by Ally Condie
Nico spun awkwardly so he could stand and face Logan. Tyler scowled across the table. Emma had a white-knuckle grip on her tray.
“Say what you came to say,” Nico muttered, resigned to another public humiliation.
Logan made a sad face, but he couldn’t keep the glee from his voice. “I just want to wish you luck, wherever your family ends up. Getting transferred is rough, I know, but it’s part of the ranger life, right, buddy? You’ll do fine in Alaska, or wherever there are trees that need hugging.”
Nico blinked, unable to process the taunt. “What are you talking about?”
Logan chortled. “Oh, wow. I guess I really do have to deliver the bad news.” He clapped a hand on Nico. “My father made some calls last week. Your father isn’t very popular around here, except maybe with owls. Everyone agrees he’d be better off in another park, somewhere far away from Timbers.”
The blood drained from Nico’s face. “That’s … that’s not …”
“Happy trails, I guess.” Logan squeezed Nico’s shoulder, acid coating his words. “Your dad shouldn’t have messed with my family. Lesson learned, but too late for you. See ya.” He turned and strode from the cafeteria, igniting a firestorm of whispers.
Nico’s head spun. His knees felt weak. Moving? From Timbers? Emma and Tyler were on their feet, mouths working, but he couldn’t hear them. Couldn’t take any more. He had to get out of there. Everyone was staring at him.
Nico shoved his chair aside and ran from the building.
Fifteen minutes later, he was home. His father’s beat-up old Range Rover was in the driveway, which relieved and terrified Nico at the same time. He found him in the kitchen eating a bagel. Bags of groceries littered the countertop.
Warren Holland looked up with a frown. “Nico? Why aren’t you in school?”
“Is it true?” Nico blurted, red-faced and panting.
“Is what true?” his father replied, concern sharpening his features. “Why are you out of breath? Sit down. Are you hungry?”
Nico didn’t move. “Is it true, Dad? Are you being transferred?”
“Who told you that?” His father’s face became impassive. “No, Nico, I didn’t get a transfer order this week. But I work for the government, son, and sometimes they need people in different locations. Department reviews are common, and this one isn’t any different. It’s not my place to question my bosses. Nor is it yours,” he added pointedly.
“A review?” Nico felt something rip open inside of him. “But they’re only doing it because Logan’s dad asked them to!”
Warren Holland’s voice grew icicles. “Sylvain Nantes has zero say in my employment. I work for the park service, period.”
Nico wanted to scream. He wanted to break things and howl. “It’s not fair! I have friends here, Dad. I don’t want to move!”
His father stood, straightening to his full height of six feet six inches. His expression was stony. “Enough of this. You’re a kid. It’s not your job to worry about these things. I’ve done good work here, but I can do it elsewhere with my head held high if that’s what my superiors decide. Now get back to school before you miss any classes. I’ll expect you at dinnertime.”
“But—”
“No buts.” His dad pointed at the door. “Move it. Now.”
Swallowing a thousand things he wanted to say, Nico stormed from the house.
8
OPAL
“Here, Opal.”
Kathryn Walsh pushed a bowl of fruit across her desk. “Have a snack.”
Opal obediently took an apple. “Do you need me long, Mom? I have a ton of homework.”
The text her mom had sent earlier said:
Come to the bank after school. We need to talk. NN.
“NN” meant “non-negotiable.” Her mother used it way more than necessary, but Opal got in trouble if she ignored those letters.
“I want to discuss Citizen Radish,” Kathryn said.
“Wha?” Opal asked, mid-chew. Her mother looked the same as always—blouse and skirt, gold earrings, lovely, clever face. But maybe the stress of managing Timbers Bank & Loan had finally gotten to her.
“There’s going to be a pageant at the radish festival,” her mother said. “Open to kids ages twelve to sixteen, looking for the best young leaders in Timbers. There will be a talent portion as well.” She sounded like she’d memorized a press release.
Opal slumped in her seat. “That sounds so cheesy.”
“It does not,” her mother said sternly. “The pageant will be inclusive and intelligent, and there’s no appearance component.”
Opal didn’t roll her eyes, but barely. “Awesome.”
“It is awesome.” The word sounded ridiculous when her mom used it. “Being crowned Citizen Radish will look outstanding on a college application.”
Opal put down her apple. “Oh no.”
“Oh yes.” Her mother slid a paper across the desk. “This is your application. We’ll go over it tonight when I get home.”
Opal started to object but saw “NN” in her mother’s eyes. She sighed. “Can I go now?”
Having gotten what she wanted, Kathryn Walsh smiled. “Of course. It looks like someone’s waiting for you, anyway.”
Opal turned. Logan was standing at the teller’s counter with a free lollipop, the kind you were only supposed to get by making a deposit. Ugh. She’d been avoiding him as much as she could since the incident with Nico.
“Off you go!” her mother said. She loved the whole Nantes family, because they kept so much money at the bank, lived in the best house on Overlook Row, and threw a swanky holiday party every year. Opal strode from her mother’s office and headed straight for the front door.
She had one foot on the sidewalk when Logan stuck his head outside. “Opal!” he called, flashing a tentative smile. She kept walking.
“Wait a sec.” Logan hurried to catch up. “Hey, why are you acting like a jerk?”
Opal spun, hot words ready. “I’m the jerk? You made Nico fall into Still Cove!”
“Huh?” Logan squinted at her. “What are you talking about? I flew his stupid toy into the fog.”
Opal winced. She’d forgotten—Logan didn’t know about Nico’s fall, and Nico definitely wouldn’t want him to.
“That stupid toy cost all his savings,” Opal shot back, hoping Logan wouldn’t catch her slip-up. She stormed off again, but Logan matched her pace.
“What do you care? Got a crush on him or something?” Logan’s jawline hardened, his voice low and mean. “He’s a total loser.”
“He is not.”
“He’s moving, anyway. Didn’t you hear? His dad’s getting transferred.”
Opal stopped. “What? Who told you that?”
They were standing in front of Brophy’s Grocery, with its country market vibe and hand-lettered displays. A giant CELEBRATE THE RADISH FESTIVAL banner filled the window.
“My father.” Logan couldn’t fight back a grin. “He’s probably arranging it.”
A trapdoor opened in Opal’s gut. “He can’t do that.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.”
Logan’s back was to the store, but Opal could see people inside. Just what I need. Her mom would flip if she made a public scene.
Opal smiled wide and fake for their audience. “You really can be a total jerk, Logan. Goodbye.”
She walked away without looking back.
Nico pushed through the velvet curtain. “Next time you’re late, we’re leaving without you, Opal.” He’d ignored her completely until now, not saying a word as they paddled across Still Cove.
“Sorry,” Opal said. “My mom wanted to talk.”
“How’d you get here yesterday?” Emma’s tone was light, but Opal could tell she was dying to know.
“I used my teleporter,” Opal said breezily. She hid a smile as the others exchanged glances. They had their secrets. It was fair to have one of her own. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”
Nico w
alked to the far corner of the showroom. “Emma, Tyler, and I are exploring the collection. You can do whatever you want.”
“I’m starting an inventory.” Tyler fished a pencil from the pocket of his jeans and aimed it at a leather-bound book. “A catalog of everything on the boat. Wanna help?”
Nico shot him an annoyed glance.
“Okay!” Opal agreed cheerfully, pretending not to notice Nico’s irritation. It’ll drive him nuts if me and Tyler start getting along. Plus, anything was better than visiting the pool again. Although … she kind of wanted to.
“Excellent.” Tyler rubbed his hands together like a cartoon villain. “Nico? Emma?”
“Fine,” Nico grunted, kneeling to examine a wire birdcage in the corner.
“Sure thing, Ty.” Emma cracked her knuckles. “For a while. But then the Darkdeep!”
Tyler flipped open the leather book with a flourish. “Behold … precious nothing!”
Opal giggled. “Is the whole thing blank?”
“Yeah.” Tyler tapped the first page with his finger. “But look at these lines and columns. I’m pretty sure it’s a logbook of some kind. Might as well use it for our records.”
Nico joined them, his posture oozing reluctance. “Why do this now?”
“So we know what’s here,” Tyler said primly. “In order to appreciate it.”
Opal agreed completely. If they understood the collection better, maybe they could figure out why it existed, or who put it together. She picked up a glass box containing a claw of some kind. “Start with this?”
“Why not?” Tyler’s eyes danced. “We’ll sort everything into categories, and then make subcategories …”
“You’re killing me, Ty.” But Nico lifted a battered wicker basket and peeked inside.
“Go ahead, Opal.” Tyler licked the tip of his pencil. “What should I write down?”
“It’s a black talon. Petrified. Likely from a bird. That’s all I got.”
“Great. Put it in the cabinet behind you. We’ll label that Shelf 1A.” He pulled a stack of Post-its from his pocket. The dude was a walking supply store. “Talk to me, Nico. Whatcha got?”
“It’s best described as a fossilized turd.”
“Gross.” Opal wrinkled her nose. “Don’t be revolting.”
“No.” Nico held up a hardened brown lump. “I really think it is.”
“Yikes.” Tyler made a gagging sound. “Just put that back where you found it.”
“Put it in the pond.” Opal looked to Emma for commiseration, but she was nowhere in sight. “Where’d Emma go?”
“Probably downstairs.” Tyler lifted a stuffed … something off the floor. “She’s obsessed with the pool. Calls it the Darkdeep.”
The Darkdeep. The name raised goosebumps along Opal’s arms. “Shouldn’t someone go with her? Safety in numbers, and all that?”
“Emma’s fine,” Nico snapped. “She’s not stupid. None of us are.”
Opal turned away. She knew they weren’t stupid. Nico was being such a jerk. And she really didn’t think anyone should be down by the pool alone. She walked toward the stairs, passing a row of old photographs on the wall, and paused. The pictures had been taken over different eras, and hung in mismatched frames, but they all had something in common.
At first she thought it was their eyes. The oldest photos had that old-timey-stare thing going, but something was strange about the newer ones, too. Then it hit her: The people weren’t looking at the camera. Or at anything, maybe. They were staring into space. Almost like they looked … beyond. It was true in every picture, even though the photos clearly spanned decades. Opal found it unnerving.
And that wasn’t all. Each subject wore a carved necklace with a swirly design.
“Are you checking on Emma or not?” Nico yelled across the room, startling her.
Shaking her head, Opal walked to the top of the staircase. “Emma?”
“Down here!” she replied cheerily.
Opal swallowed and started down, gripping the railing tight. Emma began chattering the second she reached the bottom. “I think this is regular freshwater,” Emma said, “or close to it. I snagged some pH strips from Mr. Huang’s classroom and ran a test.”
Opal looked at her in surprise. “Um, okay.”
Emma was kneeling beside the pool. She waved a hand above the inky water. “There’s no reflection, which is super weird, because there is light down here. I can’t tell where it comes from. And this liquid shines anyway. But it doesn’t reflect. What’s that about?”
“Don’t touch it.” Opal warned. Her skin tingled with something like static electricity.
“What in the world makes it spin?” Emma chewed her thumbnail. Then she swung her legs around from under her and took off a shoe and sock.
Opal went cold. “What are you doing?”
Emma didn’t answer. She extended a bare foot out over the swirling water.
“Emma, no.” Opal edged forward. “Stop. We don’t know what that is.”
“I just want to check something. If the surface feels …”
Emma dipped in her big toe.
The water went still.
Opal felt a charge pass through her body. “Emma, get ba—”
The Darkdeep rippled, as if a stone had been dropped into its heart.
Black liquid surged over the lip and encircled Emma’s ankle. She was yanked down into the pool, disappearing slippery-quick and without a sound.
The water stilled, then resumed churning, twice as fast.
Opal stared at the empty space where the other girl had been.
And screamed.
PART TWO
FIGMENTS
9
NICO
A shriek echoed up the spiral steps.
Nico froze, a silver seahorse figurine locked between his fingers. Tyler stiffened behind the logbook. When the scream ripped through the boat a second time, they both ran for the staircase, Tyler shaking like a dog coming in out of the snow.
No no no no was all Nico could think as he tore down the stairs.
Opal was staring into the Darkdeep. Heavy tears streaked down her face.
“Where’s Emma?” Nico demanded.
“In … in there!” Opal stammered, pointing to the pool’s swirling mouth. “She barely touched it, but … I couldn’t … Nico, it dragged her down!”
Nico’s pulse pounded. The water was rotating faster than before. He peered into the pitch-black depths. He still couldn’t see a thing, but was it gleaming more brightly? Ignoring the danger, he knelt close, desperate for any sign of his friend.
“I told her to be careful!” Tyler began circling the pool, his fists pressed to his temples. “Oh, man. Oh no!”
Nico glared at Opal, anger and fear making his voice harsh. “What happened?”
Opal blinked, chest heaving. “It wasn’t my fault!”
Nico made a chopping motion with both hands. “Just tell me what happened!”
“Emma was testing the pool. She … she dipped her toe into the water.”
Tyler kicked the lip of the well. “I told her to be careful!” His knobby shoulders began to shake.
“Okay.” Nico squeezed his forehead, trying to think. “The water has to go somewhere. So maybe she … she might be able to—”
“To what?” Tyler shouted. “That thing pulls straight down! There’s nowhere for Emma to go. She’s gone, and it’s our fault!”
Nico began stuttering a reply, but Opal clamped a hand on his forearm. “Nico, she didn’t fall. The Darkdeep pulled her in. What is this thing?”
Tyler yanked off his hoodie. “I’m going after her.”
“Are you crazy?” Nico shouted, even as Opal yelled, “Do not touch that water!”
Tyler threw his sweatshirt to the ground. “We have to do something!”
Nico couldn’t form a coherent thought. “A rope?” he suggested weakly. “Maybe she’s stuck below the boat or something?”
“She won’t see
a rope in that,” Tyler moaned, waving a hand at the Darkdeep. His voice dropped to a childlike whisper. “What should we do, Nico? She … it’s been too long.”
Nico was shaking his head miserably, out of ideas, when another cry shattered the quiet. His eyes shot to the staircase. This sound had come from above.
“Emma!” Tyler charged back up the stairs, screaming her name at the top of his lungs.
Opal hurried after him. Nico followed with his heart in his throat, hoping for a miracle.
Outside, the chill hit Nico like a hammer blow. The island felt twenty degrees colder than before, and the mist was twice as thick. Nico spotted a crumpled form at the edge of the pond. Tyler was racing on an intercept course.
“Let’s go, Opal,” Nico said, but the words were unnecessary. Opal shot across the entry stones like she’d been released from a bowstring. It was all Nico could do to keep up.
Tyler reached Emma and slid down beside her. By the time Nico and Opal arrived, he’d rolled her over and she was coughing wetly. Nico nearly fainted with relief.
Emma gagged and puked, unloading a bucket of pond water from her stomach.
But she was breathing. She was alive.
Tyler babbled with joy, hugging Emma so hard she was struggling to catch her breath. Opal gently untangled Tyler’s grip and sat Emma up. Nico stood a pace away, mouthing silent prayers of thanks to every deity that might be listening.
“Holy crap,” Emma wheezed. “Wow.”
Opal stroked Emma’s sopping blond hair, trying to calm her down. She was shaking from way more than the cold. “What happened?” Opal whispered. “How’d you end up out here?”
“I w-wanted to see what it f-f-felt like,” Emma spluttered. “But w-when m-my … when I t-t-touched it …” She shuddered from head to foot. “Some … power l-l-latched on to m-me. Like, a f-force or something. Next thing, I was d-dragged straight down, and it was all colors and lights, and I c-c-couldn’t b-breathe.”
Tyler glanced at Nico, eyes worried. Nico shrugged helplessly where Emma couldn’t see.
“Guys,” Emma continued in a low voice, staring at the pond. “The Darkdeep isn’t natural. I felt a … a presence down there. Like a spy inside my head.”
