The Boarding School Experiment (15 page)

After my shift ended, I stashed my tools, showered, and went into the kitchen. The baking area smelled like chocolate and cinnamon. I breathed in deeply. “Hey,” I said to Kaitlin, who stood working alone today.

Kaitlin looked up from behind a pile of cupcake pieces. “Hey.” She lined one on top of another, forming a pyramid.

I didn’t doubt she’d get the structure built, but did wonder how she’d transport something so tall without the walls collapsing. Leaning against the counter, I watched in silence for a while, and took in the industrial sized supplies: sugar, flour, cooking oil. I noted the location of the cooking oil, and made a plan to get it when I returned my dinner tray.

“I’m making a small one for Geneva in case she returns today.”

Kaitlin often broke my heart with comments like that. When she made cupcakes for the team, the container always held an extra one for Geneva.

I joined her against the wooden butcher block and lowered my voice, though there was no one else in the room. “There’s something I want to tell you, a secret. About Geneva.”

Her hands immediately stilled and she turned her big brown eyes up to me. “What?”

I explained how I saw Geneva in the clinic, before she left.

“And you didn’t tell me?” Her voice rose.

“We snuck in, and I didn’t want you to have to lie.”

“We?”

“Me and Thane.”

“Oh.” Her gaze dropped to the cupcakes and she picked up a pliable spatula and slathered butter cream icing around the base. “How was she?” Concern replaced her outrage.

“Bandaged and weak, but awake. I hope the director sent her home, and maybe he did. But I don’t know.” I blew out a sigh and spoke fast. “I should have told you before now, but I didn’t want you to have to lie. But I was wrong, I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

“Okay.” Kaitlin stacked another brick, her expression thoughtful.

Her lack of anger made me feel worse. I’d have been furious about the secret, about Thane. She was a far better person than me. I shoved my guilt aside. “Need any help?”

“Sure, carve out some more blocks.”

“Okay.” The carving knife slipped right through the spongy chocolate cupcakes with no resistance. My hand tightened around the handle, and when we were done with the stack and Kaitlin had inserted toothpicks into the top stone to hold the structure in place, I filled the dishwasher for her, loading everything except one carving knife.

Chapter Nine

I escaped the kitchen, feeling bad. The guilt I carried about the switch compounded every day. Surely, if Rhys cared, he would have contacted me. I would have tried to reach him again, but I still doubted our emails were going to the right addresses.

Thane grabbed my arm and towed me over to the wall, effectively pulling me out of my head. I breathed in his cologne.

He thumped one of the posters. Its painted words advertised the next dance:
Bring your soul mate and rock out in celebration of Round Two.
“You going with Declan?”

“No.”

“I’m supposed to ask Kaitlin.”

“I know.”

He lowered his voice and tugged me closer. “You’ve got nothing else to say?”

I swallowed. “You can’t invite Kaitlin.”

“Why not?” His thumb brushed the blue veins in my wrist and the sensation made my hand jerk. His eyes sharpened. “Why?”

“She’s not your match.”

He stepped closer. “No?” He sounded playful.

I closed my eyes a second. “She’s Rhys Zukowski’s match.”

Thane stilled, and the fun tone left his voice. “What?”

I retreated a step. “I was upset that day in the principal’s office and I switched your results with Rhys’s.” Good or bad, the relief that swamped me in that moment of truth was everything. My stomach unknotted and I let out a breath. “I wrote your name on top of Rhys’s results and his on yours.”

Every bit of tension I’d released seized his body. “You put my name in the winning pile, and you took Rhys’s out?” His voice rose. “Why would you do that?”

“That’s not what happened. You spilled cranberry juice on me, and I got mad, and when I—”

“Juice? This is over juice? I accidently knocked into you.”

“You did it on purpose.”

“I did not.” His voice flattened. “When I realized I bumped you, I acted like I did to piss you off. It was an accident. You thought it was okay to screw up my future
over an accident?
”

“The placements weren’t random. I knew they’d pick you. Your parents did too. Remember? They said they started packing.”

“So you thought you were giving Rhys a shot and stealing mine?” Thane looked at me as if I’d slapped him. “Who are you?”

“I was mad and I reacted. My actions weren’t part of some master plot.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Rhys could have been chosen. He’s smart, athletic. You just can’t tell because he works after school, so he can’t go out for sports. And half the time he’s asleep in class because he worked the night before.”

“So why didn’t you say something when they called my name? Why didn’t you make sure?”

My stomach churned and shook. “The situation is complicated.”

“Too proud? Like your dad? Your dad could’ve taken the settlement and made your life easier. But no, he said he was responsible. He shouldn’t have let your helmet lights go out.”

My stomach knotted, and my breath quickened. “Those caves should have been lit. It was Trallwyn Construction’s responsibility to ensure they had light.”

“Yeah, and my dad offered to pay for the mistake his company made, and everything would have been less tragic. But your dad goes around in that chair, living in that pathetic trailer park, causing everyone to feel sorry for him. Everyone considers my dad a villain. Is that why you did this? To get back at my dad?” His voice hardened.

My fists clenched and I rose on tiptoes to look him in the eye. “That’s not how it is, and you don’t know anything about my father.”

“No, but I know a thing about you, and I know there’s more.” His eyes gleamed with the beginnings of understanding. “This wasn’t just one of your petty revenge pranks.” His head sprang up and realization covered his face. “You didn’t only take Rhys’s spot. You stole someone else’s shot too. That’s why you didn’t confess. You’re not supposed to be here either.”

I blinked and backed away.

Thane pivoted on his heel, leaving me alone in the hallway, but not before I saw the disgust on his face.

***

That night, I couldn’t sleep. I needed to go home. And, if I couldn’t get there, I needed to talk to someone from home: Mom, Dad, my little sister, Piper, Rhys. I had to know what was going on.

According to the coordinators, the communication system remained down. They kept putting us off with promises of
next week.
Next week was no longer an option for me. Thane could blow my secret at any second. I had to hike to the airfield, and I needed to do it now. I’d use their communication system. The clock read 6 a.m.

Kaitlin slept on the other side of the room, oblivious to the Thane drama. Everyone here was. No one knew our history. That had been the best thing about Alaska. No one looked at me as that poor Carlisle kid with that poor dad, after that poor accident. I loved the anonymity. And now, when Thane came forward, my privacy would be blown away.

I got up and dressed in double layers and hiking boots, then snagged an extra spare blanket from the back of my wardrobe. Going for speed, I jogged down the hall to the laundry room. With the help of the cooking oil, I made quick work of the bolts and piled them at my feet. After wrapping my hands in the ends of my poncho, I stuck them into the grate’s two vented holes and tugged. I pulled until my arms burned. The grate didn’t budge. Grr.

I felt around the edge, clenched my teeth, and fought the urge to throw something. I must’ve missed a bolt or some sealant. I couldn’t even locate the holdup. Nothing. The metal must be tight from the cold.

I needed leverage. How many times had Dad and I moved impossibly heavy boulders out of our path when hiking? Tons. I stuck the wrench between the wall and the grate, meaning to wedge the tool behind the lip and shove at the handle but the thick end wouldn’t fit. The grate was adhered to the wall with more caulk. I needed a knife and more time.

Not wanting to wait, I hid the tools behind the dryer and slipped into the hall, thinking of another plan. I touched the badge in my back pocket. I could go out the delivery door. I’d need water, the flashlight, and other supplies.

I gathered what I needed and snuck around the corner, breathing hard. The coordinators would know I left because the exits were monitored, but I’d run the second the door released, and deal with the punishment when I returned. Hurrying to a side exit, I flattened the badge against the security sensor and tried the door handle. Nothing. The badge didn’t work anymore. I stared at it, refusing to believe I was locked in, and felt my heart sink.

The blue light flashed above the door, signaling everyone to go to the amphitheater. The sounds of doors opening and students entering the hallway reached me. I did not want to get caught standing here, staring at my stolen badge. After stashing my supplies in a copse of trees, I moved into the crowd. Down we went, into the amphitheater.

I slid onto a bench at the back and curled my arms around my legs, but could only stay still a moment. Overheated from the layers of clothing and my efforts, I yanked off my top, olive-colored sweatshirt.

What now?

The director, as always, waited until everyone sat before speaking. “We have an update on Geneva. And I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

He waved an arm toward The Scientist who stepped up to the lectern. “As we previously reported, we sent Geneva to recuperate at home. We’ve received word she’s not doing well enough to return this semester.” The Scientist said the words, the wrong words in the right way, but his face didn’t hold any true emotion.

Every note rang false.
I don’t believe him
.

“In the interest of safety, we’ve decided to keep the grounds closed, to honor Geneva and to keep you each safe until your parents arrive in December to escort you home for holiday break.”

December. They were trapping us in here until December? Everything in me screamed with the urge to jump up and run.

“Of course that excludes winners of the autumn competition. Round Two’s coming up soon. I hope you’ve been practicing.”

The director stepped back to the lectern. “Thank you. Students are dismissed.”

I hugged my legs tighter, while people filtered out around me, not focusing on anyone but myself until Thane shoved in beside me. “Let’s go. Forget everything for now. Pick a day. Plan it. Because, we’re getting out of here. I need to talk to Rhys myself, and I’m not going through the administration to do it. My family has suffered enough scandal.”

“The badge doesn’t work anymore.” I spoke in a low voice.

“What?”

“I tried to leave earlier and the badge didn’t work. Someone must’ve deactivated it when Coordinator Steele got her new badge.”

His eyes looked accusing.

“I could have made it alone. It doesn’t take two people to jog a few miles.”

“Because you did so great before: eating the white berries, running from a bear.”

“I don’t want to talk about the bear.” I tightened my arms, not wanting to think about Geneva, but unable to stop. I glanced down at the stage. “They had to be lying because we saw her, and she was okay. And don’t talk to me like you care about my going alone. We aren’t friends.”

“Oh, I know. I’ve always known. I didn’t think you were quite so selfish, though. You were leaving me behind. Your newest plan not only failed but lost us our only access to the restricted zones. Can you explain that to me?” He stood up in the aisle, hands on his hips, forcing the crowd of exiting students to turn the other way or crawl over the bench to go around him.

I stood on the seat so I could look down on him. “Why didn’t I come here with one of those broody, silent cowboys? How’d I get stuck here with a mouthy whiner?”

“Stop with the solo plans. We don’t have to like each other to work together. We go tomorrow. Meet me at six, and we’ll sneak out.”

I grabbed his shoulder, stilling his exit. “Look, can we really talk?”

Most everyone had left by now, and Declan stepped into our aisle. “Planning how to sabotage your teammates during Round Two? Be careful Thane, she kicks.”

“Stay out of this,” I said.

“Fine, enjoy yourselves.” Declan strode to the exit and slapped his hand on the wall, flipping the silver cover over the main switches.

“Don’t,” I said sharply as he did it.

The light vanished and we were plunged into sudden darkness, the unbelievable blackness found only below ground. I looked up, but the cloudy morning made even the dome dark. We were in a cavern. My mouth dried up, my heart pounded, and my stomach moved to my throat.
I’m not in a cave. We just need to flip a switch.
Sweat broke out over my skin, and I felt suspended in the air like I couldn’t tell up from down.