by Lisa McMann
Aaron glanced suspiciously from Mr. Today to Alex and back to Mr. Today again. “What do you want from me?”
Mr. Today chuckled. “Good heavens, we want nothing that you have, Aaron. But I suppose we could offer you sanctuary, so to speak. A new life, if you want it.”
Alex added, “And safety from Will Blair, who wants to kill you.” He glanced at Mr. Today, who raised an eyebrow at Alex. “It’s true, Mr. Today. I heard him talking. He and”—Alex hesitated, and then went on—“he and Samheed. They’re making a door too, like I did, and they’ve almost got it done. Will is going to use magic to look like Aaron and then kill Aaron and dispose of him so that no one knows what happened, and then he’s going to take Aaron’s place. Though I’m not sure Samheed knew all that before today,” he said.
Mr. Today listened with interest and concern, and then looked back at Aaron and shrugged. “Sounds horrifying. I’d listen to your brother, if I were you,” he said. “Additionally, I worry about you getting very uncomfortable standing there by that door forever. You won’t get to see the grounds that way. Plus, Will Blair will find you easily enough if we leave that door up.”
Aaron shook his head. “I can’t even understand what you are saying.”
Alex, in spite of the dire situation, could not hide the small smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I know how you feel, Aaron. None of us could understand a thing until we saw it for ourselves.”
“None of you could?” Aaron asked. “How many of you are there?”
Alex glanced at Mr. Today, wondering how much information he should give to Aaron. Mr. Today nodded and smiled. “I’m not fond of secrets. You may tell him everything you wish to, Alex.”
Alex took a deep breath. “I don’t know where to start.” He sighed and looked into his brother’s eyes, searching for anything but the cold hardness that had filled them only moments before. “We are the Unwanteds,” he began. “Hundreds of us. And this is the magical world called Artimé.”
Aaron the Wanted could hardly believe his eyes or ears. Every moment he stood there, he felt more and more overwhelmed. This office was far more beautiful than even the High Priest Justine’s. Everything looked shiny and new. Magic? Spells and art and all sorts of other words Aaron had never heard before? His brother certainly seemed convinced about the Will Blair character, and the old man seemed to believe him, but Aaron wasn’t buying it. Still, he wondered if all of this could be true. And slowly he realized that if it were true, if all the Unwanteds were truly here, and he had been the one to discover them, he would be greatly rewarded by the High Priest Justine.
It all was too crazy to be true.
It was likely the craziest dream he’d ever had.
And he didn’t like it one bit. These dreams were getting way out of control. After what felt like an hour or more, Aaron grew tired of standing by the doorway.
“Come on, Aaron, let me show you Mr. Today’s mansion,” Alex said.
Aaron looked at his brother and felt a small blip of something deep inside, but within a moment it was gone. “No. I’ve got an early appointment at the palace,” he said brusquely.
Alex gripped the edge of the desk. “What?”
“I follow the law, and I do my duties. You’ll never learn that, will you?”
“But—but—,” Alex sputtered. “But you should stay here! You’ll be safe here. Don’t you understand what we’re trying to tell you?”
Aaron stared at Alex, and the identical twins stood motionless, facing each other. Finally Aaron spoke. “I have never understood you, and I never will. Please leave me alone.”
And with that, Aaron swiveled around and pushed open the 3-D door, stumbled a bit on the unnatural threshold that was made by the painting not quite reaching the floor, and slammed the door behind him.
Alex smashed his hand down on Mr. Today’s desk. “No!”
Broken Ties
I’m sorry, sir. I—I made such a mess of everything,” Alex said as he dropped into a chair. Mr. Today snapped his wrist again, and the scenes reappeared on the black- boards behind his desk. They watched Aaron shake his head and flip the light out on the blackboard that showed his room.
The old man sat behind the desk and pressed a finger to his lips, looking disappointed and perhaps angry, but saying nothing, as if he were waiting to hear more.
“I mean … what was I thinking? I’ve ruined everything.” A look of pure agony washed over Alex’s face as he realized the extent of the trouble he had created. “Oh,” he groaned, “I should have talked to you, or Ms. Octavia, or someone. But I was so sure I could convince him to come, and that would be that, you know? Quill would wonder where he went, but they’d never guess.… Then I just found out tonight what Will was planning to do, and, well, I went a little crazy. I had to beat him to Aaron, and I didn’t think … I didn’t think it through. I mean, he’s close, Mr. Today—really close.” He rubbed his temples and let his head sink back in the chair. “And I know I shouldn’t have done it. I just was so sure. I mean, we’re twins! I know him. Or at least … I thought I did. I really thought I had him there. For a split second there was just a flicker of something—like he wanted to believe me. But back when I was in his room, he said—he said—” Alex relayed the entire conversation, starting from the beginning.
Mr. Today just listened and waited for Alex to finish. The look on his face changed as the story came out.
“And you know what?” Alex asked. “He’s right. He did his duty to Quill, and I failed. And now I failed to do my duty for you, too.” Alex slumped back in his chair, miserable.
They sat in silence for a moment.
“Are you quite finished?” Mr. Today asked kindly. “I don’t wish to interrupt until you’ve gotten it all out. Every last nasty bit.”
Alex looked up. “He reported me. It was him, way back when we were nine. He was already turning people in back then. Not just me. Meghan, Samheed, and Will Blair, too. I never knew anything could hurt like this.”
Mr. Today nodded. “I know. You weren’t the only ones. He turned in a great deal more than that.”
“He did?”
“Yes. Every year before the Purge I meet with Justine and go over the reports. Aaron has had his sights set on the palace for some time now.”
Alex shook his head sadly. “All this time,” he said. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s hurtful. And you wouldn’t have believed me. I guess you needed to see it for yourself.” Mr. Today sighed. “And once I saw the door and figured out what had happened, I, too, hoped you might have been able to change his mind. Alas.” Then his face brightened a little. “I’m glad to have you here, though. Aren’t you glad to be here?”
“Yes,” said Alex. “But it still just kills me—how could he be so horrible? How could he be so evil without me knowing it? He was my closest … my closest everything! And I feel so stupid. I should have known, back in the mud.…” He sighed. “And what happens now?” His voice grew fearful.
“We’ll never know until it happens,” Mr. Today said. “But it’s likely that Aaron will report having seen you, even though he promised he wouldn’t. And it’s likely that Will Blair will succeed eventually in getting his door finished. Which one of them acts first … only time will tell.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Come now, Alex. Let’s be done with the apologies,” Mr. Today said. “Let me tell you, my boy. I admit to holding out the slightest hope for the twin connection in getting him to stay here, once he walked in the door. I’ve witnessed that power before. But I should have known better.…” Mr. Today trailed off, deep in thought, and it was quiet in the room for several minutes.
Alex, who was completely spent, drifted off to sleep in the chair during the silence, but he startled awake when he heard a growl at the door. Standing there was a most enormous gray wolf.
“Hello, Marcus. Claire said you wanted to see me?” The wolf’s gravelly voice was as deep as
a bassoon.
Mr. Today rose to his feet and smiled warmly. “Gunnar. How good of you to come. I’m sure you recognize Alex Stowe. Alex, this is Gunnar. You may have seen him a time or two on your treks through the jungle.”
“I—yes,” Alex said, remembering. He was a bit nervous having the wolf so close, but he swallowed his fear and said, his voice shaking only a little, “It’s nice to meet you.”
The wolf nodded politely. “Marcus, is everything all right with … the children?” The wolf’s bright blue eyes shifted toward Alex briefly, and he left the rest of his question unasked.
Mr. Today looked puzzled, and then his face brightened. “Oh! Oh, yes, quite fine. No, I wanted to speak with you about matters of Quill, which continue to change by the minute. Aaron Stowe knows of our existence now. Do what you can to keep him in sight. I fear he’ll share the knowledge with Justine within days, if not immediately.”
The great wolf nodded. Alex lowered his head, feeling fully responsible for it.
“And a favor, if I may,” Mr. Today said.
“Of course.”
“I think you should alert the jungle creatures to what’s happening. If we should come to war, I will surely offer my protection for those that wish it. But if any feel inclined to fight with us …” Mr. Today’s voice was humble. “I would be grateful for their help if it comes to that. Would you let them know?”
The wolf regarded Mr. Today thoughtfully. “It would be better, I think,” he said carefully, “for them to hear it from one of their own, rather than from me.”
Mr. Today tapped his lips. “So it would,” he murmured. “I’ll speak to Arija.” He roused himself briskly and nodded, then pulled the 3-D painting from the wall. He rolled it up swiftly and touched one end, and an iron band with a lock grew around it, holding it firmly closed. Mr. Today put it in a cupboard near the door and locked that as well. Alex knew it was for the best, but it was hard to see all those hours of work get locked up in a cupboard.
“You should probably do that immediately,” the wolf said. He glanced out the big picture window in the lounge just outside Mr. Today’s office.
Alex followed his gaze and saw it was nearly dawn. He yawned despite his best intentions, but it had been a long and sleepless night.
“Very well,” Mr. Today said. “Alex, perhaps you’d like to catch a few hours of sleep before training begins?”
Alex jumped. “Oh—yeah, of course.”
“I must go as well,” Gunnar said.
Mr. Today smiled and followed the two into the hallway. Gunnar kept walking across the lounge, past the small kitchen, and into the room where all sorts of monitors and gadgets whirred softly. He hoisted himself on his hind legs and stood in the tube in the corner.
“Take care, Gunnar,” Mr. Today said.
“You also.” Gunnar’s body shimmered and blurred before it disappeared.
Alex blinked and rubbed his eyes, not quite sure what he had just seen. “There’s a tube to the jungle?”
Mr. Today put his hand on the boy’s shoulder as they walked down the hall toward the balcony. “No,” he said. “That tube is quite different from any other. Please don’t ever use it. It goes places you wouldn’t want to go.” He turned around, pointed to the ceiling, and murmured, “Glass.” Liquid glass shimmered down and froze into place, sealing the area.
“Mr. Today,” Alex said, “why don’t you protect your office more carefully? I … I could still see the blackboards when the glass was in place. And sometimes the glass isn’t up at all, you know.”
“I know. I’m growing forgetful.” The mage sighed. “Alex, I have nothing to hide. I am the same as anyone here. I hold few secrets, and those that need protecting are personal and I keep them inside me, where no one can get to them—just like everyone does.” He chuckled softly. “I hesitated to put up the glass shield at all, but my most trusted friends overruled me. The glass isn’t there to protect my office. It’s there to protect the most creative students, like you and others, who are able to see this hallway. And to give me a little peace and quiet. My sleeping quarters are connected to my office, you know. That’s how I heard you when you went through the magical door.”
Alex’s eyes widened. He shook his head, amazed, puzzled, not at all sure what to say. And since he was sleep-deprived after the emotional, eventful night, his thoughts were completely jumbled.
They stepped out on the balcony, and Alex turned to go down the boys’ hallway to his room. “I have so many questions.”
Mr. Today smiled warmly. “I have answers. But for now,” he said, “you and I will be better off getting some sleep.”
Alex nodded and stumbled down the hall and into his room. “Hey, Clive, you ol’ curmudgeon, you,” he grumbled. “Wake me up in time for breakfast.”
Clive surfaced and glared. “You look like crud.”
“Your mom looks like crud.”
Clive’s gleaming nostrils flared. He melted back into the blackboard without another word.
The Quillitary
Aaron Stowe tossed and turned on his cot, falling into fits of battered sleep. When the gray morning light pressed into his dormitory room, he gave up rest and glanced at the wall. There was only one door there. Surely it had been a nightmare. He began his morning ritual, as always.
Since water was scarce in the desertlike land of Quill, and most of the supply was needed for the crops and cattle, each student of the university was given a pail of water every week for washing up. It felt like a bonus to most students, since households in the quadrants were given two pails of water for the entire family, no matter the size. Aaron secretly felt annoyed, because that meant that some of the child-bearers who had failed by producing two Unwanteds fared the same as he, once their children had been disposed of.
But today his mind was on other things. Methodically Aaron wet his washcloth in the tepid water, being sure to squeeze the excess out of it carefully, and wiped his face. With a finger he brushed the bit of fuzz above his lip that seemed to be growing these past few weeks as he neared his fourteenth year. He was certain that it was his facial hair coming in, and he wondered what it looked like. He wondered if it looked like Alex’s.
As he washed, he tried to clear his mind of the events of the previous night. He had convinced himself by now that Alex was indeed a dream, but he was terribly concerned about how weak his abilities were to control these dreams, which grew more intense each day. He ran the washcloth over his chest and arms, and nearly yelped when he pressed on the tender spot on his shoulder where his dream brother had hit him. “What in Quill …?” he murmured, massaging it. “Great cats! That smarts.” His dream was all too real, yet all too impossible. “It didn’t happen,” he told himself firmly.
Once dressed, he sat in a chair and waited until it was time to go to breakfast. He stared blankly at the door for nearly an hour, for he had gotten up early. He tried to think about his next project that the High Priest Justine had given him—perfecting the Quillitary vehicle operations. Today he would visit the Quillitary base for a tour, and he’d learn from the officers how the vehicles ran. From there he’d take the information and develop a plan. Hopefully, it would be a plan that pleased the high priest. This was his best chance at remaining in his high position as assistant secretary and moving up to secretary in a few months when the old maid had been disposed of.
Aaron knew that solidifying his post in the palace was crucial to his advancement. The current secretary to the high priest was an ancient woman, older than the high priest herself. Soon she’d be sent on to the Ancients Sector of Quill, as her sight was failing. Once there she’d never be seen again. Well—not by Wanteds, anyway. It was the job of the Necessaries to tend to the Ancients, put them to sleep, and bury them. Aaron had learned all about the burying part because his father was a burier.
Burying. Aaron shuddered. His thoughts had turned back to Alex and the day they’d made houses in the mud. Aaron admitted to himself that he hadn’t actually
“seen” a house in the random markings in the mud. At the time he had wanted to see what Alex saw. But thinking back on it, he was glad that he didn’t.
Alex. Aaron shook his head violently. “Stop,” he said to himself. “Or I’ll be forced to report you.”
Aaron’s thoughts turned again to his own advancement. Once the secretary was banished to the Ancients Sector, Aaron would be on an equal level with five of the six governors. There were only two people in Quill who stood in his way from that point. One was the High Priest Justine herself, who at seventy years old was not presumed to live more than five or ten years. Aaron wasn’t worried about her standing in his way when the time came, and she had no heirs. But the second obstacle would be infinitely more difficult. He was the senior governor, second in command. The man watched Aaron like a dog watches a gopher hole. Almost like he knew Aaron was hot on his heels, ready to overthrow Senior Governor Haluki and become the next High Priest of Quill. Almost like he knew that Aaron would stop at nothing to succeed.
A harsh clanging of metal on metal sounded outside his door. Aaron breathed a sigh of relief, got up, and strode to the doorway. When he opened the door, and indeed as all the other doors of the hall opened simultaneously, a flash of something silvery bright caught his eye on the floor of his room next to the door. It was a thin piece of metal twisted into an odd shape. But this one wasn’t brown, like all the rusty metal Aaron had ever seen. This was gleaming silver, a color Aaron had never before laid eyes on, except in the dream the previous night.
Swiftly, he reached down and picked it up. He put it in his pocket to study later in private, and stepped into the line of students that would take him to the cafeteria for breakfast.
At eight o’clock Aaron slipped out of the university and into the awaiting vehicle that would take him to the Quillitary base for his tour. In the front seat, next to the driver, was Governor Haluki; in the back with Aaron, Governor Strang.
