Page 56 of Rite of Unity

She set the vial of blood down on the tray, wrapping a small white band around it.

“Give me your hand.”

I held out my free hand, and she laid it over hers on my arm.“Hold this here for fifteen minutes.Collect an orange on your way out.”

I slid from the seat, pressing down on my arm, my steps light as I strode the long hall.At the end, the man who had come to collect me held out a bit of tape, and I pressed it over my cloth.

“Here you are.”He handed me a perfectly round orange and I stared at it.

“I can have it?”

The corner of his mouth turned up.“It’s for the blood loss.”

I wrapped my hands around it, lifting it to my nose and inhaling deeply.An orange.My very first orange.

***

I slid into the back of a gray sedan, turning to stare out the back window.Mama waved, her hand swinging wildly.Dad wrapped his arms around her, pulling her hand down and whispering something in her ear.

I watched, my bag clutched tightly in my lap, until we disappeared around a corner and my home and my old life were out of view.I might never see them again.

I turned around, facing forward.Beyond the inner wall was a life I’d only ever seen on TV.

A window between me and the front rolled down.I spun around.

“Lucen?”

He tossed a black folder over the glass, and I caught it.

“You passed.”

He glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

“She took care of it.Just like I knew she would.”

I sat back, tucking the folder into my bag.

“How?”

He rounded another corner, accelerating.

“The less you know, the better.”

I nodded, looking out the window.Ahead, the wall drew nearer.It was tall enough that the sky was no longer visible.Even in the Middle, it had been my backdrop my whole life.The impenetrable barrier that kept our most fertile soil and fresh water safe.

My thumb found the edge of my nails and ran over them.Back.Forth.Back.Forth.

My gaze shot to Lucen.I studied his profile.I wanted to ask him what he was talking to Mama about the day I’d overheard them in the hall.I wanted to ask him a lot of things.

“Our man on the inside—he didn't place you.Elias chose you himself.”

I stilled.“What.”

Lucen didn’t look up.“You're in.That's what matters.We proceed.”

I said nothing, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

He glanced up.“Trust yourself.You’ve been preparing for this your whole life.”