Graduation Day

Class ends. I turn in my homework, write down the instructions for this week’s assignment, and move on to my next class: Chemistry.

Raffe sits next to me. My heart pounds as the seconds count down. Stacia said I should seize the first opportunity that presents itself. This is it.

Somehow I am able to stand without trembling when class ends. My voice is dispassionate when I ask Raffe if he has a minute to talk.

“Are you okay?” he asks after the other students head out of the room. “You look upset.”

“Are you going back to the residence now?”

“I was planning on it. Do you want to walk back with me?”

“I can’t.” I wait for the last student to leave before saying, “I have to meet somebody, but I don’t want to take something with me while I do. It’s too important.” I open my bag and remove the metal box I created.

“What is it?” He turns the device over in his hands.

“It’s a recording Tomas found. One that might be helpful in ending everything—if I can get it to the president.” I take a deep breath. “I’m hoping the restriction against leaving campus will be lifted by tomorrow and I can get it to her then, but I don’t want to have it on me now in case something goes wrong at this meeting. I’d give it back to Tomas, but—”

“I have it covered,” Raffe assures me. “But it sounds like wherever you’re going might be dangerous. Are you sure you should be going alone? Maybe you should let me—”

“I’ll be fine. This is something I have to do by myself. But I need you to promise me that you won’t play the message. The recording device sounds faulty. I’m worried the pulse signal might not hold up for more than one additional play.” A tempting opportunity for someone who is looking to aid Symon and Dr. Barnes. Tracking down the recordings of The Testing should have proved that Raffe and I have the same goals. But there is a chance that he learned through his father about Symon and the false rebellion and knew those recordings would eventually be destroyed. If he plays this recording, I will know where his loyalties lie. And if he gives it to someone else to play, they will pay the price. Either way, I will have the answer I seek.

A flicker of annoyance crosses Raffe’s face. Almost as quickly as it appears, it is gone. “Are you at least going to tell me what’s on it? Or is that information only for you and your boyfriend?”

“I’ll tell you everything later tonight. Everything,” I stress, meeting his angry eyes. “I promise.”

I see the anger fade. “Okay,” he says, “then I promise too. Take care of yourself and don’t forget what you just said. I’m holding you to it.”

I watch him tuck the device I created into his bag, and I wonder if this is the last time we will see each other. The explosive I built is much like the ones my father and brothers used in their work when they needed to break apart rock. The amount of powder I used should severely injure or kill. If Raffe decides to listen and potentially eliminate the message he believes is there, he’ll flip the switch, turn the dial, and draw a spark from the wires that should ignite the powder I created.

Raffe and I walk out of the building together. As he heads toward the residence with the device, I picture the paper and powder igniting and then the blast. I want to run after him and take the device back, but I remember Stacia’s words. That which is wrong is sometimes necessary. As I turn and walk in the other direction, I wonder if The Testing officials tell themselves that too.

The sun is bright. The warmer weather combined with the brisk walk makes me sweat. Surrounding me are signs that spring has come to Tosu City. Greener grass. Buds transforming into leaves and flowers preparing to bloom. All signs of hope.

I cling to that hope as I check the tracking monitor. Both devices are close by. One looks as if it is near the Government Studies residence—Raffe. The other is somewhere southeast of my position. I would guess that Ian is at the library. Regardless, I know he is still on campus. Taking that as a good omen, I pick up my pace as I head for the stadium and the greenhouse that sits at its center.

Long ago, the structure was used for sports events, but after the Seven Stages of War, scientists needed a controlled environment in which to plant and cultivate their new specimens. Since this building had no logical purpose in the new culture of revitalization, the country’s top botanists enclosed the open space in the center of the structure with glass to create an enormous greenhouse and modified the surrounding rooms within the outer ring to function as genetics labs. Depending on the day, this area can be filled with activity as students, biologists, and various officials go about their work. Without internships compelling students to work, the building appears to be deserted.

I check the pulse radio recorder to see if Tomas has left a message as to where exactly he wants me to find him, but the light is not illuminated. While the stadium seems to be a good place to meet, it is huge. Just inside the front entrance seems like the most logical place, so I head in that direction.

As I walk, I turn on the Transit Communicator in case Zeen has news. When he doesn’t answer my call, I look around to see if anyone is nearby and looking my way. No one. I have toured this building, but I have had little need to use it—although Tomas has. After being assigned to Biological Engineering, he was forced to go through a potentially deadly Induction test here. Of all the designated fields of study, Biological Engineering most often works in this building, which is why it makes sense that Tomas wants to meet here.