Page 111 of The Commons

“Interesting. Who is Swin, then? The name you took?”

“It’s some random person out in Iowa.”

“Iowa?” She can’t help but chuckle at the randomness of Swin’s response.

Swin chuckles.

Levon continues to speak, growing comfortable in his presence, “Wow, so you’re not a murderer really, but you still stole someone’s name. You’re like a thief!”

“Yep. Hard core thief. And next, I’m gonna steal your heart.”

“Urgh, I’m gonna throw up, and it’s not because of the chip you’re inserting into my hands.”

Swin laughs. I on the other hand turn back to the computer, tense, the signal now working. I continue watching.

In Patron De Londe’s mansion, the atmosphere is cold and chilly. Patron De Londe pours tea into a cup. The only sound heard is the flow of each tea drop. He hands a cup to Pesh.

“Tea?”

Pesh stares at him, angry, silent. He does not accept it.

Patron De Londe continues to speak. “Guess not. It’s good. It’s really good. You know what it tastes like? It tastes like poison. That’s if you had accepted it, but it really tastes like—I spy with my little eye another spy in your midst. You’re trying to buy time. I’m trying to buy information.”

Pesh stands up, livid. He looks to Londe like an authority does to a criminal. “What are you talking about? What have you done!?”

Swin and Levon rush to the computer to join me, concerned with what they are hearing. I just now realize that Swin has just finished inserting the chip into Levon’s hands as my attention turns back to the screen.

“It’s not me, it’s you, and your people,” Patron De Londe continues. “You really didn’t think I didn’t have any spies in your midst?”

“What on earth is he talking about?” Levon asks.

Pesh sighs, confused. His forehead puckered as he tries to read what Londe is saying. “There is no spy in my midst, you’re wrong!”

“Okay, maybe I am wrong. Because she’s not really a spy—because she doesn’t know it. She’s a victim of my genius,” Londe hums.

“Who the hell is he talking about?” Swin erupts in shock.

Levon and I stare, worried.

“Since you won’t kill them, I will,” Londe says with a grin.

“Kill who, and how, and what!?” Pesh exclaims.

“One of the girls you took, Levon. She was in the experiment section of The Seventh Zone, and one of the guards, Gihard, had put an Evaperon on her. It’s a special tracker we’ve been working on. One that would be sensed in the most difficult of circumstances—such as whatever underground nonsense you’ve built to hide and transport those kids. One that you can’t just evape someone out of with an Evaporizer. Levon, of course, does not know. But Gihard wanted to be able to find her whenever he wanted for his own experiment, if you’re getting what I’m saying.”

No! This can’t be.

“Oh my God. It must have been a vaccine they gave me, or something Gihard did to me any of the times I passed out.” Levon sighs, infuriated, rubbing her hands on her face.

Like a spark, a flame, an explosion, Swin’s gaze shoots up—inflamed. His eyes turn to mine, striking Levon right after, his fists tightening as though controlling himself from returning back to The Seventh Zone and burning down whoever on earth Gihard is and his entire lineage. “Who the fuck is Gihard!?” he seethes. “That bastard in the⁠—”

“It’s nothing,” Levon dismisses, looking to the screen.

Just before Swin’s voice of compassion can break through his rage, Londe’s voice interrupts our gaze and attention, stilling the flame. For now.

But I notice Levon’s gaze drift past Swin, seeing the smoke of vengeance rising through every heightened breath he takes—even as his eyes pierce through the screen like lava.

“In order words, you picked the wrong student to save,” Londe pronounces.