of you been trained in the art of deciphering and inventorying Visions?” She fixes us all with a disapproving look.
“No, My Keeper.” Mae’s voice is even softer this time.
“So when Seer Beatrice decided it would be a good idea to counsel a girl about the extent of her Vision, neither of you thought it would be a good idea to stop her?” This question is directed to Connie and Mae, both of whom shake their heads and lower their eyes to avoid the Keeper’s stare.
“So you are all equally responsible for Seer Beatrice’s transgression.” The Keeper says this as if it is something that has already been decided. And it has been. She takes out her datapad and makes a few more notes. Notes about us, most likely.
“Seer Beatrice, I am not impressed. You are interfering with the duties of the Keeper—a very serious offense.” She puts her datapad away when she’s done making her notes, resting it back on her hip. “I think it is time for some disciplinary action. For the three of you, not just Seer Beatrice.”
“Disciplinary action?” Connie whispers.
“Yes. You three will spend the rest of the day scrubbing the Arena’s floors for the Training Games. They are very dirty, and it’s been a long time since someone has really given them a good washing.”
This doesn’t seem so bad to me. It’s better than solitary confinement, which I’ve heard is unbearable. I can scrub some floors, as long as it means the Keeper will leave me alone.
Which I know she won’t.
“Yes, My Keeper.” I’m the only person who remembers to speak in this moment.
“And I will be keeping an eye on you, Seer Beatrice. You have a great responsibility to this Institution, and I don’t want you distracted from this fact. Shape up, or I will have to do something more…permanent.” On that note, the Keeper walks off down the hallway, and all the children stop their running around just as soon as they see her coming.
Permanent.
I don’t know what this means, but I remember the words of the Widow, and I renew the promise to myself to not let Gabe out of my sight.
Chapter Ten
“Beatrice.”
I am at the border. It is quiet, and the guard towers loom overhead. The electric fence surges with energy, the low hum bouncing back and forth, stretching between each link. I don’t know why I am here. I only know that the closer I get, the louder the voice becomes. Inside, I feel as if I am close to discovering something I shouldn’t know.
Once I reach the fence, I stand in the shadow of the night—hoping the guard won’t see me. There isn’t anywhere else to go. I start to panic, limbs tensing, because it’s only a matter of time before the spotlight sweeps across, exposing me.
“Beatrice.”
The voice echoes from my right. I walk in that direction. My feet fall quietly on the ground, and I am careful not to make any more noise as I continue to slink through the darkness. When I reach the end of one of the sections of fence, I notice there’s a hole, and there might be enough space for me to crawl under the chain links.
“Beatrice.”
I have no choice. I need to figure out who or what is calling my name. I need to know what has been haunting my dreams, my Visions, and even my waking thoughts when I am clear-headed, lucid. Maybe he’ll know what to do about this situation, the live rounds at the Training Games, the threat of the impending invasion, and the sudden seriousness of it all.
Kneeling on the dirt, I shed my black robes in a pile by my feet. I can’t risk getting my clothes stuck on the barbed wire of the fence, though it’s also a risk leaving behind evidence of my being here.
I shimmy under the wire, my stomach and legs dragging in the dust, and then snake my way out to the other side. Carefully, I reach through the fence and tug my robes under. Despite the grime that covers the garment, I slip it around my form, wrapping myself up in its familiar comfort.
I now stand in a land of unknowns; no one I
Marie Hall
Fiona Cummings
Sarah Graves
Algor X. Dennison
Meredith Clarke, Ally Summers
Monica Ali
Ashley Hunter
Alexis D. Craig
Maggie Carpenter
Lee Fullbright