voice became rushed as she explained and she twisted her hands together. "I haven't cleaned the kitchen yet. The stuff's al there." 

"Leave it." Coordinator Steele sent me a dismissive look. "Round Two needs to start. Take yourselves down to the amphitheater."

The further from here the better. 

The smel lingered until we reached the amphitheater itself, and the toxic scent of new carpet replaced the banana-puke. I greeted the change with a deep breath and looked around. Al the seats were ful , and the spectators quieted as we came in. 

Halfway down the aisle, Nevaeh pointed at Kaitlin and said in a loud, carrying voice, "Kaitlin poisoned my team." Thane looked furious at the accusation. He swiped a hand through the air. "No one on my team did anything." Kaitlin paled and shook her head. "I bake al the time." 

"Liar," Nevaeh said. 

Rhys threw an arm over Kaitlin's shoulders and raised his eyebrows. One of Lefty's teammates started to say something more, but another look from Rhys and he shut his mouth. 

"Our captain felt fine, until he ate one of their poisoned cupcakes." Nevaeh's voice lifted and carried. 

"I didn't poison the cupcakes," Kaitlin said, her voice shaky but insistent. Rhys and Thane swiveled to look at me. 

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. "No, I swear." 

Whispers started around us and the stares from our fel ow classmates ranged from suspicious to accusatory. Kaitlin's nerves unraveled in front of me. I went to her other side. "Don't let them get in your head." 

The director, standing in his usual spot behind the lectern, clapped and leaned into the microphone. "Contestants, please take the stage." The contestants lined up behind their team captains. Of the ten teams, Nevaeh's was conspicuous because they only had three contestants. The director tapped on the microphone. "Due to il ness, we'l need to add two competitors." 

Murmurs rose in the audience and several volunteers raised their hands. The director pointed at a guy on the first row and he bounded up the stage. "Anyone else?" 

More hands raised and the director searched the faces of the volunteers. 

Declan, standing on the edge of our group, stepped out of line and strode over to the lectern. "I'l do it. I need to be on a team I trust." Freaking weasel. 

Murmurs in the audience got louder. Declan's defection created a huge pool of doubt about our team's innocence. "What are you saying?" the director asked. 

Declan shuffled his feet and sent us a quick look and shook his head. He stepped closer to the lectern and leaned toward the microphone. "I'm not saying anything against them." He held his hands up and flinched back. "Okay, guys, I'm not saying you did anything to me or those other teams. This time or the last." 

The other teams fidgeted at this, and their gazes locked onto us. Thane's body went rigid and his blue eyes sparked with fury at the betrayal and public accusations. 

I pressed my lips together and felt my own temper rising. 

The director clapped his hands, "Okay, Declan you may switch teams." He turned back to the audience. "Would anyone like to replace Declan on Team Thane?" Hands dropped and the students shrank in their seats. 

The heat built in my face, and I pressed my lips together. 

Rhys put his hands on his hips and stared at Declan. "That little shit poisoned those cupcakes. We take him down first." Thane nodded. 

I nodded too. 

Kaitlin's gaze swiveled between the three of us. "No, guys, don't." 

I stepped around her and aimed my words at the director. "Not a problem, I can do the dive too." 

A guy laughed. "Yeah. She had to do it the first time, anyway." His words broke the tension and I recognized him as the guy I'd pul ed from the water. His wrist was in a bandage, but his cast had been removed. 

I gave him a nod of thanks. 

The director clapped his hands. "Okay. Screens in position." A screen lowered behind the stage. Images of the climbing wal , the swimming pool, and the stage appeared in three divided squares. The audience clapped. 

"The top ten teams wil repeat round one. We've thrown in a few surprises to make the chal enge interesting." The director gestured to the stage, ignoring the murmurs he'd stirred up with his words. "Contestants, take your places. The dance portion begins now." 

Thane, Rhys, and I jogged toward the exit, not wanting to burn too much energy, but wanting to reach the sports arena before the dances started so we could watch them on the screens. 

The dances ranged from brawny guy wince-worthy to mediocre. 

Then Kaitlin appeared. "Ice warm ice, so hopeful. Lies like autumn leaves. Hope shattered." 

Oh god, she'd changed from humor about baking to dark haiku. Humor worked better, though the baking topic had been ruined, so maybe she made a good cal . I 

flexed my fingers inside the climbing gloves. 

Her dance started. Kaitlin leapt into the air, reaching a height no one else approached and whirled with a speed that made her image blur. In her movements, her poem gained meaning: sharp lies fal ing, impaling her. She ended with a major gymnastic flip, bowed, and dropped to the floor. Quiet, then minimal applause greeted her extreme, far superior contemporary dance. 

Rhys seemed shel -shocked, and I enjoyed his fascinated expression. Kaitlin had more than training; she had a crazy, winning, professional-level talent unlike any 

I'd ever seen. She'd won her round, even if the score didn't reflect it.

I clapped, and though my climbing gloves muted the sound and Kaitlin couldn't hear me anyway, she deserved the support so I kept it up. 

Thane's mouth tightened at the lack of response from those around us and on the monitors. "Get ready. They're not going to vote for Kaitlin. She'l come in last." The spectators had keyed in anonymous scores, ranking the dancers from one to ten. The name of the winner appeared first. After a delay, the name of the next 

highest would pop up and so on. Names flashed. 

The first dancer had no speed. She and the dancer who came in second rounded the corner at about the same time. They tagged their climbers, and I tensed, watching my competition go. It was agony waiting here while they moved on. 

From above us, the climber who'd gained the most height shouted, "Look at the water, they're dead." He pointed at the swimming pool. 

Bloated, orange koi floated on top. 

Some sicko had put the koi in our swimming pool. I covered my mouth with my rough glove. 

Thane muffled a curse and ran for a pool strainer. Rhys joined him along with another captain, and they began scooping the dead koi from the pool while the divers leaned over the edge, watching. One shook her head and wimped out. She backed away from the edge. "What if the water's poisoned?" She moved toward the ramp. "I'm running instead." 

"No. We'l get them out, it's fine." Her captain ran to assist Thane. "You don't have to take the ramp." 

More than half of the jumpers joined her, planning to run instead of leap. Several pointed fingers at Rhys, Thane, and me in accusation, but no one said anything. The remaining climbers moved as far away from me as they could get without losing proximity to the start of the wal . I did a deep knee bend and tried to maintain a hold on my temper. 

A loud curse came from the first climber. In his speed, he'd lost his grip. He swung out from the side of the mountain by his safety straps. 

I wrapped my arms around my waist and tried to breathe, my eyes glued to the drama. 

His arms and legs kicked, but he couldn't regain his hold. After giving him a second, the managers of the safety ropes retracted the slack and lowered him to the ground to start over. 

I breathed out a shaky breath when his feet touched the floor. We'd seen a lot of slips in practice and in round one, with al the inexperienced climbers. Each fal had bit at me. I hadn't expected to see it in the top ten. 

His fal jolted the next climber back into the game. He reached for the higher set of anchors, ready to take on the lead. His hand slipped off and he yel ed out, flying 

free. The coordinator working the safety harnesses guided him back to the floor. 

I swung my arms in front of me, looking away from the climbers. I had to focus on my own climb, not on the dead koi, not on the guy ahead of me, and not on the climbers who'd slipped. 

Kaitlin had scored last place, but she outran number nine and rounded the corner at the same time as dancer number eight. She held her side and shouted, "Go." I'd gotten two anchors up, ahead of the last two climbers, when I heard screams from the guys ahead of me. I took my eyes off the anchor. 

The climber had reached the spot where the first two had fal en. He reached out a gloved hand and swiped at an anchor. "Someone did something to them." He 

turned and stared down at me. "They're oily. Slick." 

I met his gaze straight on. I would never do anything to make a climber fal . If he knew me at al , he'd know that. I don't know who was screwing with us but it wasn't my team. 

The climber maneuvered under his straps and yanked his shirt off. He began the slow process of wiping each anchor before grabbing it. The fourth climber hung in 

right behind him, slow and steady. 

I could catch them, but I'd be stuck behind them. My fingers brushed one of the natural nooks in the granite. We had to reach the top, but I didn't have to use the anchors. The grooves and crevices would work. I swung a hand up. The chal enge of the climb, of conquering the path rushed over me, and I headed straight up the steepest part of the natural slope. 

"Hey, you can't do that," one of the jumpers said. Thane shouted from the pool, "Ignore them. Climb." 

At the start of the race, this reward meant a week home with my family. Now winning meant not letting the saboteurs beat us. 

With my new route, I beat the other climbers to the top. I yanked off my gloves, un-clicked my safety harness, and ran to the edge. I stopped four feet out and kicked off my shoes, ready to take the leap at a dead run. I sucked in a breath. 

The lights went out, leaving the mountain in total darkness. I froze.

Chapter Twelve

I blew out a breath, and tried not to panic. It wasn't truly dark. I could see the underwater lights inside the pool. The aqua water was free of fish. "Hey, turn the lights back on," someone shouted. 

The scraping sounds of the climbers had stopped. They froze to the side of the mountain, waiting. No one could climb in the dark. A cold sweat broke out over my 

skin and my knees shook. I searched for Thane, feeling detached from my body. He turned from the pool and ran to the ramp. "Elena. Elena." I recognized Rhys's voice. He stood by the pool. "Dive. It's lit." He waved his arms. "Or run." 

I swal owed, frozen. 

The sound of running steps, then measured breathing reached me. Thane. His arms wrapped around me and he towed me to the edge. "Hold your breath." He jumped over the side, with me tight in his arms. Weightless. Fal ing. Cold. 

The water rushed over me. My clothes drew me to the bottom of the pool, while Thane fought to propel us to the surface. The lights flickered on as we broke free of the water and I sucked in a breath of air. 

Thane had one arm around me and was treading water with the other. I swiped a hand over my face. "Thane, I'm okay. Let go. I can swim." His arm tightened for 

a second but then he released me, and we swam to the side. After pul ing myself over the edge, I lay there, panting, my eyes on the glowing aqua water. 

Thane knelt beside me and touched my arm. 

"Thanks," I gasped and rol ed to a seated position beside him. I wiped a trembling hand over my face. "Are you okay?" 

"Yeah, thanks, I couldn't do it." The race. I turned to check on Rhys. He'd reached the midpoint in the pool. Other jumpers had started their jumps, but most 

chose the ramp. I turned my face up to Thane, who hadn't left me. I waved. "Get in position." 

Thane cursed, looking at me with searching eyes, and then ran to the other end of the pool. He barely got there before Rhys reached the end. Rhys swung free of the water, slapping Thane's hand in midair. Tag. 

Thane ran to the top of the ramp. 

A buzz sounded overhead, as more lights kicked on and I pushed to my feet. Kaitlin ran over with a towel. The warm fabric landed on my shoulders. "Thanks." Kaitlin squeezed my arm. "You did great." 

We met Rhys and Kaitlin gave him a towel too. She smiled up at him with big, admiring eyes. 

Rhys wiped his face with the towel and swiped it over his body. He pointed at Kaitlin. "You were robbed." She flushed. "Thanks." 

Rhys glanced up at the lights. "Someone's pul ing seriously messed up shit." He turned to the top of the ramp and frowned. 

I could see tail ights from here. "Are those go-carts?" I felt a renewed sense of strength and wrapped the towel around my waist. "Where's Thane?" 

"On the course." Kaitlin pointed to the monitor. "When the runner reaches the stage, he has to grab a key and run it back to the top of the ramp. Then drive a go- cart to the finish line." 

"Come on," Rhys said and we trekked with the other contestants up to the ramp. When we got closer to the top, we could see Thane running back up. He had 

ridiculous stamina and speed. I felt guilty he'd had to use some of his energy to help me off the cliff. 

Thane popped down inside the car marked with his name and fiddled with the key. Nothing happened. 

Rhys cursed and ran toward him. Kaitlin and I hung back. The splashes of the last divers fil ed the room behind us. But the sound I wanted to hear, engine ignition, didn't come. 

Thane climbed out of his car and ran to the second. He bent and tested the ignition. It revved on. 

Coordinator Steele's voice came through the loud speakers. "Contestants must drive their designated cars." Thane shut off the second car, and ran back to the first. 

Rhys reached him and removed the hood. He yanked at wires that meant nothing to me. "It's not going to start, but I can get it in neutral." 

Thane climbed in. 

Rhys got behind the car. "After I push you over the edge, try not to brake. Use the momentum from the slope to pul you around to the next ramp. We'l meet you at the bottom." 

Thane gave a sharp nod and Rhys pushed him over the edge. The car picked up speed as its tires took the ramp. "Come on," Rhys said. "We have to get to the amphitheater. The plateau at the top wil destroy his momentum." 

Adrenalin hit me and I ran with Kaitlin and Rhys. My clothes dripped with each step, but I ignored the discomfort and kept an eye on the race. Thane's car hit the 

bottom of the first ramp with a thump. He jerked the wheel hard right. The tires screamed as they took the curve without a braking. The cart swung toward the edge. 

I stopped running, glued to the spot. 

The vehicle drifted sideways. Engines revved and the sound of speeding fil ed my ears, but I couldn't take my gaze off Thane's cart as it spun out of control, threatening to send him over the side. 

Thane grappled with the wheel and he fought to keep the cart on the road. I held my breath until the tires caught, forcing the smal car back into play. He flew toward the second ramp, seeming to go faster. 

"Hurry, Elena." Kaitlin had her arm in the doorway of the elevator, holding it open. 

I picked up speed and joined her and Rhys. The elevator ride felt like it took two minutes, though it could only have been seconds before the doors opened and released us.

We ran to the upper ring of the amphitheater to wait for the go-carts. I sank against the wal , chil ed and uncomfortable. I'd lost my towel somewhere along the run. The crowd of onlookers in the seats below got louder as more competitors joined us. 

Thane's go-cart swung around the tight corner, reaching the plateau. The back end fishtailed and knocked into one of the columns, going at a ridiculous speed 

propel ed by gravity instead of gasoline. Slowed by its crash into the columns and the lack of an incline, Thane's car rol ed to a stop. 

This was it. We were up. The increased thrum of distant but approaching engines fil ed the amphitheater. We ran to the go-cart and shoved. When we reached the edge we gave it a final heave. 

It picked up speed, and in a mechanical mockery of Thane's graceful leap during the first round, the wheels jumped over the pit. The front tires caught the edge of the stage and the undercarriage scraped, wood against metal as the go-cart moved forward a few feet. It abruptly halted with half the car on the stage and half off. The back tires hung suspended over the pit. Thane's weight held the cart in place, keeping it from fal ing back. 

Go-carts spun into view as the director tapped the victor flag on the hood of Thane's car. Rhys didn't wait. He ran down the aisle, up the stairs to the stage and 

held the cart steady while Thane crawled out. Together, they pul ed al four wheels on the stage. 

Roaring engines fil ed the auditorium as the other carts careened into view. Nevaeh was steering one of the ones in the lead. She braked down the aisle then hit the gas to create enough momentum to drive up the stairs and into second position. A third cart pul ed in close behind her. 

The director got behind the microphone and the metal ic whine cut through the air. He had the volume set on boom. "Drivers, cut your engines. The three slots for the finale have been fil ed." 

The carts braked and the engines cut at whatever point they were in the auditorium. Everyone realized al ten carts wouldn't fit on the stage. 

It was the ugliest victory I'd ever seen. The most hard fought, and the one greeted with the least enthusiasm. Weak claps fil ed the amphitheater as Thane and the other two captains took their spots. Team Thane, Declan's new team, and a genuinely enthusiastic third group would enter the finale. 

When al ten carts had stopped, Kaitlin and I began the trek down the aisle. Thane had his arms open to me. I leaned into his solid strength, clutching at the fabric of his stil wet T-shirt, breathing in the chlorine. Fal ing through the dark had revisited my worst nightmare and I didn't have the ability to hide my need to be close to him. I bowed my head against the damp fabric, shivering. 

The director tapped on the microphone. "Thank you, contestants." 

The spectators got quieter and the director continued, "Due to some unforeseen tampering, we've made the decision to place al final contestants into isolation before round three." 

Thane's arms tightened around me and I tried to stop shaking. We were fine. We were al fine. 

"Al of us?" Declan stepped forward and spoke to the director in a loud voice. "I hate to do this, but I have to be honest. I have something to report." He looked at our team. "Rhys wasn't in our room last night." 

Everyone stared at Rhys. 

Rhys put his hands in his pockets, cocked his chin up, and lifted his eyebrows. 

Kaitlin stepped forward, her face on fire. "He was with me." Her voice squeaked out the lie. "Al night?" Declan asked. His lips curled into a sneer. 

Rhys dropped his bored expression, and his gaze became menacing, tracking Declan with glittering eyes. 

"Yeah, and we weren't sleeping." Kaitlin's voice wobbled and her face got redder. "Guess I went after the wrong roommate," Declan said, his expression insulting. Thane let go and stepped in front of me. 

"Enough," the director said, "Al contestants wil sleep in the clinic tonight, under guard. That way, no one can be accused of tampering. Then the contestants wil be 

escorted off campus to the mountains to complete the final round." He clicked on a keyboard with high arching movements. The screen flickered, showing images of 

Mt. McKinley. Words scrol ed across its snowy surface: snowmen, skiing, sledding, snowboarding, and luge. 

I wondered if Thane, Rhys, and every other student from the South, was thinking the same thing as me: What the hell's a luge?

***

They gave us time to return to our own rooms, shower and gather our stuff, but not long. When we were done, Coordinator Steele escorted Kaitlin, Nevaeh, and me back to the clinic. 

Fifteen cots had been set up inside, three groupings of five divided only by curtains hanging from tracks in the ceiling. I hated being within the restricted area with 14 

witnesses. I sat cross-legged on my cot across from Kaitlin. 

She had divided her hair into segments and was winding it into spirals. I'd brushed my wet hair after my shower and clipped it up. The shampoo and lemony soap they provided covered the sterile smel of the clinic, but I stil missed my hair products. As much as I missed them, Kaitlin missed hers more. I used to think curly hair was less work, but after living with her, I knew I was wrong. 

"Did you see how they stared at us? Like we caused al those problems?" Kaitlin said. We kept our voices low, given the lack of privacy. 

"Only at the beginning. Like we'd sabotage our own cart." Thane sank down beside me. His weight stretched the canvas, making me slant toward him. I gave in and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head against his chest, breathing in his solid strength. Before tonight, I would have said I adored his cologne, but I guess I adored him because we'd al used the same lemony soap. 

Rhys stood by his own cot, sifting through the clothes they had given us for tomorrow. Thin, silk long johns to wear under our sweats, two pairs of socks each,

stocking caps, puffy lined coats-nothing was familiar. 

"Snowman," Kaitlin said in a hushed voice. "I bet that's the artsy portion." 

I appreciated her strategizing because that was our only hope to win. We didn't have experience to draw on for winter sports. Not that I'd give up. If we couldn't win, maybe we could stil beat saboteur Declan's team. That was my new goal anyway. 

Rhys said, "We don't get enough snow in Houston to make snowmen." 

"Ever?" Kaitlin asked. 

Rhys dropped a confusing tangle of zippered coat lining and leaned against the wal in a half slouch. "Nope." Thane said, "I've vacationed in cold spots before, but I wouldn't cal myself an expert skier." 

I clenched my fists. "We are so screwed. I could have handled an ice climb. It's the same principle as a normal climb. Grab the crevice or hack into the ice and create a crevice, but I don't even know what luge means." 

Kaitlin giggled. "It's like a go-cart on ice. Just have to hang on for the ride. You can do it." "Where are you from?" Rhys asked Kaitlin. 

"Manhattan, but I did a year of boarding school in Switzerland, and it gets real y snowy there." Kaitlin's voice dwindled at Rhys's expression. "More so than New 

York." 

Rhys looked at her like she was a foreign species, his head tilted, his eyes assessed her. "You're a Yankee?" I could have kicked him. I bet Kaitlin was the first person from the north he'd ever met. 

Rhys said, "Say car park." 

Thane lay back on the cot, pul ing me down beside his tal body. We barely fit. 

My heart thumped as I curved into him. No way I could sleep in this position. This was his worst strategy yet. Though I thought the words, I didn't move.

***

Morning arrived. The cinnamon granola breakfast bar tasted chalky in my mouth and I drank the pulpy orange juice to wash it down. We'd al gotten over caffeine withdrawal since they didn't serve it in the igloo, but this morning I would have given up a lot for a cup of coffee. 

The door clicked open. The Scientist wheeled a squeaky cart into view. On the top lay plastic bags and cotton swabs. "We'l be taking painless cheek swabs. The samples wil prove that no one has taken performance-enhancing drugs. There have been rumors." 

I stiffened, instinctively rejecting the idea. "We've been locked in here. No one could get anything." Not anything they weren't already giving us anyway. 

Nevaeh walked up to the cart. "Figures she'd want to weasel out of it." She opened her mouth, looking expectantly at The Scientist. 

He snapped on a glove, unwrapped a swab, and scraped at the inside of her cheek before sealing the sample and penning her name on the bag. Kaitlin went next. 

The Scientist said, "When did you start baking the cupcakes?" "The day they assigned the chores?" 

"And you usual y make half a dozen to a dozen daily?" 

"Yes." 

"And when did you first run out of supplies?" 

Kaitlin shrugged. "Week one, I guess. We ran out of the baking powder first. I spil ed some, and the other cooks used it during cake bake weekend." She didn't mention how many cupcakes she and Geneva burned and threw out. 

"And that's when you got the large vat from the supply room? The vat of extra baking powder? How much do you use per recipe?" 

"At first three tablespoons, but the dough wouldn't rise, so my final recipe used two cups per bowl." His pen stil ed. "Two cups?" 

"Why?" 

"No problem. The two guys are recuperating just fine. You must've just gotten hold of a bad batch." Kaitlin frowned and bit her lip. 

The Scientist made her open her mouth. He took the cheek swab and motioned to me. "How are you feeling, Elena?" 

"Fine?" 

"How many of the cupcakes do you eat regularly?" "One or two per day." 

He penned my answer. "And from your weigh-ins, you've lost ten pounds since you came here?" 

I shrugged. "No TexMex, no fast food, no soda, lots of climbing." He raised the cotton swab. "Open." 

I kept my mouth closed. Suspicious eyes stared at me from around the room, but I couldn't explain how much I didn't want to give them a sample. I couldn't even explain it to myself, it was just an instinctive revulsion. 

"Open or your team wil be disqualified." 

I swal owed and opened my mouth. The cotton coated stick jabbed and scraped at the inside of my cheek. The procedure was over in seconds. I jerked my head back.

The Scientist sealed the baggie and penned my name on the top. The wheels creaked and the cart squeaked as he went around the room and finished the other contestants. 

The second The Scientist left, Declan said to me, "What's your damage?" 

I ignored him and made a new plan. When we got back, I'd climb to the off-limits area, and destroy those samples, al of them. I couldn't explain my suspicious nature, but I trusted it. 

Coordinator Steele came in next. "Time to get going." 

We gathered into lines, holding our coats. I bent my arms, feeling restricted and overheated with the slim fitting long johns under my sweats. Rhys stomped his hiking boots. We each wore ones that were a half a size too large to accommodate the winter woolens. The gear felt awkward. 

Thane looked good though, with his broad shoulders and narrow waist. It took quite a physique to make this outfit work. He did. He caught me looking and winked. 

We headed out. I walked behind Kaitlin. She looked cute in the outfit. Her earmuffs covered her ears, and she smiled a smal smile at Rhys. He looked like he didn't know what to do with her, but he wasn't running. 

I was glad Kaitlin could smile now, because after we came in last and lost the chance to go home, we'd be stuck here until December with students who suspected us of cheating. A thought flickered through my brain, making my mood brighten. When we came in third, at least they'd know we hadn't cheated. And when Declan and Nevaeh came back from their winning weekend, I'd make them pay.

***

Per the coordinators, assists within your own team were al owed. That was good, because individual y we would have burned a lot of time staring at equipment and wondering what it did. By helping each other, we might appear less stupid, but I doubted it. Just stumbling out of the jeeps in our puffy, awkward gear looked idiotic. 

"Where are the screens? The cameras?" Nevaeh asked. 

Coordinator Steele hissed a breath through her nose. "Not on the mountain." 

A big, sneaky grin sat on Declan's face. I should have been watching his expressions more closely. His cheating would kick into high gear today. Declan threw back his head and howled into the chil . Some type of Nebraska war chant, I guessed. 

"And the wildlife?" Nevaeh pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "Bears?" 

Coordinator Steele opened her coat and showed us the butt of a gun protruding from an interior pocket. Kaitlin gasped and stepped closer to Rhys. 

I hoped Coordinator Steele was a better shot than she was a wilderness guide. I swung my arms and sucked in some fresh, crisp air. The thin air held half the 

oxygen as back home, so I'd have to breathe twice as fast. 

Thane dropped an arm over my shoulders. "Stop it, you'l hyperventilate." "There's not enough air up here." 

Rhys nodded. "The quantities differ from sea level. Expect vertigo, nose bleeds, and constricted chests." He glared at the white landscape. 

Kaitlin giggled. "We'l be fine." She held up a gloved hand coated in white. "See how the snow sparkles. This wil be fun." 

Thane and Rhys looked at her with grim gazes. I tried to muster a smile, but it felt like fourth quarter and our team was down by 30.

Chapter Thirteen

I slid onto the back of the dog sled's hard bench behind Kaitlin and Rhys. The wood was uncomfortable and cold under the thin blanket, but al I had to do was sit for this leg. The sled dogs did the work. Their smal bodies were wiry and strong, not fluffy like in the movies. They shifted forward, leaning, straining, ready to go, ready to dump us. I tightened my grip on the sides. Try it, Cujo. 

Thane stepped onto the two rails behind the sled in the musher position. He would guide the beasts. The coordinator dropped the flag. 

"Go. Mush." 

With sharp yelps the team of dogs sprang forward and the sled flew into motion. We had an advantage over the five-member teams because our dogs had less weight to pul . But that was our only edge. 

The dogs knew the path; they scurried forward with no fear. Tree limbs heavy with snow framed our way. Wind bit at my cheeks, but the sensation wasn't unpleasant. Rhys's body, in the front position, blocked most of the chil , and he did the work. He leaned to control the turns. Kaitlin and I imitated him so we wouldn't tip over. 

Snow piled in banks along the trail, and the cart floated along, led by the happy yips of the dogs. It was like gliding through a Christmas card: white, sparkling, beautiful. Snow in the sunlight. 

I relaxed my grip and spared a glance back at Thane. He wore a frown of concentration, al his focus rested on the trail and guiding the dogs in this unfamiliar task. He yel ed out phrases he had to have picked up from a Disney movie to encourage the team to go faster. "Onward. Mush." 

I stifled a chuckle and turned back around so I wouldn't distract him. I'd mock his word choice after we were back at the habitat sipping hot chocolate under a 

blanket. The thought warmed me. 

We came off the hil onto a flat, snow-covered area, and the dogs flew across it, picking up speed, as if sensing the finish line up ahead. Thane gave them their lead and we zoomed in, skidding first over the line. 

One of the coordinators, a teacher I didn't have, laughed, and took the reins. "Good job. Onto the next leg," she said, pointing to a roped off areas. 

Fol owing Rhys and Kaitlin, I half fel out of the sled. My knees were stiff from the cold, and my hands were tight from holding on. I shook my fingers out and did a deep bend to loosen up. 

Inside the ropes, we three Houstonians approached the next task with caution-the snowman. The coordinator yel ed out, "Snowmen must be six feet minimum." None of us argued when Kaitlin took charge. "Thane, gather the snow." 

Thane dropped to his knees, scooping snow with his arms, creating a pile. 

"Rhys, make the base circle this high." Kaitlin tapped a point on his mid-thigh. She grabbed my hands and moved them three feet apart. "Scoop up a circle this big and put it on top of their base." She ran to the table, gathering supplies, then hurried back to us and knelt to work on shaping the head. 

The other team arrived. Declan's team fought for a minute, but when Nevaeh screamed at them, they worked together to form the base. We hadn't seen the third team. 

The snow packed together like the sand on Galveston Island. The whole task seemed less foreign once I equated the elements with something I knew. My siblings 

and I built an island worth of sand castles every summer. I lifted the bal into position and the guys smoothed the sides. 

Kaitlin said, "I'm not tal enough to reach the top. Can you place his head, Rhys?" 

He took Frosty, and she tucked branches into the snowman's torso. We al smiled when Frosty came to life and admired him for a moment before cal ing the coordinator over. 

Coordinator Steele took out her measuring tape. The yel ow metal hit the ground with a clank. "Six feet," she said and nodded. "Good enough." 

"We're done, over here," Declan said. 

Coordinator Steele huffed out a breath. "A moment." She ticked marks on a piece of paper, nodded, and passed us the keys to four snowmobiles. "Don the coveral s by the machines." 

"Uh, don't you have to be eighteen to drive one of these?" Kaitlin asked. "Couldn't I ride?" 

"Everyone takes their own." Coordinator Steele pointed to a smooth ice meadow. "The next leg starts at the base of the mountain. Drive until you reach the other side of the lake. You'l see the yel ow flags." 

Lake? My stomach clenched. I thought the smooth expanse of snow hid some kind of grassy val ey. Not a frozen lake. "How long has the water been frozen? Is it solid?" My voice squeaked, and I wasn't ashamed of my fear. 

The coordinator rol ed her eyes without answering and moved over to Declan's team with her measuring tape. "You're five inches too short." 

"Idiots," Nevaeh yel ed at her team. One member sank to his butt and threw his hands in the air. Declan scurried to get more snow. The other two punched each other in the shoulder. 

The third team rol ed into view. The reins dangled free, and the sled dogs bounced and hopped, nipping each other. They'd taken control of the sled. I laughed. Good dogs. 

"Come on," Thane said. 

The jog was short, and by the time we reached the snowmobiles, anticipation aggravated by the thin air had me panting. Kaitlin stared at the machine. "I don't have a license." 

"How old are you?" I'd assumed she was seventeen like me and had had her license for at least a year. I'd received my provisional license at fifteen. While we 

talked, I struggled with the zipper on my black coveral s. The material smel ed like car exhaust and grease, as if it had been stored in a garage with running snowmobiles

for ten years. 

"Sixteen, but we don't drive much where I live," Kaitlin said. "We use the driver or take a cab." She tightened the chin strap on her helmet and looked at Rhys. "I turned seventeen this summer," Rhys said from the back of the snowmobile. Thane was on his too. 

I straddled the bike and turned the key. The ignition rumbled on, and I hooked my feet tighter into the stirrups. The goggles protected my eyes from the cold and narrowed my field of vision. 

Rhys's bike revved as he toyed with the gears. He jolted forward two feet, stopped, and said, "Right side's the throttle, control it with you thumb and let up to slow. The left's your brake, pump it only if you have to." 

"Remember, if you fal , you'l land in soft snow," Thane said. 

I wasn't worried about taking a hit. My worries centered around cracking ice and frozen water. Every winter horror movie had a frozen pond with a cracked ice scene. None turned out wel . I swal owed and motioned for the other three to go first. 

Thane and Rhys flew across the ice, bent low over the machines, pushing their engines. I started slowly, trying to learn which way to lean, when to speed up, how to stay balanced. A smal snow mound lay up ahead, maybe puffy snow I could blow through, or maybe a frozen rock or a frozen fisherman who wouldn't thaw until spring. 

I jerked my steering wheel left while leaning right, trying to counter. The motion pul ed my body, threatening to lift me. I released the gas. The bike tipped and tilted, holding me in midair. Braking wasn't working, so I tried to give the engine more gas. The machine jerked under me, tilted, and fel . 

I landed on my back in the soft, fluffy snow. My palms vibrated as if I was stil holding the wheel. I held my breath, and my heart thundered in my ears accompanied by the roar of our competitors' engines as they passed me. No other sounds fil ed the quiet of the day: no cracking ice sounds. I stood and tugged the handlebars, trying to lift the heavy machine onto its tracks and skis. 

I hadn't seen Thane circle back until he stepped in front of me, taking over, up-righting the vehicle. He laughed and swiped snow off my puffy coveral s before jogging back to his own snowmobile. "Let's go." 

Something about his laughter spurred me on. I accelerated and my body almost left the seat as the machine flew toward the yel ow flags. Thane stil beat me back, 

as had Kaitlin, Rhys, Declan, and Nevaeh, but al team members had to be in place before the next leg could start. 

The advantage Nevaeh gained from beating her own team members was time to rest up, and the ability to assist when they arrived. Kaitlin tore at my zipper while Rhys helped me off the machine. We ran to a bench covered with ski ng equipment. 

"Your boots should fit snugly," Kaitlin said. "Okay, put your boot in the toe cup, and step down so the tail fin comes up. Bindings good." 

I stood up on boots strapped to skis for the first time in my life. Thane and Kaitlin alternated giving Rhys and instructions. Kaitlin said, "It's like skating. To walk, shift your weight backward and forward." 

"Don't cross your skis," Thane said. 

Kaitlin leaned sideways. "If you're out of control, fal to the side. Use your poles and squat to get back up." 

Thane patted his thighs and got into ski ng position to demonstrate for us. "Legs shoulder width apart, knees bent, back arched, shoulders high, hands forward. Don't let your skis touch. Okay. Let's go." 

The mil ion details that made up ski ng were more than I would have imagined for a sport that consisted of sliding down a hil . I made a wide wedge and inched my 

way lower. Others raced by, on skis in slick motions or on butts in pathetic skids. But no matter how slow, how bad, or how awkward, they al beat me. By the time I 

reached the stopping point, Declan's team had al left and the third team was rol ing in. 

We were tied for last position going into the final leg. I hadn't thought we had a shot at winning this, but I'd never planned to give up. And now, with the race so close, the possibility of winning shimmered in front of me. 

I dropped the poles while Kaitlin struggled with the clasps on my boots. They had already put on their hiking gear and I bent to tie my boots so we could run al out 

for the luge course. 

Kaitlin had explained that a luge consisted of a fiberglass sled and we had to lie back, while keeping our heads up to watch where we were going. We reached the flag that marked the start. Instead of sleds and a slope, we found ice-climbing gear and a cliff. 

Coordinator Steele said, "Suit up. Ten feet above us, you'l find the starting point for the luge track." "I don't know how to climb," Kaitlin said. 

"You've al played on the rocks with me. This isn't so different," I said, though I had never ice-climbed myself. 

The straps and harnesses al worked the same. The main new pieces were the ice axe and the spike-soled climbing boots. Despite the newness factor, adjusting the gear and sorting ropes took more time than the actual ten-foot climb. As a surprise element, this task lacked punch, at least it did for my team. The other two teams struggled to varying degrees. We al got up to the top at about the same time and saw a large hol owed-out log made from fiberglass. Each team ran for their own spot. 

Kaitlin tilted her head. "That's not a luge." 

Rhys tilted his head and examined the thing. "It's a log ride. I've actual y done this one." 

Coordinator Steele pointed at the empty bel y. "We wanted solid team efforts without head injuries so this is the modification. This last leg's about speed and leaning the right way as a team." 

Thane climbed into the back. I got in front of him, then Rhys, then Kaitlin. 

The coordinator pointed at the snowy vista. Blue and red flags waved in the distance. Their color stood out in a sharp contrast to the whiteness. "It's a ten-mile timed track. You have three separate tracks. At each intersection make a choice of leaning into the slower straighter track marked by blue flags or the high-speed, steep track marked by red." 

Coordinator Steele screwed a heavy, padded bar in front of me.

"Where's the brake?" Kaitlin asked. 

"No brakes, like a real luge." Coordinator Steele backed off and moved to the wooden plank holding us in place at the top of the hil . Thane said, "We take the fastest courses al the way. Agreed?" 

"Yep." "Yes." 

Kaitlin said, "As soon as I see red, I'l yel the direction. Right, left or whatever and you guys lean, and repeat it back." "Got it." 

Coordinator Steele shoved at a crank and a metal restraint dropped into the snow. Our log teetered for a moment then lunged forward, taking the course like an icy 

rol ercoaster. Gravity pressed me into Thane. Wind whipped at my hair and I struggled to shove the flying strands back into my helmet. "Right," Kaitlin yel ed. The wind stole the sound. 

"Right." We each yel ed it back at her. 

We sped down the frozen path, leaning, yel ing, watching for the other teams. The track wove through trees and they blocked our view. "Left," Kaitlin yel ed. 

"Left," we repeated and leaned. 

"No, right, right," she screamed, sounding panicked. 

I shoved to the right, my body fighting the resistance. Our log bounced, and rode roughly, reluctant to take the altered path. The road smoothed out, the incline eased off, and I lifted my chin. Blue flags fluttered passed us. Blue? What? 

Kaitlin pointed to the left. A herd of spindly-legged, winter-fluffed reindeer crossed onto the red path. 

We'd lost, our efforts destroyed by a random herd of roaming wildlife. My hands fel to the padded bar and my forehead dropped on them. Al I'd lost flashed through my head, and I blew out a breath. Okay, feel it. Now let it go. Home's not real y lost, just delayed. 

We angled around a corner, and the other teams came into view below us. They arrived at the finish line together. 

Both of them. I dropped my arms to my side, and half-growled, half-screeched my frustration. I looked back at Thane. 

Tension fil ed his face, and he said something I didn't catch about Rudolph and a shotgun. He leaned out the side, scooped up a handful of snow and threw it. The flakes spattered through the sky, catching the fal ing afternoon sun, sparkling against the sunset. He bent his head and pressed his cold lips to mine, an angry kiss that turned warm. His arms tightened and thoughts of losing left me, replaced by the joy of my first frozen kiss. 

A loud cracking sound, like a backfiring car, or a gunshot, made me jerk away. Ahead of us, a large overhanging branch dipped down, like a drunken elbow. The 

log slid closer, and another large crack came from the tree. "Guys," Kaitlin said. 

With a powerful snap, the branch broke, dropping in front of us. Our log slammed into it, spun, and rol ed. I hit the bar, a rough pressure to my chest, then I was flung back into Thane, then into the air. 

Al of us were thrown from the wreck. 

We crawled upright, our bodies half-snowman, half-human. Something about our hybrid appearance made me laugh. Once, I'd started, I set everyone off. We bent double and col apsed to the snow. 

The good mood we didn't deserve carried us through the long hike toward the finish line. A hike fil ed with "walking to school uphil in the snow, both ways" jokes, thrown snowbal s, and four perfect snow angels. None of us hurried. Why rush back to third place and another evening locked in the habitat? 

By the time the finish line came into view, everyone had gone back except our dorm coordinator and science teacher. They paced, checked their watches, and the sky. Coordinator Steele said, "What took you so long?" 

We didn't get to answer before The Scientist spoke. He waved a hand down the side of the mountain. "I don't understand. You are so much more capable than 

the other teams. How are you feeling? Tired? Sick? Did you eat more cupcakes?" "We ate what everyone else ate." 

"Did you take your vitamins?" 

I moved slightly in front of Kaitlin. If anyone's face would give us away, it would be hers. "Sure." 

Coordinator Steele narrowed her gaze. "They're liars. They were probably making out in the snow. It's al over them." 

The sound of a mitten brushing against a sleeve came from behind me. I should have spent more time coaching Kaitlin on deception. The scientist said, "So you took your vitamins and you stil came in last?" 

Thane stepped forward. "Why are you so focused on the vitamins?" 

"I've never taken one," Rhys said. His chin tilted and the rebel ious light glinted in his green eyes. 

The Scientist's face blanched. "You consented to take them before you came. It's a key part of the program." He jotted down some notes. "Did you hold up your team at any point?" He looked up when Rhys didn't answer. "You did eat the cupcakes though, didn't you?" 

"Not today or yesterday." "But before?" 

"Yeah." 

Kaitlin gasped and covered her mouth with her mitten. "I've been putting vitamin mix in the cupcakes instead of some other ingredient. Is that what you're saying?" The Scientist rubbed his temple with his palm then glanced at the coordinator. "See, I can't tel how much they've ingested. Their data is useless." 

"It's not vitamins," I said.

Kaitlin dropped her hand. "If it's not vitamin powder, what is it?" 

Rhys stepped closer to her. "For experimental use only. What does that mean?" "Are you testing on us?" Thane asked. 

"Shut up," Coordinator Steele said. 

At the same time, The Scientist flushed. "Why would you even ask such a question?" His voice pitched high. "They're not tel ing the truth." Kaitlin sounded shocked. "I've been poisoning us." 

Thane said, "You think we'l keep quiet about this? You think my family would stand for this?" 

"I know mine won't." I stared at them, hoping they could read the retribution coming their way. Coordinator Steele pul ed out her gun. "Shut up. Get in the jeep." 

We froze and shut up. 

The Scientist waved his arms in the air. "Whoa, what are you doing?" 

"They're useless. You said it yourself, their data is corrupt, and now they're causing trouble." "But." 

"Sometimes you have to destroy bad specimens." 

"Wait, wait, wait, back up a step. It's true they can't be used in the data pool. But this... this..." The Scientist sputtered. Coordinator Steele lowered the gun so it aimed at Kaitlin and tilted her head toward the jeep. "Get in." 

We crammed into the backseat together. 

The brakes squealed as we took a sharp turn. Coordinator Steele kept the gun on us while The Scientist drove. "The sun's setting," The Scientist said, peering through the windshield, his knuckles white against the wheel. "What are we going to do? This is so out of control." 

Coordinator Steele tapped on the headrest with her free hand, but her gun hand never wavered. "We just need some time. No one wil come looking until tomorrow, and then we'l have a solution. Head to the airfield." 

The SUV jolted over the terrain, racing the early autumn sunset. This afternoon had contained as much downhil action as I ever wanted, and the SUV trip pushed 

the limits of what my body could take. Each jolt increased my fear that gun would go off. 

The headlights caught the grey metal of the building and I breathed out in relief. 

The Scientist slammed on the brakes, and parked on the runway leading to the building. "We're here." Coordinator Steele said, "Get inside." 

We opened the doors and spil ed out. 

"Your team did wel , so wel on every course," The Scientist frowned and put his back to the wind. "With your heightened abilities from the extra doses, you should have nailed the finale. Tel me what happened." 

His scientific interest seemed extra creepy at this point, and I just wanted away. I picked up my pace. "Deer," Kaitlin said, "A herd of reindeer. They got in our way." 

The Scientist's eyes stil ed and his shoulders dropped. "Environment. We didn't control the environment sufficiently. Thank you for explaining. Go inside now." 

The hol ow hangar was dark with its windowless metal wal s. I paused in the doorway, staying in the beam of the headlights until someone threw the switch. Huge, hanging, florescent light fixtures hummed on and il uminated the grease-stained concrete floor. Tool-laden shelves lined the interior wal s alongside wooden doorways. I rubbed my arms against the chil . 

Coordinator Steele stayed by the entrance and I tried to move as far from her as I could get without drawing attention to the movement. The Scientist pointed at one of the wooden doors. "Into the main office would be best." 

Happy to get away from the gun, I walked fast toward the room he'd indicated. Inside were filing crates, brown carpet, and another interior door. That one lay ajar, revealing a tiny bathroom. The four of us moved onto the brown carpet and The Scientist shut us in. A heavy scraping noise came from the other side of the door, like furniture being moved to block our exit. I instinctively tried the knob. It twisted underneath my hand without opening. 

"They locked us in?" Kaitlin sounded confused and weary al at once. "Good. I'm glad they left," Thane said. 

Rhys nodded. "Keep your voices low so they can't hear us in this tin can." I ran my hands along my arms. "How can it stil be so cold?" 

Kaitlin shivered and hugged her body. "Try the radiator." 

We stared at her and she moved over to white spiraling pipes that lay along the back wal . She twisted a white knob on top. The pipes gurgled. "It's a heater." Rhys tore off his gloves and moved to the sink. He turned it on and scooped some water into his mouth. "Tastes okay." 

Until I heard the sound of water, I hadn't realized how dry my throat was. We took turns drinking the icy water. Thirst sated, I acknowledged how hol ow my stomach felt. "I wish we had some food." 

Kaitlin rubbed her hands together, stared at the door, and stomped her feet. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop talking, but they were lying right to our faces." 

"That must be your heightened skil ," I said. "You're real y intuitive." I moved to the radiator and touched the metal surface. The pipes seemed a little warmer, but that may have been wishful thinking. 

"Intuitive?" Kaitlin twisted her lips. "I've been cal ed naïve and gul ible, but never intuitive." 

"This Alaskan isolation probably changed you, or maybe rooming with me did it." Rhys said, "Or the experimental drug. Elena and Thane have changed a lot."

"Real y, Rhys? Now?" 

"That's not a dig. I don't mean dating, which is real y whack, but your other skil s. Thane was always strong, but never fast, not like he is now." Thane tightened his arms over his chest. 

"And Elena, you remember the night of the going away party? I was at the Johnsons' for the night, but was stil keeping an eye on our trailer. I watched you climb on a block to look in my window." 

"Jeez, Rhys, why didn't you come out and talk to me?" 

"Not the point. I realized what you wanted later when I got your note. But, by then, you'd already gone." "So that's why you haven't kil ed me? Because you know I tried to tel you?" 

"Pretty much. Anyway, it took you like fifteen minutes to turn that block over and climb up to my window. A couple of months later you're scaling an inverted wal faster than nine big guys." 

"I could always climb," I said in a dwindling voice. 

"Not like that. Not like an Olympian. Maybe you don't see the change because it's been gradual, but I haven't seen y'al for months and I see the differences clearly." He looked down at his fingers. "You know I'm good with math and science, right?" 

"Yeah." 

"Wel , I'm better here. First, I thought the crap they were throwing me was just easier than at good old Tral wyn High. It's not. Some of the equations are complex, and they spin around my mind al the time, half making me crazy. Unless I'm around Kaitlin. Then my mind stil s-the same way Thane calms you down." 

I sank to the floor as what he was saying hit me. "For experimental use only. I didn't real y believe him. Nothing like that exists." 

Rhys said, "It doesn't now, but companies and doctors are constantly trying to find ways to enhance people. Their brains, their bodies." Thane said, "They'l make a fortune if they ever find a drug that works. Bil ions." 

Kaitlin's voice pitched high. "I've been drugging us." 

I pressed my hand to my forehead. "I thought stopping the vitamins would be enough." "Focus on the solution," Thane said. 

I bit the side of my thumb. "We ate so much of it in the cupcakes." 

Rhys leaned against the wal and sank down, his hands loose atop his spread knees. "I could use a cupcake." Thane said, "Maybe the effects wil wear off when the drugs are out of our systems." 

Kaitlin paced around Rhys's feet. "We've got to get out of here, cal someone, something. Tel them what they've done to us. Or talk to The Scientist. He won't let 

Coordinator Steele hurt us." 

"Bil ions," Rhys said. "People do a lot worse, for a lot less." 

On the right side of my face, I felt the first stirring of warm air. At least Kaitlin was right about the radiator. I scooted closer. "I think the heat's coming on." "Get warm, get some rest, and drink more water," Thane said. "That's al we can do for now." 

Kaitlin sat by Rhys. He looked at her and said, "No provisions. No transport. Temperatures just above freezing, unfamiliar terrain. Maybe if you'd made friends with some Alaskan kids you'd make it out of here, but you picked three southerners, so you're screwed until daylight." 

I shrugged out of my jacket and folded it into a square. It would make a decent pil ow but I was too wired to sleep and too scared to stop talking. "I knew the 

boarding school was weird, but I never thought it was criminal." 

"We signed a lot of consent forms," Kaitlin said. "I'm not sure what they did is criminal." She shrugged out of her own jacket and sank back against it. "They didn't disclose this," Rhys said. "I read every page of their stack of forms." 

Thane said, "They pul ed a gun. That's end game." 

I stared at him. A horrible suspicion fil ed my stomach, and a headache knotted my temple. Tral wyn Thane, I hated. This Thane, I adored. I pul ed my knees to my chest. My breath quickened. "I like you here, and that's odd too. Maybe it's because of the drugs." 

Thane stopped struggling with the laces on his hiking boots and stared at me. "I'm stil me." 

I searched his light blue eyes, looking for something to explain the change. 

He touched my cheeks. I jerked at the cold but didn't pul away. "Don't I feel the same?" I stared back without answering. He brushed the back of his knuckles over my jaw. "I know because my feelings haven't changed. Not at al ." His forehead dropped to mine. "I've always liked you." 

I felt shock coupled with exhaustion, but his closeness comforted me. 

Thane half-laughed, and pul ed me into him so we were sitting together. He stuffed my jacket behind us and draped his over our legs. "We had no shot in Tral wyn. That's why we weren't together. We're together now because we can be, not because of some drug compound." 

"Less than no shot," I said. 

Thane tightened his arms and lay back, tugging me down with him. "I know we're wired, but we have to try to sleep." Rhys got up and hit the light. I snuggled into Thane and let the rise and fal of his chest soothe me.

***

For the first time in my life, I awakened with a gun pointed in my face. Coordinator Steele held the weapon. "Get up." 

I rose and a jolt of adrenalin replaced my exhaustion. I wished we'd fal en asleep with a better plan. Whatever enhanced talents we had did not include plotting or making food from thin air. My stomach knotted in hunger.

Thane pul ed on his shoes and we al took turns in the bathroom and shoved into our gear. 

The Scientist stood in the doorway, looking torn. The clock on the wal in the overheated room read four a.m. "It pains us to do this, but you have to understand that for the greater good, when specimens go bad, they have to be removed from the pool. It's basic science." 

"We're people, not specimens." I swal owed and backed up until I could retreat no further, taking smal comfort from the warmth of the radiator behind me. "The 

other students and coordinators, they're expecting us to come back." 

The Scientist said, "You were coming back, but you begged us to let you climb down to the baggage trucks to see if you could salvage anyone's luggage. Coordinator Steele says you've been on her about your stuff since you got here." 

As if saying her name made her appear, Coordinator Steele stepped into view behind the Scientist. She carried the gun. "Yes, she's asked numerous times to make the climb." 

Kaitlin frowned and looked from her to me. "What?" 

Coordinator Steele twisted her mouth into a tight grin. "We had a special staff meeting about it the first week. Ms. Carlisle was not the only one who suggested a strategy. More than one kid has begged for an expedition to save their Samsonite and Louis Vuitton. The staff voted it down." 

The Scientist said, "I led the veto. Homogenizing your pool of specimens as much as possible helps your data." 

Coordinator Steele motioned with the gun, silently directing us to the front door. "We never should have given in to your pleas and never would have, had we known it would lead to such a tragedy." 

The Scientist shook his head. "The loss of al four of you in a tragic Alaskan climbing accident." 

I jerked as if he'd punched me. Rage fil ed my body at the thought of my family having to hear about another accident. I lunged. The muzzle swung toward me. 

Thane grabbed me tight in his arms. "No need for the gun. I got her. We're going to go with you. Everybody keep calm." Anger tinged his voice, defying his words. 

I struggled against his restraint. 

"Shh," he whispered in my ear. "We need you. We're climbing and we need you to help us. We can't get out without you, okay?" "Enough," Coordinator Steele said. "Move." 

The Scientist seemed to want us to understand. He held up a hand. "Your progress is significant, your grades, your physicality. And, after the cupcakes, I now 

know it's a matter of dose. I can start new with a fresh group of kids with measured doses." 

We walked out without taking anything from the room. Nothing there would help our situation-nothing would defeat the fact that Coordinator Steele had a gun. My mind raced with inadequate plans, chal enging them, discarding them. The trucks had fal en less than a mile from school. On a non-snowy, high visibility day, if 

anyone were outside, they'd see us and help. 

We stepped out of the hanger. White defined the early morning hours: snow fal ing from the sky, snow covering the ground. The backdrop made the harsh grey metal of the gun stand out clearer. Coordinator Steele said. "Move out."

Chapter Fourteen

They drove us to the school and parked behind the Christmas trees at the base of the crevice where the baggage trucks had fal en. Seeing the habitat so close gave me a sense of hope. If we could get away from the gun, at least we'd know where to get help. 

Coordinator Steele threw a pile of straps at our feet. "Put these on." 

I grabbed the equipment and helped my friends gear up. 

"How many of you are testing on us?" Rhys asked. "Is it just you two?" 

The Scientist rubbed his temple. "You don't understand. My project showed so much promise in animals, and we had batches of the drug stored. We were ready to start human trials. Then, the market crashed and the board cut our funding. What would you do? You've got the drug. You've got the population to test it on." He held out his hands. "You could change the world." 

"Enough." Coordinator Steele jerked the gun. "None of it matters now." 

The Scientist looked torn. "I hate to lose the knowledge they have, the skil sets, the promise they show. The long term data would be useful." Coordinator Steele seemed fed up with his half-hearted protests. "There's no good science here. They're just liabilities." 

I checked the equipment careful y. The harnesses seemed new and undamaged. 

Around us, the snow had stopped fal ing. The white fluff covered the ground evenly, edging the enormous dark hole. We moved closer. Split earth and roots were visible here near the surface. To the far right, a flash of aqua caught my attention-the entrance to a cave. Its wal s were coated with ancient teal-blue ice. Spectacular. 

"The mouth of the dragon," Coordinator Steele said. 

The Scientist knelt beside the hole and peered in for a closer examination. "The earthquake opened access to an underground cavern. Fascinating." He looked up at us, speaking as if we sat in class. "When the temperatures are just right, ice worms come out of the wal s. Life's a miracle in al its forms." 

I shuddered. 

"We're down with that," Thane said. "Let's respect some life and head back." 

"Yeah, you kick us out." Rhys shrugged. "Say we cheated. Everyone wil believe you." Rhys had a great argument. I closed my eyes, praying they'd jump on it. 

"You would have had such genetical y superior babies." The Scientist shook his head. "Such a waste of potential." We al flinched. 

"Four kids went down to get everyone's luggage. They just wanted to make up for cheating. To win their classmates trust back. Heroic real y." Coordinator 

Steele's smile made a mockery of the words. 

I stared out at the wilderness and my stomach knotted as a thought occurred to me. My eyes burned. "What happened to Geneva?" Thane grabbed me again, as if he suspected the answer would be bad. 

Coordinator Steele shrugged, "Resistance. She had to go. She saw too much in the clinic." 

The Scientist stared at her as if surprised by the answer and made a smal sound of distress. Kaitlin echoed the sound and put a glove over her mouth. Rhys pul ed her to him. I welcomed the rage because fury beat fear in a pick-your-sucky-emotion contest any day. 

The Scientist stared at the ground then crossed his arms over his chest. But when he raised his gaze, he appeared dead convinced. "We can do miraculous things with this drug. Create an amazing world ful of amazing people. Sometimes you have to do things for the greater good. When the most people benefit, you know the choice is right. It's basic ethics." 

Coordinator Steele said, "Time to get in." 

"Wait, we can-" Kaitlin's voice held an edge of panic. "Enough. Move." 

We moved. 

"I don't know how to rappel," Kaitlin said. 

Coordinator Steele shrugged. "That should make things go much faster." I wanted to hit her. 

Rhys shifted and Coordinator Steele adjusted the gun so it aimed at Kaitlin's chest. 

"Come here, Kaitlin." I didn't know how much longer they'd stick with their plan before Coordinator Steele got impatient and shoved us into the hole or shot us. With the equipment, we had a chance at putting distance between us and the gun. I took Kaitlin's shoulders between my hands. "You're a dancer, so you're strong, real y strong. Just stay calm and listen to me, and it'l al be fine. Can you do that? Can you listen to me and keep Rhys calm for me?" 

Kaitlin swal owed and nodded. "Good." 

I let go and waved Thane over to secure rappel anchors. I knotted the rope into position and attached rappel devices to each of our harnesses, moving fast but checking everything twice. 

Coordinator Steele frowned at the anchors, but The Scientist nodded. "An experienced climber would set up anchors with backups." 

"Okay. I'l go down with Thane. When we reach a ledge, we'l set this up." I held up the belay device. "It wil guide you down." I didn't let myself think about it, I 

just triple-checked the equipment and moved to the edge, watching for jagged bits of granite in the earth. 

I didn't do what I said once we were over the edge. Instead I motioned for Thane to screw in the extra anchors, and I used the natural grooves to make my way down to the first significant ledge-a jagged outcropping of dirt, rocks, and roots. Thane made his way down slowly while I set up.

I shoved the toe of my boot into a jagged groove. "Okay, Kaitlin first. Don't worry if you swing out. You're smal and with this equipment, I can hold your weight." Kaitlin stepped forward. 

"Wait a moment." Coordinator Steele dropped a pack straight at me. "You wouldn't climb without provisions." 

I fought my instincts to dodge and the pack landed hard on the edge of our pitch. I tried to hook the canvas with my other boot, but the bag fel over the ledge, scraping and thumping its way down into the dark hole. 

"Oops," Coordinator Steele said. 

The fal ing sounds made me want to throw up, so for the first time, I was glad they'd deprived us of breakfast. I took a few shal ow breaths to calm and checked on Thane. He had almost reached me. 

"Al set now," Coordinator Steele said. "You four keep going down until I say stop. Then climb back up. I'l give you more supplies if you make it. Then, you'l get to go down again." She waved the gun, pointing at each of us in turn. "You'l keep it up until you can't." 

"Exertion," The Scientist said. "The exertion in these conditions wil be draining." 

Coordinator Steele's voice had an almost hypnotic quality, "Or you could let go now. Let go and drop back. You real y don't want to be the last one hanging. The one who witnesses al your friends fal first while you watched and did nothing to help." 

"Don't let her into your head," I whispered to Thane and shifted careful y on the rocky outcropping. Pebbles dislodged with our movements and pinged as they hit the wal on the way down. The sound carried on a long time, indicating an almost unending chasm. The thought chil ed me and I saw Kaitlin flinch at the noise. 

"You're doing fine, Kaitlin, a few more feet." "Get going," Coordinator Steele said to Rhys. "One at a time," I said. 

Coordinator Steele said, "Go." 

We were only twenty feet or so down and I could hear impatience clip in her voice. 

Rhys slipped over the edge, using the anchors. He braced his feet on the wal and started down. "Careful, Rhys, slow and easy." I released the friction, lowering Kaitlin faster. 

The coordinators moved above us, and while relieved not to have the gun pointing at our heads, I couldn't see what they were up to. The rope jolted. They were messing with the anchor. 

"A little faster now, Kaitlin," I said. The rope jolted again, snapping against my glove. "Kaitlin, there's a ledge to your right, I am going to put you down there. "Okay?" 

"Okay." 

Thane reached me, and helped jerk the line to the right, giving Kaitlin no time to protest, we dropped her to the narrow ledge two feet above us. "Unhook and hold tight, Kaitlin." I kept my voice low. 

Kaitlin had been moving at a sure pace, doing great with her strong legs. Her hands patted the wal , gripping one of the roots. "I'd rather stay clipped in." 

I swal owed and dragged up one of Geneva's sayings. "Suck it up, Kaitlin. We have to release you early and clip in Rhys before they dislodge the rope. He's too close to them." 

Kaitlin froze a moment and let go suddenly, unclipped, and grabbed the wal . 

"Rhys, reach out for the rope and clip in." I tried to keep the urgency out of my voice, and to keep the volume soft. 

Rhys hooked in and continued lowering himself using grooves and the anchors. The rope tightened and I was torn. He was secure and making great progress, but he was too close to the top. But if I lowered him with the belay device and the coordinator ful y dislodged the anchor... The coordinator. The gun. I had no choice. He had to get away from them. 

"Let go of the anchors and get in position, Rhys." I said, "This wil be fast." 

Rhys cursed but he held the rope as I'd shown him: one hand up, one at his hip. 

I made an adjustment to the friction and Rhys came down in seconds. The rope came loose in his hands the second his feet hit the ledge. His body jolted, and 

Thane and I grabbed him. Under our feet, more pebbles fel away, pinging into the chasm. My heart pounded and I squeezed Rhys's arms. Thank God. 

I let out a breath and assessed our situation. The smal ledge barely fit three of us, but we were secure for now, more secure than Kaitlin, who clung to the side of the wal . 

"I'm going to talk you down now, Kaitlin." "Okay," she squeaked. 

"Thane's real y tal and he's just below you. So listen to me and when you're a little further down, he and Rhys wil help you. Slowly lower to your knees on your 

ledge. Now place your right hand on the edge and lower your right leg. Find a groove with the toe of your boot?" "I think I do." 

"Press into it. Now lower your left hand and hold onto the edge. Good. You're doing great. Now put your left foot down. Two more inches. Got it." 

We went through the motions another foot before Rhys and Thane reached her and helped lower her to the ledge with us. We were al four shoved against the wal and couldn't move, but it was the best position we'd been in since the finale ended. 

I'd ignored The Scientist and Coordinator Steele above us while guiding Kaitlin down, but now I worried about their next move. "The rope fel . We'l never get back up." Kaitlin said. 

Her voice sounded more panicked than defeated, which was good. 

"No one's going to believe we didn't use ropes," Rhys said.

"They'l believe the anchor failed." I assessed the ice cavern. "Rhys, how likely is it that there's another possible exit?" Rhys rattled off probabilities, which weren't horrible. I stared at the aqua ice, beautiful from here with the sun shining on it. Thane shook his head. "Even if we can get from here to there, we'l be wide open." 

"She'l shoot us," Rhys said, no doubt in his voice. "Or at us, to make us fal ." 

Even if we made it across, I doubted our ability to climb the ice once we got there, not in real conditions, not without equipment. "Cave's out." Thane said, "So we can either go up into the hands of someone with a gun, or down into the darkness." 

"No choice. I'l lead and set the anchors. We'l find a bigger ledge and wait them out. We don't go back up when they cal . We don't respond." 

Kaitlin nodded. "Maybe someone wil come looking for us." 

"I hope so. Now, as you lower, wait until I say so before you click on your headlamp. We want to conserve as much battery power as we can." The thought of the lights going out fueled my own panic, so I pushed the image away, refusing to think that far ahead. 

We began the slow descent. I used their names and advised them along the way. Thirty minutes later, the depth we'd reached limited the amount of sunlight getting through to us. We clicked on our headlights, and four circular glows softened the darkness. 

Coordinator Steele's voice reached us. "How many of you are stil down there? Head back up now and we'l give you some water when you reach the top. Or, 

you can scoop a nice handful of snow to eat." 

I held my breath, concentrating on the grey-brown earth in front of me and tried to keep my breathing steady. 

A sharp flash of light cut through the darkness. The beam bounced against each wal as if searching for us. My fingers tightened on the anchor and I stayed stil . "Hold, everybody." 

A glint flickered across my vision, sharper, different. I turned to understand the flash and my heart double-timed as I recognized the cause. The searchlight had reflected off an elongated, oblong mirror, maybe 15 more feet down. 

"Answer me," Coordinator Steele said. 

I whispered the new plan to Thane, who whispered it up to Rhys and Kaitlin. 

Light flashed through the cavern again. A sharp retort cracked through the air. Dirt sprayed out from the wal as a bul et furrowed into the earth above us. I flinched in reaction, as if I could dodge bul ets. Rhys cursed. 

"Turn out your lights," Thane said. They clicked theirs off. 

"Don't try to move." The quiver in my voice undermined my sharp instruction. "Not without light." The Scientist yel ed down from above, "Come back up now." His voice sounded panicked. 

Thane whispered with a forced rush of breath, "Turn off your light, Elena. It wil give away our position." 

My fingers reached for the switch, but couldn't turn it in the clumsy thick gloves. I'd tilt my head further into the wal . The earth would block the light. "Turn the light off or I'l climb down and do it for you." 

"No. Don't climb in the dark." My voice came out sharp, panicked, louder than I intended. No one should climb in the dark, not ever. I swal owed against the terror in my throat and flicked my lamp off. Grey turned to black. Darkness surrounded me, pressed in on my every cel . The blackness hid al the terrors lurking within inches of us. I shut my eyes and pressed my mouth into the back of my dirty glove, holding in the scream that built in my throat. 

A thump, a scramble, and Thane pressed into me. "I'm here, it's me. Shh. We're okay." 

I angled toward him and he pressed me into the cold wal . We waited there in silence. 

Movements came from above us, the sound of someone climbing over the ledge. Smal sprinkles of earth fel past. Coordinator Steele shouted, "When I reach you, I wil use the gun. I know how to climb and I have al the gear. Return now and we'l consider another alternative." 

We stayed silent. Minutes passed and we held our position. 

Then, with no other warning sound, we heard a deep female scream and felt a rush of wind as Coordinator Steele fel . Screams fal ing through the darkness-my worst nightmare. My body jerked and I moaned into my glove. 

Above us, The Scientist yel ed down, demanding Coordinator Steele answer him. Kaitlin said, "Oh God, oh God." 

Thane pressed into me. "Don't look." "My fault," I said. 

"Shh. No." 

"I took too long and our batteries ran out. I just wanted to get pictures of the rock formations. And Dad said to hurry. And then our batteries ran out." "Shh, it's okay. It was an accident. It wasn't your fault." 

Thane clicked on my lamp. The glow lit the earth and his concerned face. I swal owed and breathed again. 

"Coordinator Steele just dropped to the bottom of the cavern and I didn't hear her hit." Kaitlin sounded terrified. "How deep is this?" "Miles," Rhys said. "Could be miles." 

Kaitlin groaned. 

"Elena, what are we doing?" The question came from Rhys and further yanked me into the present. "Should we go up now? I can't hear The Scientist anymore, but if he's stil there, we can take him." 

Thane said, "We can't go up. She may have given him the gun. Or, there could be a second gun." 

Kaitlin said, "I don't know if I can climb that far. My legs are good, but my arms are shaking, hanging here like this." I whispered, "The semis aren't far. I saw one. We can make it there. Rest. Think."

"How far?" 

"12 more feet, maybe 15, but we need more light to move." 

"Okay," Thane said in a gentle voice. "Headlights on everyone. If we hear another shot, headlights off." The lights clicked on and my breathing eased. We went down slowly, and I prayed the flashlight beam hadn't just reflected off a broken mirror, that the truck would be there or some solid piece of it. 

The semi was even closer than I imagined. The tail end faced us with its yel ow Alaskan license plate. The nose pointed down. Above the top of the truck and 

below the tires lay blackness. When it fel , the truck must have tilted, securing the sides into a narrower part of the crevice. The metal wal s had caved slightly, locking the truck into position like a puzzle piece. I assessed the drop, maybe three feet to the two double doors, which were secured by an iron, L-shaped bar. We could use that bar. 

Thane said, "My weight first, to test it." 

I wanted to protest, but he was right. I let him move past me, and did my best to shine my light in the middle of the doors. 

Thane landed with a solid thunk. The semi stayed steady, wedged in tight. He waited for us to climb down to him then undid the bar and lifted one of the doors. Jumbled piles of luggage lay inside with roughly four feet of space on top. 

Compared to hanging from roots and rocks alongside a sheer drop, the interior of the truck looked cozy. We eased into the space and I sank into the soft side of a rol aboard. 

"Thank God," Kaitlin said and lay flat on her back across two large bags. She shook out her arms. 

Thane said, "Let's go through the luggage and try to find something useful." 

Kaitlin ripped off her gloves and tucked them into her pockets. With Rhys's help, she pul ed into a seated position. "I hope we find mine. I packed these special pistachios we get from a deli on 42nd. You'l love them." 

Rhys moved to the wal . With one arm braced on the side of the trailer, he dug through the pile. "Priorities are weapon, water, warmth, then food." "We have to stay dry," Thane said. "Though the weather's above freezing, with it being this cold, you can stil get hypothermia." 

"And light," I said. "Someone may have a book light. That'l help us find more stuff and conserve our headlamps." Please let there be light. Kaitlin nodded. "There's one in my bag, if we find it." 

Thane glanced at each of us. "We're fine for now: stable, warm, and we just landed on a pile of supplies. Okay?" 

I swal owed. "Yes. We rest up. Regroup." I tried not to think about The Scientist. I didn't think he'd try the climb, not after what happened with Coordinator 

Steele. My mind shied away from the thought. 

Rhys said, "And when we find a weapon, we climb back up." 

I pul ed a maroon, solid-looking bag in front of me and adjusted my light. 

Thane rose and brushed a hand over the back of my hair. "Above al , everyone has to stay calm, and we'l get out of here." He moved a few feet over so he could grab a bag. 

"Mine, mine, mine," Kaitlin said. "I see one of mine." She sounded like she'd just been offered diamonds. She tossed aside several bags, dug into the pile and hugged a brown leather tote to her chest. After the hug, she unzipped the heavy zipper and dug out a large jar of pistachios and a chocolate bar. "Godiva." 

We gave up our searches and joined her. Kaitlin divided the food. The chocolate square melted in my mouth like heaven. We finished the chocolate fast, and took handfuls of the nuts back to our spots to eat while we worked. Even fighting with the split shel s on the pistachios was a pleasure. 

Rhys threw his shel s through the open door. They landed with soft pings on the metal of the trailer. "We need a drink," Rhys said, shaking the salt around in the 

bottom of the empty pistachio container. 

The salt had dried my mouth too. "Surely some kid shoved a bottled water into their checked bag when they found out they couldn't take it through security. I 

know I did." 

Rhys dug through a big blue bag, tossing aside someone's high heels and strappy dresses. "We'l probably find liquor. Don't drink it. The alcohol wil lower your body temperature. But save it if you find it and I'l make us a nice contained fire." 

"If I promise to show you something real y cool, wil you two guys turn your backs for a minute and let me change?" Kaitlin was crushing some of her clothes to her 

chest as if we'd pry them from her. 

The guys looked confused, but I understood. I hadn't seen my own clothes in months and the thought of finding even one of my own T-shirts, made my throat tighten. 

Rhys whispered something to Kaitlin and she slapped him in the arm. He laughed and towed a big camouflage bag toward a wal . "Help me with this one, Thane." Thane and I joined him while Kaitlin changed behind us. 

"Brr," Kaitlin said, and her clothes rustled. 

"Oh, yeah, jackpot," Thane said. The camouflage bag netted us two knives, a first aid kit, a silver survival blanket, and a sleeping bag. Thane checked the tag, "Thanks, Trevor Col ington." 

"Thanks, guys, I'm good now." Kaitlin wore a peach-pink snowsuit and matching headband. Most noticeable after the color was the fact that her pants legs didn't have to be rol ed up. These clothes fit her, unlike the boarding school uniforms. She brushed her hair and clipped her curls into a fancy clip. Her grin was huge and she waved a smal pink tube at me and threw it. "Lip balm." 

My cracked lips had been the least of my worries, but now that relief was near, I noticed how they burned. I squeezed the gel onto my fingers, smeared it on my lips and gave the tube to the guys. They didn't protest the sparkle. The cold, dry air was getting to al of us. 

Kaitlin struggled with opening a larger, matching leather bag. When she got the lid up, she pul ed out a coral-colored sleeping bag. "Now we have two."

Rhys looked at it and Kaitlin and a slow smile spread over his lips. "It's kind of girly, but I'l share with you." 

Kaitlin smiled and blushed under the glow of the headlamps. "Okay. Ready for the cool thing?" She ripped open a plastic bag and tossed each of us a smal , white fabric square. 

I weighed it in my palm and raised my eyebrows. Rhys sniffed it. 

Kaitlin giggled. "Rub them in your fingers. The beads inside get hot, and the heat lasts eight hours. "No way." 

"Yep." Cool. 

Thane waved a hand in the air. "Junk food stash." 

We al left our piles to check out his new find. "Barbeque chips, beef jerky, case of red bul , and six pack of bottled water." Kaitlin said, "Caffeine's a diuretic, it increases water loss, so just drink the water for now." 

We each grabbed a bottle and sucked it down. The cool water eased my throat and was pretty much the best thing I'd ever tasted other than the Godiva chocolate. 

Rhys said. "Let's start an emergency pile of back up food in case we have to ration things for a few days." 

Kaitlin stopped digging. "Days?" 

"We wil be missed," I said. "It may be safer to wait The Scientist out than to risk the climb back immediately. At least one night of solid rest." "Unless it snows again." 

That was a nightmare of a thought. 

Thane said, "If we have to, we'l close the door on the trailer. Then shovel snow over the side." He pul ed a ladybug pil ow-pet from an animal print bag and passed it to me along with a book light. I clutched both to my chest. "Thanks." 

"And you know I can make a snow-resistant fire with some of this equipment we're finding." Rhys held up Kaitlin's cordless straightener. "Is this butane?" 

"Maybe. Let's check the other bags first." She snatched her appliance away and tucked it out of sight, then dragged a yel ow bag with a dragon pattern over to her spot. 

I got out of their way and searched for a bag with potential. My hands stil ed and my heart thumped when I found what I'd real y been searching for-my bag. When Kaitlin had found hers, I'd hoped that this truck held the bags for our dorm. 

I sank down and tugged the navy tote close, stil for a moment. Tears stung my eyes at the welcome reminder of home. Undoing the heavy zipper, I smel ed my perfume first. I drew out the letter jacket. "I had big plans for this, Thane. You were in so much trouble." 

His light blue eyes widened in the circle of my lamplight and he squatted beside me. His fist clenched on the leather sleeve a second and he swal owed. Then he 

shook off whatever emotion it evoked, put it to his nose and sniffed. "I love your perfume. I bet my locker stil reeks." "You're not mad?" 

"I love how you don't rol over and take stuff. You get a retaliatory, alive gleam in your eyes, and I'd want to mess with you just to see it again." I shook my head. "Thane." 

"Real y. And your perfume." He threaded a hand through my hair and kissed my neck, making me shiver, but not from the cold. I sent a quick glance at Rhys and 

Kaitlin, but they weren't paying any attention to us. They were too busy sorting through their new finds. I turned back to Thane. "On the plane-" 

He drew my hand into his larger, warmer one. "I was trying to say, let's start over as friends. But I screwed it up. And then I thought, maybe I could show you better once we got there. Prove to you we could be friends. Prove we could be more." 

I shut my eyes and kissed him. He tasted like chocolate and warmth. 

Rhys clapped his hands breaking my moment. "We got it. We're good. We are so saved." We pul ed apart. "What?" 

"Our deviant schoolmates have hooked us up." Rhys tilted his head and his excitement sharpened. "What's that, Kaitlin?" 

"I found a lighter and liquor." Kaitlin scanned the luggage. "And, books we can burn." She paused. "But I don't want our whole space to go up." "I can contain a fire," Rhys said, with utter confidence. 

I stared at him, and felt my eyes widen. He seemed to have forgotten his own evacuation the night of my going away party. Rhys held up a brown paper bag. "As soon as it's dark, we'l set these off." 

He'd found fireworks.

Chapter Fifteen

Thane and I lay together on top of a pile of pi lows with a sleeping bag pu led over us while we enjoyed the fireworks. A surprisingly large number of students had brought pi lows from home, so our bodies were we l cushioned. I laced my hand through Thane's, and his thumb brushed my palm. 

Rhys used a watch we found to estimate the time until dark. Once evening set, he went to work. Blue, red, ye low, and green lights sparked above us. 

He'd broken apart several containers in a science experiment only he understood to make higher, bigger effects. Every ten or 15 minutes he'd light a new fuse. I 

liked the roman candles the best. They garnered a lot of height, and true or not, I liked to imagine he could aim them toward the school. 

A l the students gazed through the dome. Someone would see this. Someone would be in the atrium, or if they were already out searching for us, the searchers would spot the fireworks. This could work. I tightened my hand on Thane's. 

Rhys dusted off his hands. "That's it. We' l look for more in the morning. And do this again tomorrow night if we have to." He crawled in beside Kaitlin, and we 

waited.

***

The rescuers came before dawn. We heard them first, voices overhead ca ling for the coordinators and each of us. We shouted back with voices hoarse from cold air and stress. 

Within the hour, two male coordinators rappe led into view. One held up his hand and ye led from his anchored spot on the wa l. "We found your equipment up 

top. You guys okay? How many are down here?" "Four," I said. 

I noticed Rhys had one of the knives in his hand, but my heart was beating a happy, thri led rhythm. The two men had a tethered basket between them. The whole thing screamed rescue, not destruction. 

"Don't you kids worry. We' l bring you up one at a time." 

"Ladies first," Thane said and cupped his hands to boost me onto the trailer door. "Kaitlin and Rhys first. I could climb if I had to." 

Rhys had lifted Kaitlin out, and he shook his head. "I'd have to kick my own ass if I let that happen, Elena." 

I let Thane help me, then the guys pu led themselves up. "I almost hate to leave my bags," Kaitlin said, clutching a sma l tote to her chest. The basket landed on the trailer door. I checked the straps and the guys helped Kaitlin inside. Rhys secured her with the seatbelt. 

At the last second, I tossed her tote in. She weighed nothing. It wouldn't hurt. Thane made a thumbs up and the basked rose into the air. 

I went next. The ride up in the basket was horrible. I'd rather have climbed with ropes, than floated up in mid-air dependent upon the equipment at the top, but I respected the speed this would give us. When I got to the surface, several other teachers were waiting, barraging Kaitlin with questions. She grabbed me and held on without answering. 

The questions came at me, but I shook my head and stared at the hole. I couldn't breathe again until both guys reached the top.

***

When we got back to the school, we were hustled into the clinic to be checked out, then were sent to change before meeting with the director. Fed, showered, and dressed in clean sweats, we sat together in his office. 

I chewed on the side of my thumb and weighed what to say. 

Thane said, "Basica ly, they forced us down there because we found out they weren't rea ly giving us vitamins." 

The director tapped his fingers together and looked horrified by everything we told him. "We' l have the stocks destroyed immediately." He rubbed his temples then looked each of us straight in the eyes. "Here's where it's up to you. I won't stop you from te ling your story-I couldn't. But please recognize that the scandal wi l end this program. Destroy a l the good we're doing." 

"You want us to lie?" Kaitlin asked. The director didn't answer. 

I noticed Thane cross his arms over his chest when the director said the word scandal. This story would blow up nationwide. If reporters dug deep enough, they 

could drag our past into the whole mix and we'd go from local scandal to national freaks. 

I bit the side of thumb harder, trying to think. 

Thane said in a tight voice, "I'd rather none of it come out." 

Rhys eyes took on a wild gleam. "Me too. Though some authority has to go after The Scientist." 

"We haven't seen him, but that's what we' l do. We' l te l the authorities that he went crazy and forced the other coordinator down the hole. To the students, we' l just report that you were weather-delayed, and the two coordinators were shifted to another campus due to a staffing shortage." 

Kaitlin said, "I'd go along with your story because my parents would hate the spectacle, but the problem is-" She and I said it together, "Geneva." 

"What they did to Geneva-" I shook my head. "Her family should know."

The director tilted his head, and waved his arms out. "The bear was no one's fault, unless there's something you're not te ling me." "She disappeared." I said the words slowly with anger. 

He shook his head. "No. No. Geneva's in a hospital in Seattle. Her family's military insurance is exce lent, and she's doing very we l. Patient privacy being what it 

is, I can't give you more details, but I understand she' l be back here in the spring." 

I searched his face and could find no deception. My mood lifted. The news eased the horrors of the past couple of days. "Okay, you've got my silence." The director looked at Kaitlin. A tear slid down her face and into her smile. "Okay." 

"Good. Remember. Bad storm. You sheltered at the hangar. Hiking back, you fe l in the hole where the rescue coordinators found you. The other two coordinators left after they were sure you were safe. Everyone stops the vitamins. Deal?" 

"Deal." 

"Okay, get some rest and we' l see you in class in the morning." 

We groaned and headed into the corridor, down the ha l and past the familiar wolf motifs. A few students glanced at us, but they must have been warned to leave us alone, because no one said anything. I didn't think that would last, but as exhausted as I was, I appreciated it for now. 

I'm used to a certain lack of sleep, so I had an advantage, but it took everything I had to make it to our room. Kaitlin went in first, leaning heavily on Rhys. I 

fo lowed with Thane. 

Inside, Nevaeh lay across Geneva's bed, flipping through her hair clips. "Get out." Something in my voice made her not argue, and she scooted around us with only a little bitching. 

I slammed the door shut behind her. We co lapsed onto the beds and slept. 

"Kaitlin!" The screech woke me up, but I'd used a l my stores of adrenaline and I had no more to give to the screecher. The grit in my eyes made me blink and I 

yawned like a newborn. The infusion of oxygen along with the assault on my ears a lowed me to pry open my eyelids. 

Kaitlin and Rhys looked okay. Thane was here beside me. I turned to the doorway. 

The screecher was an unfamiliar woman wearing a grey suit with a cream silk blouse. She stood staring at Kaitlin's side of the room. A man in a similar suit stood beside her. He was ta ler and also unfamiliar. If the Screecher knew half of what we'd been through these last few days, she wouldn't squawk at the sight of a couple in a twin bed. 

More adults in street clothes pushed in behind the lady and recognition hit me like a double espresso. Mom. Dad. I leapt from the bed and ran, bending toward 

Dad for a hug. Mom's arms closed around us both. At the sme l of Mom's perfume and the feel of Dad's strong arms, I closed my eyes. "You're okay," Mom said. Her hand brushed over my hair. 

Dad patted my shoulder. "They reported you missing and we came straight away." 

"Missing," Rhys drawled and sat up. His bangs were half in his face and he had a pi low mark across his cheek. He dragged a hand through his hair. I couldn't believe my parents were here. I hugged them tighter. 

"We fe l asleep studying." Kaitlin's face looked wind-burned and her hair was a mess. No one would believe she spent yesterday studying. She crawled out of bed and hugged her parents too but with a formality surprising in the open-hearted Kaitlin. "Mom. Dad." 

The screecher was her mom. 

I stayed beside my parents, who said nothing about how they found us and didn't glance at Thane. "I'd better go find my own parents." Thane left before I could read his expression. 

Kaitlin's mom said, "Grades are the reason you're here. You're setting an example for the nation." 

"Yeah, we fe l asleep studying," Rhys said in a dry voice. He climbed from the bed when his own mom and stepdad pushed into the room. He hugged his mom and stayed out of the range of his stepdad. 

His stepdad snorted and said to my parents, "Good thing we fo lowed you, or who knows how long it would've taken us to find that boy. Nothing ever changes, eh, boy? Musical beds. What time do they serve up lunch? It's lunchtime in Texas." 

"We' l get you something soon, Hon," Rhys's mom said. 

"I don't want no Alaskan fish. You know I don't like seafood." "I'm sure they have something you' l like." 

Kaitlin introduced me to her parents, then beamed at Rhys. "Mom, Dad, this is Rhys." 

"Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrandt," Rhys said. 

Real polite for Rhys. Which I guess seemed necessary since they'd found him in their daughter's bed. "Doctor," Dr. Hildebrand said, a stiff note in his voice. 

Rhys's stepdad said, "Ooh, Dr. and Mrs. Hildebrandt. Get the names right, Rhys." "Actua ly it's Dr. and Dr.," Kaitlin's mom said. 

Kaitlin had never told us both her parents were doctors. I rather liked that about her. 

Rhys's stepdad said, "Better be careful there, girly. Trying to trap Rhys is a no-win situation. He' l knock you up, and you' l end up smack dab back at the trailer park, mooching off us." 

Not one to take being provoked, Rhys reached for the nearest thing to throw. His hand touched my favorite lamp, the clip-on one with the faint glow. The one my roommates let me leave on at night. 

"No," I said and dove for him. "Not that one." 

Kaitlin left her parents side and touched Rhys's arm, moving close to whisper something to him.

Blue lights flashed above the doorway.

Chapter Sixteen

The sky above the dome darkened with the setting sun. With a glance at it, Mom said, "We're taking off, Honey." 

I turned back to my parents, feeling the jolt at the words. They were happy I was okay, and awed by their first glimpses of the habitat. Now they were leaving. "You sure you want to stay?" Dad asked. 

"Yeah." I smiled big. "It's a great opportunity." That was my catch phrase, but not my truth. Everyone had a different truth. Kaitlin liked living here. Rhys would use them to pay for col ege. Thane wouldn't embarrass his family by quitting. My reason was simpler. My family needed the money. 

No one had real y bothered us for details of our hike back. After a brief announcement from the director, we received random suspicious looks, and some envy at 

the sight of our parents, but mostly everyone carried on as usual. Since we'd lost the finale, even the accusations had died down. 

Only the four of us and the director knew the whole truth. 

Thane stood with his family. I didn't want mine to leave, but I hated even faking a distance from him. 

Thane took a smal black cylinder from his mom and moved toward me. My eyes widened and my heart thumped. I tried to look elsewhere. His arm landed around my shoulders, and he kissed me. Right there, in front of both our families and everyone. I stiffened and tried to pul back, but his arm didn't let me go far. 

Thane searched my eyes. "In one of my emails, I asked my parents to send me this." He pried open the tube and withdrew a glow stick. He struggled for a moment with the clear connecter and snapped the orange circle around my wrist. A bright orange, glow-in-the dark bracelet-the al -time perfect gift. 

I rose on tiptoe and kissed him-a new kiss for a new evening in Alaska.