There Once Were Stars (7 page)

We should be celebrating, but instead, the apartment feels like the shroud of death envelops us. Grandmother hides in her room, and Grandfather has been sent to the Axis—most likely to B2, the floor that haunts people with the sound of screams. I’d spent the last weeks worrying about myself, and now the only other person who cared is gone. What’s next?
As if to answer my thoughts, the doorbell buzzes.

The sound persists, but Grandmother’s footsteps don’t move toward it. I leave my room, pausing by her bedroom, and peek inside. The curtains are drawn, blocking out whatever light is on the other side. She lies, still as a corpse, and I hold back from checking her pulse. She’s fine, just unable to accept what might lie ahead. Sympathy washes over me; I know what it’s like to have so many questions. Hers are so deep it’s harder to quell them. I close her door and answer the main one.

But as soon as I open it, I wish I hadn’t. A Member of the Order stares at me, eyeing me up from head to toe. “Natalia Greyes?”

My stomach lurches, and my pulse races. “Yes.” Visions of handcuffs, cells on B2, and swollen eyes overtake my mind.

“You are instructed to report to the Order, Axis, Floor 16,” she commands.

It’s as if I’m watching myself in slow-motion, from up above. My mouth hangs open, and I freeze, standing there like a child, unable to react.

“Immediately, Miss Greyes.” The member raises an eyebrow. “Get dressed and gather your things, please. You will not be returning to the apartment district.”

But Floor 16 is not B2. It’s far above even the Order offices.

“Do I need my uniform,” I ask with an ounce of hope that she might shed some light on where I’m going.

She shakes her head.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “How am I supposed to know what to pack?”

“We have an appointment to keep. Don’t make me ask again.”

I turn away, shuffling to my room. Every step intensifies the questions bouncing around in my head, the biggest being,
what is going to happen to me?
I grab an overnight bag from my closet, and stuff it with a change of clothes and some personal items. I take the two photos from my nightstand, the one with my parents and the one of me alone; seems fitting, seeing as it caused this mess. With everything stuffed in my bag, I slip my locket into my pocket.

I return to the hallway, pausing one last time by Grandmother’s bedroom door, where I place my palm against its smooth surface.
If only you didn’t hate me the moment I came to live here, reminding you of everything you lost. If only you loved me enough to come out here and stop this.
My hand drops from her door, and I turn to face my condemnation. I will not show this stranger any fear.

“Let’s go,” I say, holding my chin up as I step outside the apartment, and close the door behind me.

We arrive at the Axis in speedy fashion. Members are the only ones allowed an electric vehicle. It helps them to carry out their business with the swift hand of justice. As we enter the large lobby, the secretary glances from behind her desk. In a flash, her eyebrows furrow, but she looks away, focusing back on her work as we approach. The member passes her a sheet.

“Insert your old card, please,” the secretary says, after a quick scan of the paper. I reach into my bag, and pull out the card that is still attached to my work shirt. The member grabs it from me, and sticks it in the same slot it was spit out of only a few weeks ago. I watch as it’s sucked back in, eliminating the last trace of my existence, here in the dome. Within seconds a new card pops out. This one has my photo like the one that disappeared, only, underneath it reads—
Natalia Greyes, Science Division, Floor 16
.

“Science Division?” I stare at the card as the member hands it to me. “I’m confused.” The secretary’s brow inches up, and then she looks back at her desk before the member can see.

“Let’s go,” the Member commands.

I follow her to the elevators, still confused.
Where am I going? Are they going to interrogate me upstairs?
Inside the elevator, she presses the button for Floor 16, and the elevator begins its quick ascent. B2 shines at the bottom, and I can’t help but think of Grandfather.

“Will I get to see my grandfather?”

She blatantly ignores me, staring straight ahead through her perfectly trimmed bangs. Her lips are pursed between her pale round cheeks, but at their edges are smile lines. She looks tired, not mean—maybe I can appeal to her lighter side. “Listen,” I say, clearing my voice. “I think I deserve to know what’s going on here before you start torturing me for information.

She bursts out laughing. “Torture? What do you think goes on in the Science Division?”

My face instantly gets hot.
What am I missing?
The elevator dings, and the doors pop open. Her nametag flashes as she walks past me onto Floor 16.
Rowenna London, Science Officer, Floor 16
.

“I don’t understand.” I chase after her, trying to keep up to her brisk pace. “You’re wearing a symbol of the Order.” I point to the arm of her jacket. “How can you be a part of the Science Division?”

“I watch over the Science Division. My job is to make sure everything runs smooth, stays on target, and follows the best interests of the dome.”

“So you’re the watchdog?” I eye her suspiciously. “Making sure nothing gets out of place? What am I supposed to be then? Your prisoner?”

“I will be keeping an eye on you.” Rowenna stops, crossing her arms against her chest and looking me up and down. “This is your room. Once you’re settled, you can join us on Floor 18. You’ll soon learn that the Axis is a combination of living quarters and work areas for all employees. The Science Division takes up Floors 16-36.”

“You aren’t going to lock me in here?”

Rowenna laughs again, filled with a girlish tone, though she has to be in her mid-twenties. I walk into my new bedroom, a small, dorm-like rectangle with a dresser, bed, and desk connected in that order on either side of the room. “I still don’t understand why I’m here.”

Her face grows serious, eliminating all evidence of humor. “Honestly, I don’t either. You didn’t complete an entrance exam. You haven’t completed any work terms.”

“I didn’t ask for this.”

“Well, you’d better get used to it.” She leans against my door frame. “Someone obviously wants you here. This is your permanent assignment now. You’re here for life.” She smiles as she steps back and the door slides shut, cutting me off from everything.

I turn back toward my room.
Permanent assignment?
How did that happen?
I open my bag and dump the contents on my bed, flopping beside them. I wish I’d packed more than one change of clothes. I lean back onto my pillow and laugh out loud. Instead of being a prisoner on B2, I’m condemned to the Science Division.

The door to my room opens, and I’m greeted by another new face. This one has long, curly, blond hair and a smile plastered on her face like she just found a long, lost friend. She’s a couple years older than me, and advances with slender fingers outstretched. “Hi, I’m Tassie Greenwood. Looks like we’re roommates.” Her smile reveals a flash of white teeth, highlighted by light-pink lip gloss, and her fingernails shimmer with a layer of pearl-pink polish. Every part of her is a reflection of the luxuries not allowed in the dome—at least, not outside the Axis.

“Nice to meet you.” I force a smile. “I’m Nat.”

“Is that all you brought?” Tassie points to my bag.

“Yes.” I grab my clothes, and stuff them back in the bag. “I thought I was coming for one night. I didn’t realize this was permanent. They didn’t really give me any notice.”

“Oh, you look like a little deer in the headlights.” Tassie grabs my hands and pulls me up. “Come with me. I’ll help you get sorted out. The odd one like you comes in. You must be a legacy, summoned to the big tower because of your parents.”

I raise my eyebrows. I’ve never heard of legacies before.

“What area do your parents work in? Wait! Let me guess, Research and Development?”

“No. My parents are—dead.” The words come out like heavy weights. I don’t remember the last time I had to say those words. It’s old news to everyone back home. I let go of her hands, and cross my arms, pulling them tight to my chest.

“I’m so sorry.” Tassie pats my shoulder. “They must have been scientists, though. Why else would you be here without any notice?”

I nod. “They were.” But that’s all I say. For the first time since I can remember, one person won’t look at me like the poor orphan of the Greyes scientists. Today, I want as little attention as possible.

“Let’s get you some clothes.” Tassie’s girlish voice breaks apart the tension in the air. She grabs my hands again, and pulls me out into the hallway.

“So,” she begins her tour, “every fifteen floors is a cafeteria. Our division starts on Floor 16, so we have to use the cafeteria on Floor 30. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I like to sneak down to the cafeteria on Floor 15. Gives a little variety to my day. Trust me, you get bored of the same fifty people or so to hang out with, day-in, day-out. Especially the boys.”

We take the elevator to Floor 30, and it reveals a short hallway. To the north, is the cafeteria, where the clanging of dishes and the buzz of conversation comes through its doors. To the south, is a door labeled Science Division Depot. We go south.

“So, Nat,” Tassie smiles, “what Floor are you working on?”

“Floor 18.”

“I work on Floors 19 and 20. My area studies the plant life that old expeditions brought back. I’m excited to say that our entire Biological Research department was ecstatic to hear they were reopening Floor 18. It has been nearly a decade since we’ve seen anything new. One can only do so much with one strain of carrots!”

Her enthusiasm is a nice change, but I still don’t know what happens on Floor 18. She talks so much, I understand how Jak must feel when he gets around Xara and me. A pang of guilt hits me at the thought of my best friends. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to either of them. And if I don’t get to apologize to Jak, I’ll never forgive myself.

I turn around, and see that Tassie has filled up a cart with outdoor gear, lab gear, casual clothing, personal items, bedding, and tons of other items I never knew existed in the dome. She pushes the cart to the till and dread fills my gut.

“I have no way to pay for all of this.”

Tassie shakes her head, letting her curls bounce around her smooth skin, “I have so much to teach you. All we need to do is swipe our ID cards. Everything is free!”

Tassie drops me off at our room, and leaves for work. I make my bed, noticing that these sheets have no tears or repair stitches on them. It takes me forever to put away my new clothes, I’ve never had this many before. I stand back, staring at the closet; it’s bursting at the seams. So many luxuries are offered here in the Axis. What’s the catch?

What do I wear to work? I grab a pair of scrubs, similar to Tassie’s cotton pants and shirt. Before I leave the room, I look myself over in the mirror. For a moment, it’s like my mom is staring back at me.
Am I walking in her shoes?

Floor 18 looks like Floor 16. A long hallway extends past the elevator in both directions. The sign pointing to the north reads Meeting Room. The sign pointing to the south reads
Lab
. I go south.

I push the handle on the door, but it doesn’t budge. A scanner hangs on the wall. I hold up my ID card, and the light on the scanner turns from red to green, and I hear a click. The door opens easily.

Inside the lab everything is bright white, illuminated by the fluorescent lights above. Two long tables run down the center of the room, with scientists working on either side. There are nine of them, including Rowenna. I make ten. Rowenna looks up and waves me over.

“Looks like you made out alright,” Rowenna says looking me up and down again. “You managed to find Floor 30?”

“My roommate helped.”

“Ah, yes,” Rowenna nods, “the always-happy Tassie. She’s a good worker. Should be a good roommate. Knows her place well.”

“Rowenna—” I begin.

“Call me Roe.”

“Roe, how am I supposed to know what to do around here? I have no training. Honestly, I barely paid attention in science classes at the Institute.”

“I know, I’ve seen your transcripts.” She sighs. “I’m putting you with Waldorf. He’s a good teacher, patient. He’ll teach you the basics, which is all you need to know. Trust me.”

“But what do we do here?”

“Our role is mainly extraction. Get in and get out. That’s it. We’re the new Expedition team.”

“What? They reopened the division?”

She nods. “You and Evan are new. From what I can tell, it’s his outside expertise that sent him here.”

“But I’ve never been—” I pause, about to say
outside
, when I see the Outsider stand up from a table and come toward us. My pulse races as my breath catches in my throat.
He’s here, working in the Axis. He’s not in a cell.
His hair has been trimmed, revealing more of the soft lines of his face. The faintest shadow of stubble runs along his jawline, meeting in the center, below his lips, which curl up slightly at the edges. I step back as he joins us.

“Nat, this is Evan.” She tilts her head, frowning at me. “Have you met before?”

“Briefly.” Evan smiles as he holds out his hand to me. I hold back, unsure of whether to touch him or not, but Roe is still watching me carefully. I reach across, and put my hand in his. His skin is warm, but rough. In slow motion, my gaze meets his.

“Nice to meet you again. Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Nat.” I’m barely able to squeak it out. “Remember, we met at the elevator.”

“Does Nat stand for something?”

“Natalia. Natalia Greyes.”

“Greyes?” Evan says loud enough for everyone to hear. The other scientists look up from their stations, and I wish I had somewhere to run to. I slipped up.
This guy knocks me off my game
.

Roe evidently sees my distress. “Yes, everyone, we have the daughter of the famous
Greyes
on our team. Is that a reason to stop working? I think not. We have an expedition leaving in two days to prepare for. Everyone back to work. Evan, take Nat back to her room. You can fill her in on your roles.”