by Dylan Steel
Not a moment too soon. Drue was already barreling toward her. She wasn’t sure what he intended to do until his arm lurched forward, heading straight for her wrist. A throw. If he succeeded, he’d definitely win the round. That couldn’t happen.
She waited until it was almost too late and then sidestepped his grasp, dropping her upper body to the ground and shooting her leg out in one swift motion, hammering her foot against the bend behind his knees.
“Uumphf.” His knees thudded against the floor.
Sage moved behind him quickly, taking advantage of his momentum to drive him face-first into the mat. Keeping her knee against his back, she looped her arm around his throat, locking it in place against her opposite shoulder. He struggled against her for a few moments before admitting defeat and smacking her arm.
Dropping her hands immediately, she clambered off of him, giving him space to breathe. He pushed himself off the ground and stood to face her, rubbing his neck.
“Good match,” he said with a grimace.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get the upper hand with you with all your Interest Society practice,” she teased.
Drue’s expression darkened. “I’m not in that Society anymore,” he said curtly.
She shrugged. “Ok, sorry. I just figured—”
“There wasn’t enough room in it,” he continued testily. “Not after so many of the other Societies got shut down. Only the oldest kids get their first choices anymore.”
“Oh.” She blinked. Apparently, Drue blamed her for the reshuffled priorities at the Institution too. She knew some Societies were shut down after she’d been captured, but she hadn’t considered the way a handful of Interest Societies closing would affect all the others.
It made more sense now—why everyone hated her so much. Maybe not so much for coming back as for allowing herself to be taken in the first place, but still, everything that had gone wrong for everyone else had started with her kidnapping too. And her return was an unfortunate reminder of what they’d lost. Seeing the once-captured Sage Indarra in the hallways was difficult for more people than she’d realized.
“It’s not like I told them to stop the other Societies,” she said defensively. “It’s not like I like it either. Or like it was fun being kidnapped.” She narrowed her eyes at him reproachfully.
“I know. Sorry. It’s just—” he sighed. “I was all set to stay in that Interest ‘til graduation.” He shrugged. “But not anymore.”
“I very much doubt that, young man.” Ms. Bax seemed to appear from nowhere. “You’re talented, yes, but the Institution prides itself on equitable opportunities for all its students, and that Society is in high demand.”
Drue’s jaw hung open. Sage was pretty sure that not all of the redness in his face was due to their workout.
A grin played at Ms. Bax’s lips before she turned to face the rest of the room. “Alright, class, that’s all for today! You’re dismissed.”
Sage had already started walking toward the changing room. The instructor turned to her, speaking quietly before she had a chance to get too far. “Miss Indarra, please stay back a minute.”
At the instructor’s words, she came to a sudden stop. Penelope had to jump and dance around her to avoid a last-second collision. She shot her an apologetic look before heading back in Ms. Bax’s direction.
“Yes, ma’am?” She looked up at the instructor. The instructor’s normally stern features had softened around the edges as she looked down at Sage.
“Did I do something wrong?” Sage asked.
“On the contrary.” Ms. Bax shook her head. “I’ve been watching you since the year started, Sage, and I think you’ve shown tremendous improvement. More than I would’ve expected after a year away from the sport.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy with expectancy. Sage could tell she wanted an explanation—all her instructors wanted explanations. She knew returning to her level was an anomaly that merited a degree of curiosity even among instructors, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Gaztok had asked every last instructor to conduct their own investigations to supplement Ms. Verdan’s findings. To see if anything had been missed. To see if she’d been trying to deceive them.
Or maybe she was just being paranoid.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“I do hate to pry too much into what I’m sure is a painful subject, Sage, but…” Ms. Bax raised an eyebrow, “…what you’ve been able to do in the past few months has been, quite frankly, extraordinary. Were you given further instruction in Bokja while you were away?”
“No, ma’am.” She shook her head. “That wouldn’t make any sense,” she pointed out. “It would’ve made me more of a threat to them.”
“I see your point.” Ms. Bax pursed her lips. “It’s just that, well, it’s hard enough to maintain the skill level you were at, but you seem to be improving rather quickly this year. I would have anticipated—in fact, I was anticipating—a bit of regression in your abilities, but the opposite seems to be true.”
“I kept practicing, ma’am. I mean, obviously, I didn’t learn any new skills, but they weren’t always watching me, so I did have time to work on my forms. I practiced a lot.” She wasn’t about to admit that Sam had caught her practicing and had actually encouraged her to keep it up. That still confused her. “It was just me though. I didn’t have many chances to use what you’ve taught me.”
“Is that so?” Ms. Bax shot her an incredulous look. “Because I see a look of determination and certainty in your face that’s not exactly ordinary for a girl your age.” She paused. “It’s the look of a fighter who’s had to use her education for more than just a school tournament.”
“A couple times. When I tried to escape.” Sage hung her head. “Not that it did any good,” she mumbled.
“Of course, of course, child.” Ms. Bax clucked her tongue sympathetically. “I’m sorry—I don’t mean to bring up hurtful memories. Just trying to get to the truth of the matter, you know.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sage clenched her jaw and fought back the urge to argue. It wouldn’t do any good anyway.
“As your instructor, it’s important that I’m aware of your progress, you know. That’s how I’m best able to help you excel.” Ms. Bax cocked her head at Sage, studying her closely. “You can join the others now. I just wanted a word.”
Sage started to leave.
“Oh, and Sage?”
She stopped, turning back around. “Yes, ma’am?”
“I know the last year has been very rough for you. Please do feel free to come and talk to me anytime, about anything. Alright?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” Ms. Bax nodded and dismissed her again with a wave of her hand.
Sage was more convinced than ever that Mr. Gaztok was behind the sudden friendliness of all her instructors. She understood. Sort of. The Bennicks weren’t exactly the type of family to be accused lightly. But she didn’t know what else she could say or do that would convince him that she’d really been held captive at their estate. She was already sitting through regular physical exams that proved she was being honest.
It was ironic, really. The one time she was actually telling the truth was the only time no one seemed to believe her.
6. AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM
“What are you doing here?” Sage had been leaning against the wall outside Ms. Verdan’s office, but she straightened as soon as Penelope appeared.
“Good to see you too, Sage.” She stuck out her tongue.
“No, seriously.” Sage looked down the hall past her friend. “I’m supposed to have an escort.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s me. Ambassador, remember?” Penelope poked her chest with her thumb. “I mean, I know a lot changed while you were gone, but really, you don’t have to be insulting.”
Sage shook her head. “No way would the headmaster let a student—”
“All the instructors are at some sort of meeting. It’s not like I was their first choice, but it w
as either have me tag along or let you sit for a few hours.” Penelope crossed her arms. “You’re welcome.”
“You sure? This isn’t one of your lame attempts to get me to break some more rules, is it?”
“I’m hurt. Who do you think you’re talking to?” Penelope’s face remained completely neutral. “They are neither lame nor attempts. It always works, and you always enjoy it.” She cracked a grin. “But no, you’re seriously allowed to come with me. Supposed to,” she added quickly, rubbing her bracelet.
Sage stepped into the hallway skeptically. “You know, if you’re messing with me, someone else will get the pleasure of escorting me to a new room. And it will be very small, and I won’t be allowed any visitors.” She raised an eyebrow at her.
“I wouldn’t do that to you,” Penelope said with a sudden solemness as they began making their way down the hall. A small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re meeting with a counselor all the time. Should give you some time to work out those trust issues you have.”
“Right.” Sage snorted. “I wouldn’t count on it. Ms. Verdan doesn’t work through those kinds of issues.” She hesitated, unsure if she should tell Penelope about the different types of sessions she had to endure.
“Ok, spill.” Penelope wrinkled her brow. “You’re forgetting how well I know you.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nuh-uh. Spit it out.”
Sage pursed her lips. “Only some of my sessions involve trauma counseling,” she said reluctantly. “The rest are… different.”
Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “Different how?”
She shrugged. “It’s just more questions. They’re still trying to figure out exactly what happened while I was gone.”
“You’re kidding.” Penelope gaped at her. “But you already told them everything you know, right? You had to have,” she answered her own question. “What else could they possibly need from you?”
Sage just clenched her jaw and stared at the ground rushing by beneath her feet. When she finally spoke, her voice was almost a whisper. “I saw where I was, Pen. I know who took me.”
“Seriously? Why didn’t you tell me? You seriously—” She stopped, grimacing when she saw the look on Sage’s face. “Sorry… wasn’t thinking.”
Penelope aimlessly ran her fingertips along the hem of her jacket, finding the floor suddenly fascinating. The girls continued in silence for a few moments before Sage spoke again.
“The benefactor, Sophia Bennick. She’s the one who took me—or ordered it, at least. I think.”
“Seriously?” Penelope’s mouth was wide open.
Sage’s stomach tumbled at the recollection of the conversation they’d had in the benefactor’s small room. She nodded. “She was there. But I’m not really sure if she was in charge. They didn’t exactly give me a run-down on kidnapping authorization hierarchies. But I know I was on her property, so I just kinda figured…”
“Whoa.” Penelope’s jaw still hung open. “I definitely wasn’t expecting you to say that.” She thought for a moment. “So… but you already told them that though, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Did they do anything about it? Or do they not believe you?”
Sage shook her head. “They believe me—they kinda have to. They have ways of knowing if I’m telling the truth.” She saw the curiosity written on Penelope’s face. “The zeptobes,” she explained. “They’re some sort of monitoring system—I’m not exactly sure how it works, but it doesn’t matter. Point is, they know I’m telling the truth.”
“Creepy.”
She shrugged. “And it’s apparently a big deal to accuse one of the most powerful benefactors in Eprah of kidnapping. So I’ve told them, but they haven’t done anything. They said they needed more evidence to even search the grounds.” She kicked at the ground. “I don’t know if they’ll ever be able to arrest her.”
“Whoa,” Penelope repeated. “That’s just—I mean… whoa.”
“Pretty much.”
“Well, I guess that explains a lot.”
Sage raised her eyebrow. “How so?”
“Why they’re still so careful with you. You know, the escorts, blah, blah, blah. And why this whole place is still on lockdown even though you’re not exactly missing anymore.”
“I guess.”
“They’re scared, Sage. But not just about what might happen to you, I don’t think. I think they’re more scared of what you might tell all of us.”
Her face scrunched up in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Can you imagine if you told everyone that it was a benefactor? After they’ve been telling everyone it was the Lawless? Talk about everyone losing confidence in Eprah. Either they lied about the Lawless taking you, or benefactors aren’t as perfect as they’re made out to be. Either way, they’re going to have a mess to clean up if anyone finds out.”
“Oh.” Understanding dawned on her. “So they either have to keep me quiet or…”
“—or make you seem crazy.” Penelope whistled. “Step out of line the tiniest bit, and you’ll be shunned instantly.” Her eyes were wide. “And who knows what they’ll say about you once you’re not there to defend yourself anymore.”
Sage blinked. “I mean, I hadn’t really planned on telling anyone—I didn’t want to—but I…” Hot tears began filling her eyes. She knew it was a bad idea to speak too freely, knew she was probably being watched at that very second, but she stopped caring for a moment. “This is never going to end, is it.”
“I don’t think so.” Penelope shook her head sympathetically. “It’s weird. Mr. Walsh said almost the exact same thing awhile ago, just after you got back, but I didn’t really get it then.”
“Mr. Walsh?” Sage raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.
“Mmhmm.” She paused and met Sage’s eyes. “I know you haven’t exactly gotten the warmest welcome back from everyone, but some of us really do care about you, you know. And when you were gone…” She bit her lip and looked away, turning back to Sage after a moment, staring at her with a weightiness behind her eyes. “I know it must’ve been way scarier for you, but things weren’t exactly perfect here either. The rumors about what had happened to you, who’d taken you… I needed to talk to someone about it. Someone who understood,” she said pointedly before growing quiet.
“Glad you actually had someone to talk to,” Sage said bitterly.
Penelope stopped. “Obviously, what happened here was nowhere near as awful as what you went through. But that doesn’t mean it was good. It wasn’t. It was—” She cut herself off and looked at Sage intently. “Most people don’t get it, what this place is really like. And—” she said, fighting back tears, “—I didn’t exactly have my best friend to talk to either.”
Sage’s brow crinkled. “Oh, Pen. I didn’t—I hadn’t even thought about that. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own mess.”
“It’s fine. Really.” She wiped away a tear, clearly irritated that it had fallen in the first place. “It’s fine,” she repeated more firmly. “I’m just really glad you’re back now. And—and I’m sorry everything’s been so weird.”
“Me too,” Sage said.
She debated whether or not to apologize, but no words seemed quite right. Both girls became lost in their thoughts, not saying much else as they neared the Common Lounge.
As they rounded the corner, a herd of older boys rushed past them, some diving into the Level Thirteen Common Lounge and others continuing down the hall toward their respective levels’ lounges. They were returning from the Calex Interest Society—a relatively new Society designed to fill the gap left by those excursion-based Societies that had been suspended after her abduction.
Sage noticed Penelope’s eyes lock on to one boy in particular, following his motions as he ducked in the door.
She grinned and turned back to Penelope, brightening a bit from their earlier conversation. “So… any other updates from the past yea
r that I should know about?” she teased, rolling her eyes deliberately in Drue’s direction.
Penelope’s cheeks reddened. She pressed her lips together tightly in a poor attempt to hold back a smile. “Not that I can think of.”
7. THE WAGER
The sound of footsteps padding through the door caught Sage’s attention. She looked up briefly, then back down. It was just Everett and some others from their level. They were coming back to the lounge from their Interest Society meeting.
Sage’s counseling sessions didn’t last nearly so long as Interest Societies, which actually worked out to a considerable advantage. She had extra, uninterrupted time to apply to her classwork. And after nearly a month of second-glances and hushed conversations anytime she got near other students, she was grateful for a bit of time alone. Privacy wasn’t exactly a normal part of life at the Institution—although, strangely enough, it certainly had been the norm during her kidnapping.
She groaned inwardly as she realized what she’d just done. Again. This definitely wasn’t the first time she’d compared her kidnapping to the Institution. But she couldn’t help it. As much as she hated to admit it, some parts of her time at the benefactor’s estate had actually been better than parts of her time at the Institution.
Shifting in her seat, she tucked her feet under her before returning her attention to her databook, puzzling over what she was sure was a trick question on her math assignment. She frowned at the diagram in front of her and swept it aside, scrawling out a new version of the picture with her own labels.
“Have you finished it yet?”
Sage jumped. The databook toppled from her lap, clattering to the ground.
Everett grimaced and stooped to pick it up. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t,” she snapped as she grabbed the databook from him.
“Ok, ok.” He held his hands up in surrender. Cracking a smile, he added, “I’d have bet pretty much nothing could scare you anymore.”
“That’s not exactly true. Not that you did,” she added quickly.
Tilting her head, she gave Everett a curious look. She didn’t remember him being quite so self-assured. Had everyone changed in her time away?
