Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

Author:Suzanne Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

FAX

To: Anton Stuart

From: EVA

Re: Philomena Rhodes

Date: April 18th

Pages: 1

* Urgent For Review Please Reply

Comments:

Philomena Rhodes displayed unusual behavior patterns while calling the Rhodes residence this evening. The situation was diffused, but per guidelines, this message was generated to keep you informed.

Action is not suggested at this time.

17

Every conversation I had with EVA was a lie. She’s a computer system, a “parental assistant.” She was in the academy the entire time. She would ask questions about my contentment, and then . . . what? Pass my answers along to Anton, I guess.

“We have to go,” Sydney says, still staring at the panel of names. But then she turns, and I follow behind her. We shut off the light and close the door.

On the way back to our floor, I’m still trying to process. Sydney doesn’t say a word.

We rush back to the other girls and find them waiting in my room, sitting on the bed. When we walk in, Brynn looks up hopefully.

“Did you talk to your parents?” she asks. “Did they believe you?”

I stare back at her, suddenly unable to speak. Sydney steps beside me, and we exchange a look, knowing we have to tell them.

“EVA answered,” I say. “But . . . our parents’ assistants aren’t real,” I say. “They’re part of a computer system. And they report directly to Anton. Pretty much right away.” Sydney nods to let them know it’s true.

Annalise laughs like I’m joking. But as she stares at me, her expression starts to sag. “They’re not . . . real?” she asks. “Stella?” I shake my head no. She considers it a moment, blood rushing to her cheeks. We sit in shock, absorbing the information. Feeling more isolated than ever. Sydney looks at the bars on the window again.

“I talked to Valentine,” I say.

“Good,” Marcella says. “Did she have any answers?”

“None that she would give me. She told me we have to behave. And that ‘we’d know’ when it was time to leave.”

“Leave?” Brynn repeats, seeming confused by the sentiment. It didn’t occur to her that we’d have to leave the school, just like it hadn’t occurred to me. What if we’ve been trained to ignore that option?

We sit with the thought for a moment, and then Annalise jumps up suddenly. She glances at the clock. “I have to go,” she says. “I was supposed to meet Professor Driscoll in the greenhouse five minutes ago.”

She grabs her jacket, and we all stand so the other girls can go back to their rooms. We promise to meet up at dinner, although we have no solid plan going forward. I think we all need to process. And I think they need to get clearer heads.

Sydney grips my hand before we part, and then we separate to our own spaces. Once everyone’s gone, I stand in my room.

Even though I’ve learned how alone I really am at this school, I feel stronger now that the girls and I are on the same page. Together, we’ll figure this out. I walk to my window and stare out, trying to see beyond the woods.

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