Days passed. Weeks passed. Evidently, Eastland had forgotten about the Carthowa students just as quickly as the rest of the world forgot about my Ander.

I continued to work for Ervin, learning bits about the students, bits far more interesting than the years they graduated. Conversations never quieted when I neared; as a girl I was invisible, so I could glean most any information that earned my curiosity.

Adam Zephen seemed to speak for the group, the leader of sorts. Though, Killian Feefra was close behind the possibly imagined hierarchy. The two conferred in almost everything, not making a decision before asking the other, yet whatever choice they came to was still voted upon by the rest of the group. Adam provided an analytic brain, contrasting Killian's apparent morals. Yet despite their balanced opinions, they always asked what Ander would think of a given situation, as if my boyfriend had truly been their leader.

Excluding Killian and Adam, the most vocal Heretic was by no doubt Lewis Bahoral. He voiced his, often controversial, opinions without fear of the frequent admonishments he received from Adam. Lewis had the good sense to lower his voice when Ervin entered the vicinity, but past that, lacked most other forms of tact.

Owen Feuilly carried a vast amount of respect from Adam and Killian, who seemed to turn to him whenever they had a question. Apparently he'd been one of Ander's closest companions, so they believed Owen could best guess what he'd suggest. The Foreign Policy major (an all but fake degree seeing as there was little to no foreign policy to be studied) held down a part time job at his father's corn packaging company, apparently the only member of the group with responsibilities outside their schooling.

Christopher McCarrel had allergies. Or, at least was far more susceptible to the contaminated Trujohn air. On his worst days, the chestnut haired boy even wore his Filtration Mask indoors. Perhaps his constant sneezes and coughs were reasons he went into medicine. Despite his ailments, Christopher was never without a smile, by far the most cheerful of the Heretics.

Excluding Adam, Killian's closest friend was John Brammer. The Before Studies major was quiet, but when he spoke, his words flowed, so eloquent and vivid. Yet his smile was so mischievous I could never doubt that his quiet lips guarded the most active of minds.

Neal Casswell had a hairline like a tsunami before the flood part. His father was a member of the Patri, so I assumed the stress of being a Heretic under such a pious father had led to his premature balding. The clumsy boy made light of the situation, cracking jokes with his friends, but I noticed that more often than not Neal stayed at someone else's house.

Usually, Neal stayed with Eddie Marnas, the newest member of the group who'd be inducted directly after making it into the summer program. Eddie's reddish hair and freckles made him look young, and, paired with his overall wonder of the world, I could never guess how the innocent boy intended to join the Patri. I assumed it was his father's influence, a Patri member as well.

The most disagreeable student was no doubt Hadley Linstead. Shaggy black hair and scraggly beard concealed vivid green eyes that watched everything with interest. He rarely spoke, but when he did, it was some ribald comment that made me sink deeper into my Trench coat, even if the jibe was never directed towards me, or anyone in particular for that matter. His sneer was cold, and that was definitely directed towards me. I couldn't guess why Adam and Killian tolerated him, and even less so why Ander had. Yet, the group seemed to have forgiven him for making me take that test.

I hadn't. The Eastland officials must have laughed when they received a woman's name.

So utterly invisible, I could learn about every one of the mens' personal lives and habits. I knew their personalities, who was closer to whom, where they worked, and who their fathers were. And they were unaware I lurked a mere foot away. I was used to going unnoticed. Invisible unless someone needed me to fetch something, though none of Ander's friends ever asked. It shocked me if a pair of eyes landed on me as if they actually saw a person, not just thin air or a coffee-pouring robot. Yet Adam and Killian and all the rest, would glance in my direction as they spoke. At times I believed they intended for me to hear. Why else would Lewis Bahoral talk so unabashedly? But that couldn't be. I was still a girl, and besides, not one man had said a word to me since I'd been coerced into the test.

After Ervin shuffled in from his office, he instructed me to go fetch his mail. From his office. Tedious as it was, I didn't mind. It was nice to be alone, nice to wander down the Carthowa halls as if I was a student again. As if I was just one period away from seeing Ander, then spending the rest of the hour making eye contact across the classroom while the professor lectured.

I crept into his office, hoping it was abandoned lest I here more jeers about being lost or looking for my daddy, or offers to come sit down for a cup of coffee. Thankfully, the headmaster's office was deserted. I snatched Ervin's Mailing Tablet, no different than a regular Tablet, but Ervin requested one specifically for his incoming messages, and scurried back towards the classroom.

The screen flashed with dozens of unread messages: an advertisement for the new Ball-Banging flavor of Cigarette Pen juice--ew--a coupon for scotch, a class roster for next school year, and, blinking in orange lettering, a message from the Eastland board of admissions.

They hadn't forgotten Carthowa and the lowly Midlands. Someone had been chosen. I burned to open the message and see which of Ander's friends would be his replacement, but if I touched the screen, face recognition would fire and Ervin would be signaled of the break-in attempt.

Still, I felt oddly important carrying in the news that would change someone's life. I hoped it was Adam or Killian; they'd have the most hope of making a difference. Or maybe Christopher; he deserved a change. Although, Neal and Eddie's patronage made them each prime candidates. But then, it really all came down to how they scored on that test.

One boy's existence would change forever. They'd escape and be better able to serve the Father. If Ander needed to be lost, I was at least partially thankful his replacement would be one of his friends. Like he'd want it to be. Someone who'd known him, who understood the horrible loss accompanied by his victory.

Even if it couldn't be me, I was almost giddy when I returned to the classroom. While I hardly approved of Ander's ambitions, I wanted his friends to continue whatever it was he'd been caught starting in Eastland. Not because it was right, because it wasn't, but because Ander had died for it, and I couldn't bear it being in vain.

Ervin grumbled at my entrance. Apparently the errand he'd ordered me to run had interrupted his lecture on the stupid idea that was solar pannels: "When's the last time the sun's shown bright enough to power a Cig-Pen let alone a damn house?"

I handed over the Mailing Tablet and retreated to the wall to watch Ervin scroll through his messages.

"It's your lucky day, boys. Here's the results from Eastland!" He clicked onto the message while the class tittered excitedly, sitting up straighter and glancing at their competition. Ervin cleared his throat as he read the news out loud. "Staff and promising students of Carthowa college of the Midlands. We at the Eastland graduate program Board of Admissions thank you for your quick response in regards to your test scores. The young men reported to us faired exceptionally well with the latest round of questions. As we previously stated, we only required one more student from your division, as the young man we received at the very start of summer is serving us well.

"However, you should be proud to note that because your class scored so highly on the aptitude test, we feel it only right to open our borders to a third Carthowa graduate this year.

"Headmaster Ross Ervin has been entrusted to see to it that the two students listed below, matching the blood sample collected during their exam, receive their plane tickets and report to the Interdevision Terminal at nine in the morning on the date of July first.

Eastland is proud to welcome, with a score of ninety-nine percent, Mister Hadley Linstead."

My heart sank. Anyone but Hadley. The black-haired boy was the least like Ander of the group, as well as the least likely to honor his work. Hadley gave a self-satisfied smirk as the rest of the class cheered and punched him in the shoulder, congratulatory, though obviously a bit jealous.

Hadley rose from his seat, and, with an interesting blend of swagger and sulk, made his way towards Ervin.

Ervin scanned his hand to unlock the tickets he was to administer. Just as it had on the specialized Testing Tablets, a tiny needle emerged from the top of the device. While regular tablets weren't made to collect blood, they could just in case the owner wanted a more secure lock and was willing to prick their finger each time they wanted to open their tablet.

Hadley pressed his pointer finger against the needle, a drop of red streaking from the metal tip to the Sample Receptor below. After a moment of processing, the screen glowed orange.

"Hand out, palm down," Ervin instructed.

The needle disappeared, replaced by small nozzle. The code contained in the Eastland email took effect, and a narrow spray of black spewed from the nozzle and onto the back of Hadley's hand. When the spray died, the numbers 24628 emblazoned Hadley's wrist.

"Your plane ticket," Ervin explained. As Hadley, marvelling at his new tattoo, returned to his seat.

"And next, with a score of one hundred percent," Ervin said, "Eastland is proud to welcome... J-John Brammer."

John frowned, that clever twinkle in his eyes shining. But if he thought something was amiss, his desire to leave the Midlands was strong enough to urge him to his feet. He pricked his finger on the needle and watched as his blood slipped down the edge.

The screen glared blue: rejection.

"Again." Ervin snatched poor John's wrist, forcing his finger against the needle. More blood. More blue light. Again, Ervin forced John to prick his finger, over and over until the boy pulled his hand away, blood bubbling from numerous pinpricks in his finger. Without a word, John returned to his seat.

As Ervin ordered him to return to the front of the class and to give more blood, John calmly lifted his chin. "I was not the student chosen."

"It had to have been you," Ervin said. "John Brammer and Jean Bennett. It's a simple mistake. The only solution."

My eyes widened. I'd been selected? Eastland wanted me? No. Ervin was right. It must have been a mistake...

Each student stared at me, some with pity, most with shock. A sneer was plastered across Hadley's face.

Finally, Adam said, "If Eastland wants Jean, it would be heresy to deny the request."

"It would be heresy to let a Learned Female step into the same division as the Father," Ervin barked. Then he whirled on me. "What did you do? Sleep with one of them so they'd give you the answers? I'll have you reported for prostitution!"

I stayed silent, anger brewing within me. Sure, it was a mistake that Eastland had asked for me, but I'd answered those questions on my own. Ervin couldn't even fathom my scoring well, and it infuriated me.

He turned to the boys. "Fess up. Who helped her? If they were your answers we can talk to the Board of Admissions and get you on the next plane to Eastland."

Eddie spoke up, "if any of us knew all the answers, why wouldn't we make sure we scored just as well, even if we'd been willing to help her?"

"She can't possibly be so good in bed that we'd purposely score worse for her," Lewis added. "No one would give up their future for a one-time hook up."

"Then I was right before," he managed. "They wrote down the wrong name. It might not be John, but it's someone else. Everyone line up to get their blood tested!"

"That will take forever!" Neal complained. "If it's truly a mistake, it won't recognize her blood either. Just have her prick her finger and see what we're dealing with."

Fair. If it was a mistake, the screen would turn blue as it had for John. And if it turned orange... I couldn't suppress the tremor of hope. I moved towards the Tablet, but Ervin caught my wrist.

He jammed one of his sausage fingers in my face. "Confident, are we? Think it'll work? If you didn't put out, what you do? Hack the system? Did you somehow get the answer key, transfer your blood to someone else's score?"

I shook my head, losing control of my temper. His absolutely ludicrous reasoning snapped something inside me. "You've got to be kidding me! You're so fucking close minded that you can't imagine that I passed on my own! You seriously think I could hack the Tablet? Well guess what, I didn't, but if I did that would still mean that I'm just as smart, if not smarter than everyone in this room. Including you!"