begin the questions. Why do you wish to join the Order?”
“I want to create a better world for the gifted.”
That’s not a lie, but it does make me think this boy is likely with the rebels. Ringing fills my ears. I want to alert Peter, but there’s nothing I can do without signaling to “Holt” that I’ve caught on to him.
I force myself to smile once more. “I can understand that. In what capacities would you be willing and able to assist the Order?”
“I can fight,” he says. “I’ll fight with the Order against the rebels until we reach peace.”
Another lie. “You’re against the rebels, then?”
“Of course.”
“And you’ve never been part of their organization?”
“Never.”
Lies, lies, lies. There’s no point keeping up this charade any longer. I ready the blade up my sleeve before I murmur, “You’re not a very good liar, are you? Tell me, are you here to spy on the Order for the rebels?”
He stares at me dumbly for half a heartbeat. Then he lunges at me.
I duck underneath his outstretched arms and roll off my chair, landing in a crouch on my feet. He follows, thrusting a dagger toward my chest. Someone shouts. I dodge behind him and swing my leg at the backs of his knees. He isn’t fast enough to react. He falls.
Before he has the chance to recover, I grab his arm and shove him face-first onto the floor, twisting the arm behind him and shoving my knee into his back to keep him down. As soon as he’s incapacitated, I grab his other arm so he can’t try anything. The dagger clatters out of his grip.
“You’re slow,” I say. A lot slower than Lai and Al, who I’ve been practicing with for the past several months. I didn’t even need my knife. “Peter?”
“Already on it; he can’t use his gift,” Peter says as he walks toward us. He holds up a wrist, the bracelet strung with power crystals on it in clear display—including the neutralization crystal he received from Gabriel. A story Lai was sad to tell.
The potential recruits are talking, but I don’t take the time to distinguish what’s being said.
“It’s the first time we’ve caught a rebel spy,” Peter says.
“What should we do with him?” I ask.
“Let me go,” the boy snarls. He struggles to get loose beneath me. I tighten my grip.
“Not a bad idea,” Peter says thoughtfully.
I raise my eyebrows at him.
“Why don’t you go back and report your failure to Ellis?” Peter asks the boy. He crouches by his head so they can see each other clearly. “Tell her we aren’t going to let you or anyone else slip through our ranks. She can try as much as she wants, but she’s going to fail. Consider this a warning. We’ll let you live, but the next person isn’t going to be so lucky.” Peter’s eyes narrow. “And if you try anything funny on your way out, this isn’t going to end so well for you. We have a deal?”
The boy doesn’t say anything. Despite his bravado, I can sense his fear on my grid. He doesn’t want to die. Finally, he nods.
I reluctantly release my grip on him and get up so he can stand.
He does, hesitantly. He looks back at me and Peter, and for a heartbeat, I think he’s going to attempt attacking again after all. However, he turns and races out the apartment door. I track his presence on my grid as he runs and runs, never once pausing. I keep an eye on him just in case he doubles back to attempt following us later.
Peter turns to our still-muttering assembly. They fall quiet when he speaks. “Sorry for the interruption, folks. But I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we’re in the middle of a war—one that the Order is actively participating in. One that you will soon be participating in if you decide to join us, however directly or indirectly. If you’re afraid, you’re free to leave.”
When I look back at our small group, it’s to see Father half-standing from his chair. At first, I think it’s because he’s preparing to leave. Then I realize from his posture that he’s been standing and that his presence is a bright red-orange of alarm. Was he frightened by the spy? No, it’s not quite fear he’s feeling. Was he … worried about me?
He sits back down as I continue to watch him. He won’t meet my eyes.
“All right, we’re going to