Kill School: Slice (18 page)

“Except us, right?” I ask.

He smiles. “Now you’re thinking stealth.”

“Stealth is doing stuff illegal?” I ask.

“Sometimes,” Burke says. He doesn’t look very happy. “We’re
not going to do any more sneaking today. It’s too dangerous with Regulator Krish
here.” He turns to the terminal. “Let’s get to the real reason we are here.”

“What?” I shake my head vigorously. “No.”

“No?” Burke says. He’s puzzled. “I don’t want to hurt you,
Aria. I want to help you. If you login with your token, I can teach you how to
look at your targets with logic.”

“I’m not very logical,” I say.

“You’re being very difficult,” Burke says.

“I don’t mean to be, but this is something I want to do on
my own. I’m not ready to show you.”

“Alright. Suit yourself.”

Burke picks up the book that was lying on the table when we
first arrived. It’s a biography on Kalstein Barstow. He goes to the earmarked
page. I look over his shoulder. The page describes Barstow’s token algorithm.

“I think Krish was reading this before he left,” Burke
says.

“What does he want with the algorithm?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” Burke says. “But with what you have just
told me, it can’t be good. Maybe he is trying to break the code.”

“Maybe he already has,” I say.

“What do you mean?” Burke asks.

“Why all the turquoise tokens all of a sudden?” I ask. “Why
for years has the algorithm only produced sapphire and emerald?”

“Your theory from the cabin,” Burke says. “Teenage
extinction.”

I nod.

Burke tilts his head.

“Maybe Krish wants to help us.” He frowns as if he doesn’t
believe his own words. “If you are right, we are in some serious trouble.”

I think I may need Burke’s help after all.

“What if I am right?” I ask. “Maybe Regulator Krish needs
to die.”

Burke looks at me as if I am crazy. He then looks around
the room as if he expects someone to overhear even though we are in a
soundproof room. I scan the library for microdrones, but see none.

“Killing a Regulator means control.” Burke’s voice comes
out in a growl. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it. It is not worth it. You
will be sent there. Your family will be sent there. Everyone you love,
including your brother and Baby, will be doomed. Trust me. I know.”

I take a deep breath and watch Burke. The fear in his eyes,
the fact that he seems to be intimately acquainted with control and doesn’t
want me to go there. He is scared. For me. Maybe he would protect me.

“I lied to you,” I say.

Burke looks at me, puzzled. “How?”

“I don’t have a ruby token.” I snap the bracelet off my
wrist and dislodge the turquoise painted token.

“What do you mean?” Burke asks. He looks puzzled and
relieved at the same time.

“I have an amethyst token.” I place the token on the table
in front of him.

I can tell Burke’s trying to compose his face in case any
one looks in. We are just two scientists discussing a possible adjustment to a
theory.

“I’ve heard rumors.” Burke pauses. His fingers tremble as
he reaches for my token. He pulls his hand away. “But I’ve always thought those
rumors were wishful thinking.”

“You don’t believe me?” I take my token and move to the
terminal. “Let me show you.”

“No,” Burke says. He grabs my fingers. “It’s too risky.
Someone may see the screen over your shoulder. Put your token away.”

“You believe me?” I ask.

He looks into my eyes. “I believe you. Maybe there is
something in the biography.”

I put my token back in the bracelet and strap it on my
wrist.

Burke and I flip through Barstow’s biography. We find a
section on the Regulator’s robes and their history. We skip to another section
on the building of camp. There is so much information, it is impossible to go
through all of it.

“I think we’re going to have to check this book out.” Burke
looks around to make sure no one is watching and then slides the big book into
a pocket on the inside of his jacket. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Burke and I exit the library. Sneaking down is much easier
than sneaking up and we are out of the tower in no time. Burke decides to take
us across campus because it is faster.

When we enter the warm grounds, Mr. Wassillie spots us.

“Hey there,” Mr. Wassillie says. “Aria. I heard you were
too sick for slice.” He eyes me suspiciously. “Feeling better?”

“Much,” I say.

“I was just getting her from the infirmary,” Burke says.

I glance at Burke. I hope he has ways of covering for me in
case Mr. Wassillie checks out the infirmary records.

“Great news,” Mr. Wassillie says. “We’ll get you into one
of Messier’s classes this afternoon. He taps his watch. “Your next class is
starting.”

I grumble. I don’t want to do slice. At least my next class
is regular high school stuff, so I can pretend to be a normal teenager for a
while. Burke says goodbye to me. I go off to the English building and he runs
across campus. Back to the cabin, no doubt.

I wake
up the next morning without having talked to Burke. The rest of yesterday was
busy with class, including the makeup class for slice. I was stuck with a bunch
of kids from second week whom I really didn’t like. I accidentally stabbed my
hand with the switchblade, which required another visit to the infirmary and a
few stitches.

My hand throbs, but it was worth it to get out of the
remainder of my makeup slice class. I heard they started practicing techniques
on rabbits after I left, which gave me nightmares of stabbing cute little
bunnies and pinning them to a tree.

I crawl out of my bunk to the crowded table. It’s Friday.
Everyone is excited and talking about game day and graduation for the kids who
have been here four weeks. The seniors. I won’t be sorry to see them go. With
the new recruits coming on Monday, it’s going to be a busy day. I’ll probably
not be able to talk to Burke in private until the weekend.

I sit in between Demi and Vanessa and grab a biscuit, jam,
and an orange. Vanessa pours me coffee. I grab the cup without taking a sip.
Holding the warm cup makes my hand feel better.

Vanessa has already told everyone about my hand.

“It’s only four stitches.” I show them the bandage. The cut
runs an inch down the side of my palm near the pinky. “No big deal.”

“We missed you in slice,” Demi says. “Messier assigned
dueling partners. I get to be with Shah.”

“And I get to be with Mateo,” Vanessa says. “Just like our
plan, right Mateo? Duel to the death.” Vanessa chuckles.

Mateo shakes his head rapidly several times.

“No way. I like it here. Not in camp. On earth. You
know—breathing.”

Vanessa folds her arms across her chest and pouts, as if
she’s serious about the duel.

“Really, where were you, Aria?” Demi asks. “You are not
sick. Except for the hand thing. You wouldn’t have gotten that if you didn’t
cut class. Those second week kids are creeps. I can’t believe you were stuck
with them. I accidentally wandered into their camp and they chased me out of
there with sticks on fire.” 

I glance at Burke’s bunk. The curtains are closed. I wonder
if the Barstow’s biography is in there. I’m listening to Demi, but I have other
things on my mind.

“He’s not home,” Demi says. “Don’t tell me you were with
him.”

“I had some other stuff to do,” I say when I cannot think
of a good lie.

Demi lowers her eyes at me. “I’m not going to bug you about
it. Just be careful.”

I cast my eyes toward Shah who is talking to one of Erwin’s
goons—Tane I think. I don’t need her giving me advice about Burke. There is
nothing between us.

“You be careful, too,” I say.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Demi snorts back.

The truth is I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean. I
should be warning Shah about Demi. After her little adventure here in camp,
she’s just going to go back to Clarkhaven House. She’ll probably hire Burke to
kill for her. I can’t say this to her. She’s my friend, at least for now. I
wonder if I’ll ever see her again.

Before I can apologize to Demi, Burke bursts into the cabin
with a big grin plastered on his face. I tell myself my rapidly accelerating
heartbeat is because of the coffee, and not Burke’s entrance.

“It’s Game Day,” Burke says. “This afternoon, we will be
going to the stadium where you will watch your first game of Pelota Purepecha.”
He puts down a box on the table. “To celebrate, I’ve brought you special cabin
jackets.”

As Burke passes out the jackets, he fields a bunch of
questions about the games. The stadium is located on the other side of the
bridge, into the side of the mountain. Parents and spectators are allowed to go
to the games, but they cannot come into camp. Only designated reporters are
allowed on the campus.

The games consist of three separate matches. The first
match is going on now and pits each of the ten senior cabins against another
one.

Round one will take up the morning. With the losers
eliminated, the winners get to move on to round two, which starts after lunch.
We don’t get to attend round two either, because we all have to visit our
psychologists and go through another round of inclination tests. Round three
will pit the three remaining teams against one another.

“I’ll try to save you seats at the stadium,” Burke says.
“Now, get going. You don’t want to be late for your first class.”

Burke stops me on the way out and pulls me to the side.

“I have to go somewhere this morning,” he says. “I’ll see
you later, at the game. Maybe we can meet tonight about your situation.”

“Have you found out anything?” I ask.

“Not now,” Burke says. “Later.” He squeezes my arm
affectionately. “I’ve got some good news, so try not to think too much about it
today.”

I smile and put my game day jacket on. It’s warm and smells
of Burke—campfire mixed with grass.

I exit the cabin to find Erwin sitting on the porch. I
don’t know if he’s been eavesdropping, but by his expression, it seems as if
he’s overheard something. I ignore him and take the path to campus with the
other students running late.

My morning classes are biology and grace. I’m glad to have
my new jacket to keep me warm. The temperature has dropped a few degrees from
yesterday and a fresh layer of snow covers the ground. It’s supposed to be
getting warmer with spring. My teeth are chattering as I cross into the warm
campus.

I jog over to the Kalstein Barstow Science Building, hoping
no one recognizes me from yesterday. I climb the stairs two at a time and enter
the biology classroom. I say hi to the quad brothers, Jack and Matthew. Vanessa
and Mateo wave me over to my seat. Erwin is not there yet. I hope he decides to
cut class. Better yet, I hope he drops out. Maybe someone will kill him as he
walks across campus.

“Aria?” Vanessa asks. She points with her thumb to the
professor.

“Miss Nova, are you here?” Professor Hammerschmidt asks.

“Here, Sir,” I say with a little wave.

Professor Hammerschmidt scribbles something on his Flatpad.

“Next time, answer me the first time I call your name,” he
says. “We don’t have time to waste here.”

Professor Hammerschmidt explains what we are going to do
today. He produces a tray of scalpels and tells us how several students are
going to open the cadaver. The others will watch.

“For being late, Aria will make the first cut.” Professor
Hammerschmidt waves the scalpel in the air.

“I wasn’t late,” I protest. Just then, Erwin walks into
class. “He’s later.” I point to Erwin, who looks at me with wide eyes.

“Nonsense,” Professor Hammerschmidt says. “He has an
excuse.”

I open my mouth to say something else. Vanessa tugs on my
sleeve and shakes her head. I press my lips together as Professor Hammerschmidt
waves me forward with the scalpel.

“Everyone, gather around. Aria is going to show us what a
small intestine looks like.”

Vanessa nudges me and helps me get out of my seat. I lean
on her as we join the rest of the class around the cadaver. Professor Hammerschmidt
has covered up the man’s top and bottom, so that the only thing visible is his
mid-section.

Bile rises in my throat as Professor Hammerschmidt hands me
some surgical gloves. 

“I hope you are right handed,” Professor Hammerschmidt
says, regarding my bandaged left hand.

I consider lying, but I am trying to hold back a bunch of
puke so I keep my mouth shut. Vanessa helps me with the surgical gloves, which
fit tightly over my bandaged hand. I wish I had chopped off a finger. It’s not
too late.

Professor Hammerschmidt takes a marker and draws on the
corpse’s stomach.

“You’ll slice here and then reach inside to pull out the
intestine.”

I place the knife on the man’s skin. I can’t do it. I can’t
press it into the man’s flesh. I wonder how my mom does it. Sure, she’s a baby
doctor, but she had to go through medical school to become one.

“Try harder,” says Professor Hammerschmidt. He presses down
on my hand to break the flesh.

When the knife goes through the flesh, I hear popping and
gurgling sounds. The slice, a couple of inches long, reveals red squishy stuff
inside the corpse. The whole room starts spinning. My knees go weak. Everything
in the room turns black.

“I thought you were in slice,” Professor Hammerschmidt
says. I am on the ground and he is kneeling beside me.

Professor Hammerschmidt has me sit in my seat for the rest
of the class. He makes comments to the other students about me, making fun of
the way I fainted. Erwin laughs the loudest and glares at me. I am glad when
the bell rings and we get to go to our next class.

Grace
meets in a different location today, because some of the graduates are
practicing on the lake for their morning games. Vladimir Korchev meets us in
the middle of campus to take us to the new location. Next to him rests a large
bag filled with ropes, and hooks. I hope he’s not going to have us climb a
mountain.

Shah and Demi greet me. Erwin and Tane stand on the other
side of Vladimir. I don’t see Priyanka anywhere.

“We go to the bridge today,” Vladimir says. “Practice your
dangling technique. Don’t worry. It’s easy. Good practice for the woods. Come,
follow.”

Once we reach the middle of the bridge, Vladimir unlocks
and pulls down a lever. A metal platform rises from underneath the bridge.
Vladimir pulls out a harness and explains to us what we are going to do.

“Bungee jumping?” Demi asks.

“More scary than dangerous,” Vladimir says. “You go first.”
He holds the harness out for Demi. “I’ll strap you in.”

“No thanks,” she says.

“Alright,” Vladimir says. “We don’t force people here.
Volunteers?”

“I’ll go first,” Shah and I say at the same time.

I am terrified of heights. I want to get this over with as
soon as possible. However, I step back to let Shah go first.

“No kidding,” Vladimir says. “Two of you? The tall Shah. You
got a tie for your hair?” Vladimir reaches in his pocket. “Never mind. Use
this.”

Shah takes the tie and makes a ponytail out of his hair.
I’m nervous just watching him, but he doesn’t look scared at all.

Demi helps Shah put on the harness, with instructions from
Vladimir.

“Not too tight, a little looser there. You have it about
right. Let’s hope he doesn’t fall out. I’m kidding. No?”

Vladimir finishes by putting padding around Shah’s ankles
and then he attaches big elastic bands around them.

Demi looks pale, so I go to her side and put my hand on her
shoulder.

“You look more nervous than he does,” I say.

“He’s, uh.” Demi doesn’t finish her sentence because Shah
has just jumped off the platform. We can hear him all the way down, shouting
out with joy.

“Now we have to get him back up,” Vladimir says.

 Once Shah is back on the platform, Vladimir ushers me
forward. He notices my bandaged hand and looks it over a couple of times.

“You good with your hand. You won’t need it for this.” He
drops my hand to the side and begins to strap on the harness. “Don’t think
about it too much.”

I glance at Shah who is busy telling Demi what a great time
he had.

Vladimir pads my ankles and straps the big rubber bands to
them.

“You ready Aria, my friend?” he asks.

“Nope,” I say. “But I’m going anyway.”

“Remember, fly like a bird. Wings out.” Vladimir adjusts my
arms. “Go.”

I rise up on my toes at the end of the platform. The warm
steam from the river below rises up all around me. I can see nothing but steam.
I feel like I am standing in a cloud. I take a deep breath and push myself off
the platform as if I am diving into a pool with outstretched arms.

I scream until the wind whips my breath away. I see nothing
and everything at once. The rocky side of the gorge. The steaming river.
Something red. My descent slows and then I go up again. I go up and down
several times before I feel Vladimir hoisting my rope to the top again.

“You like?” Vladimir asks.

That was the most amazing and spectacularly terrifying
thing that I have ever done.

“I want to do it again,” I say.

“Good for you,” Vladimir says. “But we got more to do. One
jump today.”

I watch the rest of the class as they fly off the bridge.
Demi does a good job, but she doesn’t want to do it again. The wind is cold.
The mist keeps us warm.

I get nervous when I see a group of scientists walk toward
the bridge. They must have arrived on the Vactrain. As they get closer, I
recognize the woman scientist who spoke to me in front of the restroom. She
makes eye contact with me and squints, shading her eyes from the sun. Before
she can figure out who I am, I hang my head low and turn my back toward her.
This must have worked because by the time class is over, all of the scientists
are gone.