by Jenna Moreci
backpocket.Threeenvelopes.Six.Eleven.Onebyone,thestudentstoreopen
theblacksealsandreadoverthepiecesofparchmentinside.Then,like
clockwork,eachstudent’seyeslefttheembossedpaperandmadetheirwayto
Eve,staringatherasshewalkedby.
Shit, she thought. Could it be another slanderous flyer? Had someone concoctedanewmethodoftorture?Shequickenedherpace,eagertorid
herselfofthepesteringglancesandescapetheprisonthatRutherfordHallhad
become.Thedoortothecourtyardopenedbeforeher,andforasecondshefelt
free.
“SHE’SBACK!THECHIMERAISBACK!”
Evegroaned.Howcouldshehaveforgottentheprotestors?
Withaglower,sheforcedherwaythroughthemob.Countlesshands
grabbed at her hair and clothing, nearly ripping her blouse at the seams and yankingherfromsidetoside.Shegrowledandtoreherbodyfromtheir
graspsassheshovedherwaytotheoppositeendofthecourtyard.Shedidn’t
evenbothertoadjustherdisheveledclothesorcombhertousledhair;instead
she focused on her anger, her deep, pulsing resentment, and the slow, steady blackeningofhervision.
“Eve!”
Armaanhurriedtowardher,hischeerfulsmileenoughtothawhericy animosity.Butashereachedherside,hisfacedroppedtoaperplexedfrown.
“Whathappenedtoyourface?”heasked.
Evehadhardlyevennoticedthestingingofhercheek.Shequicklywipedher
faceandlookeddownatherhand—blood.Shepulledoutherpocketmirror
andeyedthethreeoozingscratchmarksthatgracedhercheekbone.
Shesighed.“Youknowthedrill.People loveme.”
“Sorry,Eve.”
Eveloweredherhead.“IheardthepatrolmenconfiscatedtheInterloper
body.”ShelookedbackatArmaan,hereyesbrimmingwithguilt.“Wehadto
offerFurst something. Itwasourbestbargainingchip.”
“I know. I get it. Besides, they didn’t take everything.” He fumbled with his shoulderbagandpulledoutasmallcontainerfilledwithadull,beige-colored
slime.
Evegrimaced.“Yousavedthe skin?”
“Ihadtokeep something.Theyweresodistractedwiththebody,Ijustswipedit whiletheyweren’tlooking.”
“Butwhyareyoucarryingitaroundwithyou?”
“Youcan’tbetoocareful.”Heanxiouslyglancedfromsidetosideand
shovedthejarbackintohisbag.“I’mkeepingthisbabyonmeat alltimes.It’s neverleavingmysight.”
“Doyoueventhinkwecanlearnanythingfromit?Imean,it’sjustgoo.”
“Whoknows?”Heshrugged.“ButI’mgoingtokeeprunningtestsonit.I’ve gotnothingelsetodowithmyfreetime.”Hepouted.“It’snotlikeI’mgoingto
beinthemedicalprogramanytimesoon.”
“Screwthemedicalprogram.”Eveofferedhimasympatheticsmile.“We
needyou:Jason,Percy,Sancho,andme.Billington’slossisourgain.”
Armaanblushedasheheadedofftoclass,grinningtheentireway.Eve
chuckledtoherself,enchantedbyherfriend’sinnocence,buthergoodspirits
vanishedwhensheenteredthebusinessbuilding;hergutchurnedatthesightof
evenmorewhiteenvelopes,tuckedintoshoulderbagsandpockets,their
owners all looking at her with the same curious gaze. In the distance she spotted Jason and Percy strolling down the hallway, and in Percy’s hand was yetanotherenvelope.
“Hey,Eve,”Percycalledout,urginghertojointhem.“IhearyoumetMr.
andMrs.Dick-squeeze.”
Shefurrowedherbrow.“Huh?”
“Jason’sparents.They’reaboutaspleasantasarootcanal,amIright?”
“Percy,”Jasonmuttered,noddinghisheadatEve,“canwehaveaminute?”
“Yougotit.”Heshuffledofftoclasswithasmirk,pausingforasecondat
Eve’s side. “By the way, that look they have—you know, the one where they lookliketheysmelledpiss?Theygivethatlookto everyone.Don’tworry.”
“Percy,leave. Now,”Jasongroaned.AsPercystruttedaway,herolledhiseyes.
“Eve—”Hestoppedshort,squinting.“What’sonyourcheek?”
Everanherhandacrosshercheekbone;shehadforgottenaboutthescratches, whichwerenowtender,swollenscabs.
“GotcaughtupinthatmoboutsideRutherfordHall.Someoneleftmea
souvenir.”
“Assholes, ”hehissed.
“Jason,I’mfine.”
Hesighed.“Look,aboutlastnight,Iamso, sosorryforwhathappened.Idon’t thinkIcanapologizeenough.”
“Itwasn’tsobad.”Eveforcedasmile.“BetterthananInterloper
interruption,right?”
“Hardly,”hemuttered.“Ijustcan’tbelievethem—thenervetheyhave.They
practicallydisownmewhileI’mstuckinthemedicalward,andthentheyshow
upherewithouttheslightestwarning.”
“Doyouknowwhytheycame?”
“Unfortunately.”Hesiftedthroughhisshoulderbagandpulledout
somethingveryfamiliar—asinglewhiteenvelope.HehandedittoEve.“Open
it.”
EveglancedhesitantlyatJasononcemorebeforetearingatthepaperand
unfoldingthestationerywithin.Withrelief,shesawthatthecontentswerefar
fromslanderous,butshequicklyfoundherselfperplexedasshereadand
rereadthetext:
Youarecordiallyinvitedto
JasonA.Valentine’s21stBirthdayCelebration
ANightBestSpentinBlack&White
“It’sablack-and-whiteball,”heexplained,hiswordsdrippingwith
irritation.“God,Idon’tevenknowhowmyparentscomeupwiththisgarbage.
‘ ANightBestSpentinBlackandWhite’—it’senoughtomakemepuke.”
EvelookedupatJason.“Idon’tunderstand.Isthistheirwayof
apologizing?”
“Noteven.Morelikedamagecontrol.Alotofimportantpeoplewillbe
there, not to mention the press. Everyone’s dying to know how the senator ’s chimerasonturnedout.”Hecrossedhisarmsandleanedagainstthewall.
“Thiswholethingismyparents’attemptatprovingtotheworldthatI’mjust
liketherestofthem—thatI’mnormalandpresentable,eventhoughI’ma
chimera.”Hescowled.“It’spathetic.”
“Thenwhydoit?Whyagreetothisparty?”
“It’salreadydone.Theseinvitationswereprintedweeksago.”Hechuckled,
almostamusedbytherepugnanceofthesituation.“Theonlythingleftontheir
to-dolistwastotell meaboutmyowndamnparty.”
Evegrabbedhishandandsqueezeditaffectionately,andinresponse,aseries
ofgaspssoundedbehindher.Asmallgroupofstudentshadcongregated
nearby,observingthemlikevisitorsgawkingatanimalsinazoo.
“Idon’tgetit,”shemumbled.“Allthepeopleyouinvited—”
“Holdup— Ididn’tinvitethem.”
“That’snotthepoint.Your guestskeepstaringatme.Imean,evenmorethan usual.”
Jasonhesitated.“Well,that’sprobablybecauseI’mexpectedtobringadate.”
Hepausedandlookedherintheeye.“Iwashopingthatcouldbeyou.”
AwaveofheatwashedoverEve’sface,andhercheeksflushedabright
shadeofpink.Sheglancedovertheinvitationoncem
oreandsighed.
“Itsaysblacktie.”
“Yeah.So?”
Shegrabbedthetiearoundherneckandfrowned.“Well,unlesstheyliterally
mean a blacktie,I’mtotallyscrewed.”
Jasonlaughed.“YoucanwearablacktrashbagforallIcare.Orawhiteone.
Justbethere.”
“Idon’tknow.Youbringinganotherchimera—andnotjustanychimera,but
theChimera Bitch…Whatwillyourparentssay?”
Hesmirked.“DoyoureallythinkIcarewhatmyparentshavetosay?Look,
I don’t want this party. I don’t want the press or the attention, and I certainly don’twantmyparentsortheirfriendsthere.AllIwantisfor youtobemydate.
Havingyoubymysidewouldmaketheeveningahellofalotlessmiserable.”
Evelookeddownatherinvitationoncemore,inparttoescapeJason’sgaze.
The whole thing was detestable—the party, its purpose, and the look of sheer dreadonJason’sface—andyet,despiteitall,Evefoundherselftheslightestbit excited.
“Fine,”shefinallysaid.“Youtwistedmyarm.”
“Good.”Hesmiled.“Savethedate:NovembertenthintheRutherford
Ballroom.It’llbethemoststuffy,boringtwenty-firstbirthdaypartyyou’llever attend.”Hebackedawayandwinked.“Ihavetorun,butI’msureI’llseeyou
later.”
Jasonsauntereddownthehallway,leavingEvealonewithherflurryof
nerves and the cluster of onlookers still gaping from afar. She shoved the invitation into her shoulder bag, and as she turned away from the spectators, shediscoveredanewhurdlebeforeher:asmallgirlwithlarge,greyeyes.
“Lookatyoulovebirds,”Haydenmumbled.“It’sgross,watchingthetwoof
you.Ifeelnauseatedalready.”
Eveignoredthegirl,walkingrightpastherassheheadedforclass.
Undeterred,Haydenscuttledbehindher.
“Hey!I’mtalkingtoyou!”ShescamperedtoEve’sside,finallymanagingto
keeppacewithherlong-leggedstride.“HaveyouseenMadisonlately?”
Everolledhereyes.“Whywould Ihaveseenher,ofallpeople?”
“Well,youdo livetogether,”shescoffed.“God,you’redumb.”
Evesighed,alreadygrowingimpatientwiththepint-sizedlackey.“We’re
hardlyeverinourdormatthesametime.Shemakesherselfscarce.”
“Soyoudidn’tseeherlastnight?”
Eveshookherhead.“Ijustassumedshewaswithyou.You’reattachedatthe
hip,afterall.”
Haydenflippedherthinhairoverhershoulders.“Wehadplans.Aslumber party,actually.Facialmasks,gossip—youknow, bestfriendstuff.”Shepouted.
“Butshedidn’tshow…Iwaitedforhours.Ihaven’tseenherallmorning
either.”
“Maybeshefoundanewbestfriend. Again,”Evesmirked.
Haydengrimaced.“Yourfacelooksbarftastic,bytheway.”Shewiggledher
noseandstormedintotheirclassroom,promptlyslammingthedoorinEve’s
face.
Evemutteredtoherselfandstartedtoopentheclassroomdoor,butasmall
handjuttedforwardandslammeditshutyetagain.ItwasJJwhonowblocked
Eve’s path, leaning against the door with a stony glower plastered across her face.
“Weneedtotalk.”Shepaused.“Youknow,yougotsomethin’onyourface
—”
“I know,” Eve groaned, “and for the love of God, JJ, leave me alone. I don’t wanttobeyourfriend.”
“Idon’tgiveashitaboutyourfriendshipanymore.It’sbiggerthanthat
now.”
“Whatareyou talkingabout?”
JJglancedaroundthehallway.“Weshoulddiscussthisinprivate.”
“No,JJ.I’mnotgoinganywherewithyou.”
JJcrossedherarms.“Fine.”Shescowled.“Wecantalkaboutthe Interlopers
righthere,rightnow.”
Eve’seyeswidenedanddartedfromsidetoside.“Jesus,notsoloud!”
JJleanedincloserandloweredhervoicetoawhisper.“Iknowwhatyou’re
doing,Eve.Iknowyou’retryingtotrackthemdown.”
“You what?”
“Iwantin.”
“No,”Evebarked.“Absolutelynot.”
“Youneedmyexpertise—”
“Your expertise?God,you’recocky—”
“I’ma hacker,Eve!”JJspat,herfaceredwithanger.
Evepaused.“Ahacker?”
“Yes.Acomputerhacker.God,howelsecouldIhavefoundoutaboutyour
plan? Not like you made it difficult. I mean, really? Doing research for a covertmissiononyourunprotected,piece-of-shitscratchpad?Whatisthis,
amateurhour?”
“You hackedmyscratchpad?”
“AndJason’s.Wasn’thardtoconnectthosedots.”
“AndI’msupposedtowanttoworkwithyounow?”
“Look,IcanaccessBillington’sfilesandgetanyinformationweneed.I
couldevenhackthroughtheInterlopers’systemsifIhadtherighttools.Ijust
need—”
“Me?”Evescoffed.
JJsighed.“Yes.Ineedyou.But you need me,too.”
“Howcouldyoupossiblyexpectmetotrustyou?”
“Eve,ourpastdifferencesaside,shitisreallygettingserious.Idon’tthinkyou realize—”
“Youdon’tthinkI realize? ”Evehissed.“IwasattackedbyanInterloperafew daysago.Didallofyourhackingtellyouthat?DiditalsotellyouthatI
wastheonewhodiscoveredMarshallWoodgate’sbody?”Shestoppedfora
moment,attemptingtoregainhercomposure.“Youshouldgo,JJ.Myanswer
hasn’tchanged.”
JJ glared back at her. “Fine. I’ll leave,” she grumbled, “but know this: you haven’tseentheworstofwhattheInterloperscando.I’veseentherecordings.
I know what they’re capable of. And I hope to God that you’re prepared for what’llhappennext,becausethey’recomingforyou,too.”
Withonelastgrowl,JJreleasedthedoorandmarcheddownthehallway,
leavingEvealoneatlast.Evewatchedthegirlforamoment,cursingunderher
breathbeforeshefinallyopenedthedoortotheclassroom.
Shestoppedinthedoorway,herbodyparalyzed,hereyesvacantasthey
stared at the scene in front of her. Thick black soot had been smeared across thewallsoftheclassroom,smudgeddeepintotheplaster.Eve’sthroatbecame
tight,herlungslikeleadweightsinherchest.
DIECHIME.
Thiswasmorethanasimpleactofvandalism.Thewordscoveredthewalls,
writtenoverandoveragainlikeaterribleecho,asinistermessagescrawledin ash.
DIECHIME.DIECHIME.DIECHIME.
Evedidn’tevenseetheotherstudents.Theywanderedthroughthelecture
hall,gapingfirstatthethreatandthenatEve,waitingforherreaction,butshe gave none. Professor Clarke was in the corner of the room, barking into his phone.
“I saidweneedcampussecurityhere immediately,”hesnapped.Hiseyesdarted towardthedoorwayandlockedontoEve.“Shit.”Heglancedathisother
students.“Look,classiscanceled.Everyonego,”heordered.“NOW.”
Thestudentsfloodedfromthelecturehall,bumpingintoEveastheyspilled
intothehallway.Withtheroomemptied,Evefinallymoved,slowlymaking
herwaytowardthewallandthegiant,ashywords.She
trailedherhand
throughthelettersandstareddownatherblackenedfingertips.Clarke
approachedherside,thetwoofthemnowaloneintheclassroom.
“It’sanemptythreat,I’msure,”hesaidsoftly.
“They’reneveremptythreats.”
“They’llfindwhodidthis,Eve.”
“Willthey?”shescoffed.“Inmyexperience,thehigher-upsdon’tusuallywaste
theirtimehelpingthepoorlyconnectedchimeras.”
Clarkesighed.“Iknowthingsarerough,”hebegan.“Thesearecomplicated
times.”Hehesitatedandshookhishead.“Nevermindthat. I’ll do what I can, okay?”
Eve looked at Clarke, tearing her eyes from the message for the first time sinceshe’denteredtheroom.“CanIaskyouaquestion,Professor?”
“It’smyjobtoanswerquestions.”
“Whyareyousonicetome?”
“Whywouldn’tIbenicetoyou?”
Everolledhereyesandfoldedherarms.Heknewtheanswerwithouther
needingtospeakitaloud,andsosheremainedquiet.
“Notallofusareafraidofpeoplewhoaredifferent,Eve.”
“Mostare.”
Hiseyesweredarkandwarm,filledwithasenseofwisdomandcontentment
that comes only with age, or perhaps experience. “I see a lot of potential in you.AndIthinkoneday,whatmakesyouanoutcastwillinsteadmakeyou…
verypowerful.”
“I’malreadypowerful.Haven’tyouheard?”shequipped.
“YouknowverywellwhatImeantbythat,Eve.”
Thetensionhadtakenitstollonher.Shetookonelastlookatthewriting
— DIECHIME,thelettersscreamed—andthenheadedforthedoor.
“Eve,”Clarkecalledout,“IcouldpullafewstringswithFurst—seeifIcan
getapatrolmanortwotoescortyouaroundcampus,ifitwouldmakeyoufeel
safer.”
Evestoppedatthedoorway,grippingthedoorknobtightly.“I’llbeokay,”
shemurmured.“Icantakecareofmyself.”
“Eve,there’snoshameinacceptingassistance—”
“Icantakecareofmyself,”sherepeated,firmly.“Andyouknowverywell