Kill School: Slice (29 page)

“Mr. Wassillie has agreed to escort us to the Regulator’s
box,” Mom says. “You have to come now, Aria.”

“Vanessa and Mateo want to come, too,” I say.

“They won’t be allowed in the box,” Mom says with a sigh.
“Blood only.”

“Blood only?” I narrow my eyes at my mother. I don’t like
secrets.

Mom frowns at me. “You want to rescue Burke or not?” she
asks.

I purse my lips and clench my teeth. “I started this,” I
say. “And I’m going to finish it. Let’s go.”

“We’ll wait outside the door,” Vanessa says.

Mom glares at Vanessa and then waves to Vanessa’s mom who
has jumped to her feet."

“The best thing you can do for Burke is to go home,” Mom
says to Vanessa and Mateo. “You won’t be of any use to us and if you get hurt, Burke
will never forgive himself. Do you want that?”

Vanessa and Mateo shake their heads vigorously. Mom’s wrong
about them. I know better than to try to convince her otherwise.

“Can you head off Vanessa’s mom while I say goodbye?” I
ask. I frown-smile, which always works on Dad.

“Fine,” Mom snaps. “Short and sweet.” She squints as she
walks over to Vanessa’s mom.

The Vactrain is leaving soon. We don’t have much time. I
apologize for my mother’s words and make plans with Vanessa and Mateo. Our
plans are somewhat sketchy. For now, I think Burke is still in the Regulator’s
box. Mateo and Vanessa agree to wait outside the stadium in case Krish hauls
Burke up to his lab.

“There’s only one way to the lab,” I say. “Across the
bridge. If you wait there, I’ll find you.”

“What if we see Krish take Burke across?” Vanessa asks.

“Stay there,” I say. “I’m the only one who can kill him.”

Vanessa and Mateo look at me with wide eyes. There’s no
time to explain.

“Never mind,” I say. “Just trust me. Don’t do anything
without me. Don’t step a foot across that bridge unless I am there.”

I leave Vanessa and Mateo with a wary feeling and join my
mother who is chasing after Mr. Wassillie. Mom tells Dad and Sebastian to
escort Mateo and Vanessa to their parents and then to the Vactrain. She tells
my brother and father to wait for us there. Dad holds onto the flute as he
gives me one last hug. Sebastian touches my cheek and walks away with Dad.

“Let’s go,” Mom says to Mr. Wassillie.

Mr. Wassillie shakes out his robes and leads Mom and me
through the dwindling throng of parents and children. Last time I went to the
Regulator’s box, I felt excitement, eager anticipation at meeting all the
Regulators. This time, I feel dread. I can kill a Regulator after I complete
training camp. If I have to kill Krish before my lessons are over, I risk being
sent to control.

When we reach the Regulator’s box, Mr. Wassillie opens the
door. My legs feel as if they are encased in boulders. I can’t get them to
move. Mom nudges me in the spine to get me over the threshold.

My eyes dart across the room. Regulator Thorn and Halsted
stand together nearest the door. Immediately, Regulator Thorn sees us and comes
over with a surprised look on her face.

“Darling, how nice to see you,” Regulator Thorn says to Mom.
She kisses her on both cheeks.

I glance around the room in search of Burke. He’s not here.
Neither is Regulator Krish or Demi’s dad, Regulator Azarian. My stomach drops.
I’m wasting precious time. I have to get out of here.

Regulator Thorn and my mother exchange pleasant and phony
sounding greetings. I put my hand to my forehead while I try to figure out what
to do. I need information.

“She sees the resemblance,” Regulator Thorn says with a
thin smile. “She’s staring at me.”

I look from my mother to Regulator Thorn wondering what she
means. Seeing Regulator Thorn next to my mother. It’s obvious.

“
How come you never told
her?” Regulator Thorn asks. She pets my mother on her shoulder.

“Not now, Mother,” Mom says as she flicks Regulator Thorn’s
hand away.

My mouth drops open. Mother? I finally get the connection. I
am not ready for a family reunion.

“I’m your grandmother, Aria,” Regulator Thorn says. Her
voice is rich and thick. “Oh don’t look at me that way. I am not as ancient as
you think.”

“Frozen embryos,” Mom says. “Hundreds of years old, right
mother?”

“Don’t give away my secrets,” Regulator Thorn says. Her
eyes betray anger although her face remains pleasant.

I can’t be distracted by a family feud. This is too much. I
have to help Burke.

“Regulator Thorn, do you know where Burke is?” I ask.
“Krish sent for him.”

“Burke?” Regulator Thorn glances around the room. She has
an amazing grace, one that my mom inherited.

“I saw him with Krish earlier,” Regulator Thorn says. “I
don’t see Krish either. He was here a few minutes ago. He must have left when I
was saying goodbye to Regulator Azarian and his lovely children. Poor Jack.”

“Where’s the restroom,” I say. “I’m going to barf.”

I know they won’t let me use the Regulator’s private
restroom. They’ll send me down the hall. Just as I expect, Regulator Thorn
flutters her long lashes at me and points out the door.

“Aria,” Mom says. Her voice is filled with warning.

“Not now, Mom,” I say.

I cover my mouth, feeling like I might actually puke. I push
past Mr. Wassillie in his colorful regalia and head out the door. I’m vaguely aware
of two guards following me. Mr. Wassillie shouts for me to stop. I don’t have a
hall pass. Mom shouts at Mr. Wassillie. I can’t stop. I have to run.

I pound down the steps of the stadium and away from the
Regulator’s box. I take the steps two at a time and trip. I slide down the last
flight on my rear and jump to my feet. I hear the guards stomping down the
stairs. They are still after me. I have to keep going.

I dash out into the stadium’s field and cut across it,
hoping to get lost in the few remaining people. I jog past Erwin and Jane, and
dodge Vanessa and Mateo’s parents before they spot me. I don’t see my friends
or Dad and Sebastian. Their absence scares me. The buzzing noise of the
microdrones scares me even more. The tiny machines are alert and alive to my
movements.

Outside,
the cold weather and the bright sunlight hits me like a slap in the face.
Barely any parents are left and dozens of guards remain, making me stick out
more than I want to. Three of the guards have noticed me and are walking toward
me. I wish I hadn’t rushed out of the stadium so fast. I have no chance of
sneaking back to campus and up to the lab now.

Suddenly, two of the guards drop to the ground and the
third stumbles over them. I notice large pine needles sticking out of their
necks.

“Over here,” Vanessa yells.

I follow the sound of her voice to see her and Mateo
standing behind a clump of trees. My friends took down the guards. They are
going to be in serious trouble when this is over. I glance at the sky, hoping
that there aren’t too many microdrones around. Thankfully, they all seem to be
buzzing toward the Vactrain and the exiting families.

I do my best to pretend to be a scientist before any more
guards spot me. I’ll just pretend I’m going to work to get my things. Test
tubes. Chemical Formulas. The boy in the lab. I’ve almost reached Vanessa and
Mateo when I run into a big bundled-up figure.

The giant man in front of me grabs me by the shoulders.

“Let me go,” I shout.

The man pulls down his scarf. I recognize his bushy
eyebrows and red cheeks immediately.

“It’s me,” Vladimir says.

“Where’s Burke?” I ask.

“They just took him onto the bridge,” Vladimir says.

My heart flutters. He’s near. I have time, but not much.

“Help me get past the guards,” I say.

Vladimir looks at the dozen guards in front of the bridge
and takes my hand.

“Come with me,” he says. “Act sick.”

Act sick.
I’m always
acting sick. I’m always feeling sick. I can’t wait to get out of this circus. I
can’t wait to go home.

I hold my ribs and double over as we march toward the bridge.
I glance back at Vanessa and Mateo, but can’t see them anymore. When we reach
the bridge, I see Burke’s pompom hat and a man with a purple cloak surrounded
by several guards. Seeing Burke with Krish makes bile rise in my throat.

I spew on the ground just as we reach the guards.

“Let us through,” Vladimir says. “This girl needs the
infirmary before she gets on the train.”

“No can do,” one of the guards says. “No students can
cross.”

I bend toward the guard’s boot and make another wrenching
sound. He quickly moves his book away.

“She can’t take a train ride without stomach help,”
Vladimir says.

Suddenly, a shot rings through the air. Startled, the
guards draw their guns and look around. They push Vladimir and me to the side
and rush toward a tall boy with curly brown hair. Sebastian. My brother.

“I can’t take it anymore,” Sebastian yells. He’s swinging a
gun over his head. “Too many of my friends have died.”

Where did Sebastian get a gun? He’s going to be in trouble
for that. If he lives.

“Sedate him,” a guard yells. Another one raises a weapon. I
hope it’s a stun gun.

 “Come on,” Vladimir says. “Now’s our chance.”

“My brother,” I say. I can’t make a choice between Burke
and Sebastian.

“Go,” screams Sebastian. The guards think he’s shouting at
them, but I know it’s for me. A guard aims his gun at my brother and shoots.

Vladimir pulls me onto the bridge as I see my brother drop
to the ground. As he drops, a swarm of microdrones arrives.

I must have faith that Sebastian is alive. Nothing less
than faith will bring my feet forward. Two guards approach us. Vladimir tells
me to get to Burke and then runs towards them. I watch my brother. He moans and
rolls over. That’s all my feet need to start running.

The warm mist stabs at my cold face and stings my eyes. My
feet feel as if they will slip under me on the glass surface. I use the rail of
the bridge as a guide and jog forward. Even though it is day, the heavy clouds
and thick mist make it hard to see.

I blink a few times and see Burke, with his wool sweater
and pompom hat, haloed in a cloud of mist. He’s half way across the bridge.
Right next to Burke, dragging him along, is a purple-robed Krish. If Burke
wanted to cross the bridge on his own, Krish wouldn’t be dragging him over it.

I grasp the switchblade in my vest pocket and run forward.
I am my mother’s daughter. I am slice.

Burke’s arms are pinned behind his back as if they are tied
together.

“Burke,” I scream.

I no longer care if they see me. I want them to see me. I
want them to stop.

Burke turns and twists out of Krish’s grip. He runs towards
me, but slides on the slick bridge and falls to his knees. Krish turns and
shouts at Burke. Guards from the far side of the bridge watch us. They don’t
yet know what’s going on. They don’t understand that I am trying to rescue
Burke.

I run toward Burke with the switchblade in my hand, ready
to press the button that releases the blade. By the time I reach Burke, he is
back on his feet.

“Cut the rope,” Burke says. He shoves his tied hands toward
me.

I press the button on the switchblade and watch the silver
blade emerge from its sheath. Regulator Krish catches up to us, straightens his
back, and thrusts out his chest. I realize how small Krish is, a few inches
shorter than I am.

I grab the rope around Burke’s hands and pause. I’m scared
to stick the double-sided blade between the rope and Burke’s flesh.

“It’s so nice to see you, Aria,” Krish says. “But you
really must go home now.”

“Not without Burke,” I say.

Burke steps backwards towards the rail of the bridge.

“Aria, cut the rope,” Burke says. His voice is urgent and
annoyed.

Two guards from the far side of the bridge stroll forward.
Krish sees them and motions for them to join us. The rail feels cold and icy on
my back. The updraft from the wind rising out of the gorge below blows my hair
into my face.

“Come on, Aria,” Regulator Krish says. He extends his hand.
“I am sure your mother is waiting.”

“No,” I say.

I touch the knife to the rope around Burke’s wrists and
manage to cut through several layers. The knife is sharper than I expected it
to be.

Regulator Krish steps closer to us, his purple robe blowing
in the wind. The two guards have almost reached us.

Krish glances at the guards and sneers.

“You won’t get anywhere once the guards reach us,” he says.

“Yes we will,” I say. “I’ll tell them you are trying to
kill Burke.”

Krish blinks rapidly. “You think they will believe
you
?
I am a Regulator, Aria. Or have you forgotten?”

Burke frees himself from the rope. At the same time, a
guard raises his gun and points it at us.

“Come on,” Burke says. He grabs my hand and we run away
from Krish.

Vladimir is still holding off the other guards at the end
of the bridge. There are too many of them. Soon, guards will be coming at us
from both ends. It is hopeless. I have no choice.

I stop in my tracks and turn to Burke.

“I have to use my token,” I say. “I have to kill Krish.”

Burke looks both ways down the bridge. From his stone-cold
face, I can tell he sees the same thing I do. The guards will be upon us from
either side. They’ll surround us. I’ll get to go home. Burke will end up in
Krish’s lab.

Burke grabs me and pulls me onto the bungee jumping
platform, still extended from when Jane tried to kill herself.

“If you kill Krish,” he pauses to make sure I am paying
attention. “They’ll be a debriefing. You may go to control.”

“But I may not,” I say. I tighten my grip on the
switchblade.

Burke pulls me into his arms and brushes the hair from my
face.

“You
may
not with the right defense,” he says. “But
it’s too risky. I can’t let you do it.”

Krish reaches us. He steps onto the platform.

“Come on Burke,” Krish says. “You know what’s best for
Aria. You know what’s best for the world. You agreed to help.”

“I didn’t agree to die,” Burke says.

“A technicality,” Krish says. He draws a small revolver
from his pocket. “I was going to kill you later. I might as well do it now.”

Krish points the gun at Burke. I hear the buzz of the
microdrones, but don’t see them in the fog. A red dot appears on Burke’s forehead.
A guard reaches Krish’s side. I can’t think. I have to be calm. I breathe
deeply and channel my mother. I am Aria Nova. I am slice.

“Just in time,” Krish says to the guard. “When he is dead,
I want you to take him to the lab with us.”

I try to step in front of Burke, but he won’t let me.

“I can’t let you die,” I whisper.

“I can’t let you go to control,” Burke says.

“Get out of the way, Aria,” Krish says. “Your grandmother
would be furious with me if I hurt you.”

I have no choice. I step toward Krish. The guard takes my
place next to Burke, grabs Burke’s arm, and slugs him in the stomach. Burke
lurches over, but doesn’t fight back. He’s doing this for me. I can’t let him.

Krish comes up next to me.

“You can’t help Burke,” Regulator Krish says. “Go home.”

“Yes, I can,” I say. “I am my mother’s daughter.”

Krish’s mouth slackens and he lifts his eyebrows. The wind
whips his robe high in the air. Now’s my chance.

I push the knife under Regulator Krish’s bottom rib and
feel the blade pierce his skin. I push hard to make sure the blade reaches his
heart. I try not to think about the sound the knife makes as it slides through
Krish’s body, or the repugnant smell of blood. I am not the killing type. I am
a murderer.

Blood oozes out of Krish’s wound and covers my hand, my
arm, and my jeans. 

Krish staggers backwards with a shocked look on his face. I
hold the knife in my hand in case I need to stab more. I am not the killing
type. The knife shakes in my hand. Krish. Please die.

Burke struggles out of the stunned guard’s grasp and rushes
to my side. Regulator Krish grasps the rail for balance.

“What did you do?” Krish asks. His eyes are bloodshot, as
if every vein in his body has exploded and the blood is trying to find a way
out. Any way out.

“I terminated you,” I say. I hold up my wrist so that
Regulator Krish can see my bracelet. “With my amethyst token.”

Regulator Krish’s eyes flutter as he collapses into the
guard’s arms. The guard is stunned, frozen by my actions and the knife wound in
Krish’s’ heart. I know the feeling. Death up close is unbelievable and
stunningly painful.

The guard flips open her visor and our eyes connect. A
woman. Her agony reflects back the feelings I had when Jack was shot. She will
blame herself for Krish’s death. She will feel guilty for the rest of her life.

I am vaguely aware that someone is shaking me.

“Aria,” Burke says. “Snap out of it. I have to go.”

I feel a hand on my back and lurch forward, pointing my
knife at any movement.

I turn to see Vladimir staring at me. He’s next to my
mother.

“Vladimir told me everything,” Mom says as she wraps a
protective arm around me. “How come you didn’t tell me about your amethyst
token?”

I turn to Burke.

“How does Vladimir know?” I ask.

Burke brings me into his arms and hugs me. I smell campfire
and blood. Vladimir glances at my knife. I wipe the blood on my pants, retract
the blade, and put it in my mom’s vest. I am done with killing. Forever.

“Burke we have to go,” Vladimir says. He yanks Burke’s
sweater. “We don’t have much time. They’ll never let us escape this one.
They’ll blame us for everything.”

“I know,” Burke says.

I glance down the bridge, toward the stadium, expecting to
see guards rushing toward us. Instead, I see a pile of guards on the ground and
a cloud of microdrones above them. No wonder there aren’t any around us.

“Vanessa and Mateo’s work,” Vladimir says. “And a little
bit of mine.” He chuckles. “More will come any second. Some of the guards don’t
appreciate Burke as much as we do.”

Vladimir gestures down the other side of the bridge, toward
Kill School. More guards are coming this way. Tears well in my eyes and I bite
my lip as Burke presses his cheek against mine.

“Your mother will keep you safe,” Burke whispers. I can
feel the pain in his voice. He presses his lips to my forehead. “I’ll see you
at your debriefing. Don’t worry about anything.”

“I’m going to worry about everything,” I say. Tears sting
my eyes.

Burke takes both of my hands and kisses my fingers. “So am
I.”