Surely.
When I finally come out again, Zesi’s standing right outside the door. He holds his buzz screen in my face, so close the words blur. “What the hell?” he says.
“What? What is that?” I pluck the buzz screen from his hand before he can protest, take a closer look for myself.
Do not tell them the truth, the message on the screen reads,or one of you will be the next to die. The virus has mutated, and it’s getting worse: that’s the official word.
“Zesi...” A chill races up my spine, splintering like ice between the bones. “Whatisthis?”
My eyes shift on instinct up to the name at the top:Mila Harper.
“What were you doing in the bathroom?” he asks, a vaguely accusing tone to his voice that’s completely unlike him. “Do you have your buzz with you?”
For a split second I’m speechless. “Are you implying thatIsent this?” I shoot back. “How do I knowyoudidn’t send it?”
“That’s not an answer.”
The clothes I’m wearing right now have only three pockets, total, and I turn all of them out. “I left my buzz on the control board, where I’ve been sitting all night. Check the facilities if you want, but you’re not going to find anything.”
I don’t ask him to turn his pockets out—he’s not stupid. Far from it, actually. If he’s somehow the one behind this message, not to mention everything else, the evidence will be long gone by now.
He beats me to the control board, holds my buzz up so I can see it. “Looks like you got it, too.”
A second message flashes onto the screen while he’s holding it—from Haven this time.What the eff is this message? Tell me I’m not the only one who got this?A screenshot pops up right on its heels, identical to the one Zesi and I received.
I take my buzz screen from Zesi, type out:I got it, and Zesi did, too. Same exact thing.I hit enter, then add,Try to sleep a little more before your shift, k? No luck here yet.
She writes back immediately:How am I supposed to sleep when Mila is haunting us from beyond the dead????? x.X
Srsly, you need to try, I type out but delete it immediately; it’s likely to rub her the wrong way, especially at this hour. I decide to go withIf you figure it out, let me know when you get hereinstead.
I sit down on my stool, bury my face in my hands.Do not tell them the truth, or one of you will be the next to die.I could spin out another theory: Did someone plant a bug here in Control? Did someone plant a bug on one ofus? Could someone have figured out how to eavesdrop through... the pipes? But at this point, it only seems like a way to put off the truth I’m so reluctant to accept.
Only the six of us were in this room tonight.
Only the six of us know about our plans to come clean with the station.
One of the six of us sent this message. One of the six of usis willing to kill a close friend in order to keep their secret safe.
This... I... I can’t.
I didn’t think it could get worse. This isbeyondworse.
“What, so we’re just... not going to talk about this?” Zesi says. His blueprints and diagrams have gone dark, and he’s pacing pacing pacing pacing. He’s frantic, and I wish I could go back to trusting what’s right in front of my eyes instead of assuming everything is a vicious lie.Someoneis a vicious liar, that’s the only thing I know for sure.
I have to get out of here.
“No.” My reply is sharp and short.
I zip my zipper all the way up to my neck, tug my hood up over my head so there’s nothing in my peripheral vision. I want to disappear.
“What are you going to do?” he asks. “What are you going to tell everyone?”
The doors slide closed, eating his words.
56
FEAR IS A PILE OF FEATHERS
