Kill School: Slice (28 page)

Demi looks at Shah. “My father,” she says. Her eyes sparkle
with tears as if hearing her father’s name opens up her wounds.

“Go,” says Shah. He presses his cheek to her hair.

Demi runs off into the crowd without waiting for Mr.
Wassillie. It breaks my heart to see her go. I can’t imagine what the reunion
with her father will be like. I may never see her again.

“Come on,” Mr. Wassillie says to Burke. “Regulator Krish is
waiting.”

 “I can’t go anywhere right now,” Burke says. “Not until
all of my campers are gone.”

“Burke, don’t start today,” Mr. Wassillie says. “Go and see
what Krish wants. I will stay here with your campers to make sure they all go
home safe.”

I don’t want Burke anywhere near Krish. That mad scientist
will carve him apart. What else would he want with him? Krish has to know Burke
is planning to leave. He has to know Burke may not return. What if Burke finds
his sisters? Why would he want to come back to Kill School?

I grab ahold of Burke’s elbow.

“Burke, you can’t go,” I say.

“I have to stay here,” Burke says to Mr. Wassillie. He
steps in front of me. “I’m not going anywhere until all of my campers are
gone.”

“I am afraid I have to insist,” Mr. Wassillie says. “Don’t
make me get the guards.”

I step in front of Burke.

“Then I’m going with him,” I say.

Burke glares at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have stepped in front
of him.

“You can’t come this time, Aria,” Mr. Wassillie says.

“This isn’t your business,” Burke says to me. His voice is
acidic. I can’t tell if he’s angry with Mr. Wassillie or me. Burke, once again,
pushes me behind him.

Mr. Wassillie twists his scarf.

“Please, Burke,” says Mr. Wassillie. “Just go see what he
wants and come back. It should take you no longer than five minutes.”

Burke sighs and turns toward me.

“I’ll be alright,” Burke says. Whether or not he is
frustrated with me, I don’t see any of it in his eyes. “I’ll be back as soon as
I can.”

Burke walks away without turning around. I am left standing
next to an awkwardly fidgeting Mr. Wassillie. Mr. Wassillie and I both stiffen
when we see four guards approach Burke from behind. They follow in step behind him.
He doesn’t seem to notice, but I know he is aware of their presence. He is
stealth. He is in trouble.

Mr.
Wassillie makes up some excuse to leave and mingles with the rest of the kids. Coward.
He’s not going to do anything to help Burke. I watch Burke’s blond head and
tassel hat approach the bleachers. It’s not too late. I have to help him.

Vanessa and Mateo come up next to me.

“Where’s Burke going?” Vanessa asks.

“To see Regulator Krish,” I say. My mouth is dry. My palms
are wet.

Burke disappears through an archway. He did nothing to lose
the guards. That can only mean one thing. He knows he is trapped. I want to run
after him, to find Vladimir, to go to the Regulator’s box so that I can kill
Krish before he kills Burke.  

I turn to Vanessa and Mateo.

“He lied to us in the dining hall. We were right. Krish
wants his blood. He’s gone to the Regulator’s box to meet him.”

Adrenalin rushes through my body, making me feel as if I
could fly. The thought of Burke on the slab in the lab…

No. I will not do that. I will not think of Burke as dead. Burke
is a killer. He is smart. There is no way that he’ll let Krish do anything to
him. No way.

“Is he nuts?” Vanessa asks.

“I hope not,” I say.

“We have to go find him,” Vanessa says.

“What if our parents show up?” Mateo asks.

“We stall them,” Vanessa says. “We’ll tell them we have to
wait for Burke. I am not leaving without saying goodbye to him.”

“Uh Vanessa,” Mateo says.

“What?” Vanessa asks.

Mateo turns her around.

“Our parents,” Mateo says.

Two couples rush toward us. I recognize Vanessa’s parents,
having seen them many times in school. Vanessa’s mom bursts into tears and hugs
her daughter, crying about how she thought Vanessa was dead. Mateo’s parents, a
handsome couple standing close together, welcome Mateo into their arms.

Their reunion gives me a chance to think. I have to wait
for my mother. She knows the Regulators. She may even be related to one of
them. And, she knows Burke. If anyone can help me get Burke away from Krish,
it’s my mother.

Vanessa and Mateo’s parents walk to the bleachers and sit
down. All four of them stare at us with worried expressions.

Vanessa and Mateo join me.

“Mateo and I told our parents we have to find Burke,” she
says.

“We told them he’s upstairs.” Mateo glances at the
Regulator’s box.

“Thanks,” I say. “I want to wait for my mom before we do
anything.”

I look up to the Regulator’s box and see shadowy figures
looking out over the field. Vanessa and Mateo exchange nervous glances and look
back to their parents. Vanessa’s mom jumps to her feet and heads over to us.

“We better wait with them,” Vanessa says to Mateo. “You
want to come with us?” she asks me.

I shake my head. I have a perfect view of the Regulator’s
box from here and I am not moving. Besides, I don’t want to interfere with any
reunions. Vanessa’s mom is so polite, she’d want to make conversation with me,
and I don’t feel like talking. Just as Mateo and Vanessa agree to return to
their parents alone, Vanessa’s mom reaches us.

“Aria,” Vanessa’s mom says. Her eyes are red and her
eyelids puffy. “I didn’t see you before. I’m afraid I was distracted Vanessa’s
injuries. How awful it must have been for all of you. Is your mother coming? Of
course she is.”

“Mom,” Vanessa says. She pats her mom’s shoulders. “We’re
going to wait for Aria to find her parents before we say goodbye to Burke. Let’s
go back to dad before he jumps to his feet.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go now?” Vanessa’s mom
asks. She glances at me as if to plead her case. I can’t put Vanessa at risk.

“No,” Vanessa says with such ferocity that it shocks both her
mother and me. “Sorry, mom,” Vanessa adds. “But I promised. You wouldn’t let me
break a promise, would you?”

Vanessa’s mom shakes her head sadly and they walk off to
the bleachers. Mateo tells me to be strong and then joins them.

I feel awkward standing alone, and scan the crowd for my
parents. Most of the kids in our cabin have gone, except for Shah who stands
alone with his hands folded across his chest. He acknowledges me with a nod and
then walks toward the nearest exit. I get the feeling he has no parents coming
to pick him up.

Dr. Heap pushes her way through the crowd. She is holding a
cup of coffee, a small white bag, and a pad of paper. Seeing her makes me
smile. Her gray suit jacket has a stain on the lapel, as if she’s spilled some
of her coffee on it.

“Aria, I’m so glad I found you,” Dr. Heap says.

She hands me the white bag, which contains donuts, and
reaches in her pocket.

“I’m glad you are here, too,” I say. It’s nice to have her
company. I’m not so alone any more.

Dr. Heap stuffs a card in my hand. “I’d like to stay in
touch with you while camp is closed. I think we should still have our
sessions.”

“We have a lot to talk about, right?” I ask. At the same time,
I raise my bracelet to see if she reacts to my token.

Dr. Heap stares at my bracelet. She then blinks at me and
clears her throat.

“Call me as soon as you are settled again,” Dr. Heap says.
“I have an office on the green by the post office. I’m sorry I can’t stay. I
want to catch the first Vactrain out of here.”

Before I can thank her, or probe her for more information, she
is gone. I am, once again, alone. Except for Mal and Tane, leering at me with
impish faces. I could twist their noses off.

“Aria,” my mom’s voice rings out through the din.

My mother pushes through the throng of reuniting parents and
children. Her hair is loose; she wears slacks and a blouse with no matching
jacket. Dad’s eyes are red as if he’s been crying. I hug both of them at once.
My dad’s enthusiasm lifts me off my feet. I am surprised to see Sebastian
appear behind my father.

Sebastian.
My weary-eyed, disheveled, and foolish brother. I don’t know whether to hit him
or hug him. He could have stopped the raid or at least warned us about it. Many
people died because of him. He is alive. I know what he’ll tell me. It’s not
his fault. I see it in his face, the way he tilts his head as he comes toward
me. My feelings boil over in rage. Jack is dead because of him.

“Hi Aria,” Sebastian says. 

His meek little wave is all I need. My hand balls up into a
fist and cracks his jaw before I can stop myself. My fist connects with his jaw
so hard, that his head swings back, and my knuckles burst into pain. My parents
freak and step in between us. My mother examines my brother’s cheek and my
father takes my hand in his.

“You are an animal,” I scream at my brother over my
father’s shoulder.

My mother’s eyes are on fire.

“Stop it, Aria,” she says through gritted teeth. “Not
here.”

I push closer to my brother and mother, not knowing what I
will do. My father tries to hold me back, but I twist out of his grip. I punch
at my brother over my mother’s shoulder.

“I’ll hate you forever,” I say. “Wait until I see Viviane.
I’m going to tell her what a coward you are. How you let innocent people burn
to death.”

Something in me, a fear for my brother’s life, keeps my
voice low. I want him to know how angry I am. I want to punish him with words
and fists. I don’t want him to die.

“Go ahead and tell Viviane,” Sebastian snarls back, pushing
against my mother so that she is sandwiched between us. “She’s not going to
hear you. She’s not going to hear anyone anymore.”

My tense muscles suddenly go wobbly. I swallow as I look
into my brother’s bloodshot eyes.

“She went deaf?” I ask.

I feel my father behind me supporting my body. The four of
us are pressed together like coals on a hot fire.

“Viviane’s dead, Aria,” my mother says.

“The scrawny little runt got to her,” Sebastian says. “And
I killed him for it.”

“Viviane’s dead?” I repeat the words, but they still have
no meaning. Viviane can’t be dead. She was the love of Sebastian’s life. They
were planning a future together. I can’t believe she is gone.

“She is
not
dead,” I say as if my words will bring
her back to life.

“Don’t make this harder,” says Mom.

All at once, Sebastian pushes Mom away and brings me into
his arms.

“I’m sorry, Aria,” he says through sniffs. “I don’t want to
hurt anyone anymore. Especially not you. When I think of what may have happened
to you…”

Mom and Dad wrap their arms around us and we hug for a few
more seconds. I soak in the sounds around me. The cries of forlorn parents. The
happy reunions. The din of the stadium lights shining down upon us.

“We are family,” Dad whispers. “We stick together.”

Mom breaks the hug, turns to Sebastian, and folds his hair
behind his ear.

“After we get Aria home,” Mom says to Sebastian. “You are
going to tell us exactly what you did here.”

“But,” Sebastian says. His unruly hair springs out from
behind his ear.

“Not now,” Mom says with a wave of her hand. “Home first.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Dad says.

Dad tugs on my arm. I plant my feet firmly on the ground.

“I can’t go home yet,” I say. “I have to help Burke.”

Mom’s eyelashes flutter as she gazes at me.

“Burke?” she asks. “I told you to stay away from him.”

Her perfectly manicured nails dig into my arm.

I take a deep breath.

“I couldn’t really stay away from him,” I say. “He’s my
camp counselor.”

“You’re not ruby,” Sebastian says. His eyes are still puffy
and weary. He probably didn’t get any sleep.

“I’m not turquoise either,” I say in a low tone.

My mother squeezes my wrist so hard that I think my hand is
going to pop off.

“Remember where we are,” she whispers. “No more words about
tokens.” Mom’s expression turns soft. “Tell us about Burke so we can get out of
here. What does he need?”

I feel my body grow weak as my mom agrees to help me. It’s
as if my adrenaline is being released into the air. I feel as if I’m going to
collapse. Dad grabs my elbow to catch my fall.

“Easy there,” Dad says. “Maybe we should sit down.” He
glances toward Vanessa’s parents.

Dad doesn’t get it. I shake my head.

“We have no time,” I say. I push away from Dad with a renewed
force. “Burke needs to be saved. Regulator Krish has him...”

“I knew it,” Mom says before I can finish my sentence. She
pushes in front of Dad and ignores his hurt look as she grasps my shoulders.

 “He’s finally going through with it,” Mom says. “We have
to help Burke. He is too important to lose. Where is he?”

Mom’s comments startle me. Is Burke important to the
resistance or to me? Dad nervously plays with his chin. I reach in my pocket
and hand him the small flute he gave me before I left for camp. He takes it
with a grateful smile.

“Wassillie forced him to go to the Regulator’s box,” I say
to Mom.

Mom shades her eyes with her hands, looks up to the glass
box above the bleachers and frowns.

“Mother,” she mutters. “Well, come on. I’ll bring you up
there.”

“No you won’t,” Dad says.

Dad puts a gentle hand on Mom’s shoulders. Sebastian and I
exchange puzzled glances. Before we can ask any more questions, Mr. Wassillie
appears before us.

“Did I hear my name?” Mr. Wassillie asks.

We break our family circle and stiffen as Mr. Wassillie
approaches. At the same time, I notice Vanessa and Mateo standing a few feet
from us. I slink away to my friends as Mom confronts Mr. Wassillie. She’s
furious with him for not protecting the camp.

“You alright?” Vanessa asks.

I nod. “Thanks for staying.”

“Our parents want to leave,” Mateo says. “They have a big
dinner planned for both of our families.”

“What are we going to do about Burke?” Vanessa asks.

I glance up at the Regulator’s box hanging high over the
stadium and think I see Regulator Thorn with Regulator Krish. I still have
time.

“My mom’s going to take me up there,” I say, gesturing to
the box with my head. “She’ll help me. You guys can probably go home.”

Vanessa stamps her foot.

“Burke’s our friend,” Vanessa says. “I’m not going until
he’s safe.”

Mateo glances at his parents.

“Me neither,” Mateo says. “I won’t be able to eat.”

Mom leaves Mr. Wassillie talking to Dad and Sebastian and
comes over to us. By the look on her face, I can tell she’s in professional-doctor
mode.