Jade’s head was pounding when she finally came around and found herself completely disoriented and prone in the Nest for the second time since her arrival. At least this time she had some sense of where she was even if her brain was sluggish to supply details.

  She was in the bathroom and judging by the bump on the back of her head, she’d fallen and hit her head on the bathtub. But why had she fallen? Gently exploring the tender spot on her head, she tried to remember what had happened. She’d been considering taking a hot shower, but she was pretty sure that she’d seen steam before she’d turned on the water. Was it steam? Or something else?

  Remembering with a chill the gas mask she had found, she looked up at the ceiling and noticed the little nozzles that she had assumed were sprinklers. Were they also capable of releasing substances other than water? Was this related to the others’ escape plan? Had they triggered the ire of their caretakers and forced them to take drastic measures?

  Standing up a little bit too quickly, Jade steadied herself against the counter and then opened the door, leaving her bundle of clothes and personal supplies behind on the counter. She burst out into the living room and was shocked to see Zoe and Olivia splayed out on the floor. They were both coming around, but it was obvious that the gas or whatever it had been had hit them harder. Maybe they were nearer the source? She passed Sloane on her way around the room and helped him up.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “Don’t know. I just woke up by myself.” Standing up, Jade got a good look at the big, ugly metal door that Micah had been so obsessed with. It was shut tight with no sign of being disturbed. But where was Micah anyway?” Walking around the couch, she saw Olivia look at the door in panic and then jump up and try to yank on the wheel with all her strength.

  “Hey, stop that,” Jade said, trying to pull her away from the door. “You don’t want to break something and end up on their shit list.”

  “Where’s Micah?” Olivia asked, confirming what Jade had already guessed. She didn’t know what had happened either.

  “Why are you asking me? I didn’t sign up for his little scheme.”

  “He’s on the other side,” Zoe said from her spot on the floor. She was staring at the door warily, her back to the wall as if she was trying to find the most defensive position possible. “The door was open and I saw him walk through. That was right before…” She looked up at the ceiling. So the gas had come from there.

  “But why is the door shut again?” Olivia demanded. “He wouldn’t have left us behind and locked us in!”

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  “Maybe he had no choice,” Sloane said a little groggily, leaning against the wall for support as he stood up. “They did warn us about tampering with equipment in the nest.

  “But he didn’t…”

  At that moment, the correspondence slot on the door lit up. They had a delivery.

  Olivia exchanged glances with the rest of them before reaching for the slot and pulling out a folded piece of paper. It was a small parcel, and the message within was equally brief.

  “Micah Walsh has violated the terms of his contract and been expelled from the nest,” Jade read over Olivia’s shoulder. “We apologize for any inconvenience caused by his removal. Because of questions raised by his behavior, we considered extending the mandatory transition period, but we have decided against this action. The period will end in two days. At that time, you will be able to decide on an individual basis if you want to continue sheltering here with us at New Life Industries.

  “In the meantime, you may send us a request for an individual information packet. These packets will address any concerns you still have about the world outside the nest as well as your reasons for enrolling in this program.” She paused to exchange glances with the other people in the room before continuing. “Out of consideration for your neighbors, we ask that you refrain from sharing this information with anyone else until everyone has made their decision. If anyone regrets learning the information in these packets after reading them, you may also elect to undergo the memory suppression procedure again. Thank you for your patience...blah, blah, blah.”

  Growling in frustration, Jade walked away. “Just give us the answers already. Do they think we’ll change our mind if they make us wait?”

  “Are you sure you really want to know the truth?” Zoe asked, then added under her breath, “If it even is the truth?”

  “Yes,” Jade replied without hesitation. “You can always forget again if you don’t like what you learn.”

  “I can’t believe he’s gone,” Olivia said, looking mournfully at the door. “What do you think happened to him?”

  “I think he’s fine,” Zoe said with a determined expression. “Why would they hurt him just for trying to leave? He didn’t break anything except for maybe a fuse. It’s not like this place is a prison. Supposedly we all chose to be here, so all he lose is the chance to be here with us.”

  Olivia frowned. “But what if the world outside really is a disaster?”

  “You’re the one who tried so hard to convince us that it isn’t,” Jade retorted, exasperated.

  “She’s right,” Sloane pointed out when Olivia looked back at Jade with a wounded expression as if she’d slapped her. She and Sloane had barely interacted other than to argue, but at least this was one they on which they could agree.

  “I don’t know what to think,” Olivia admitted.

  “Me either. But I know what I’m going to do.” Jade reached for the pad of paper by the door and scribbled down a few requests before folding it and shoving it inside the correspondence slot and pulling the lever to deliver it to the other side.

  “Did you ask for answers?” Zoe asked curiously.

  “Yes. And a bottle of wine. I think we all deserve it.”

  Sloane laughed. “Put in some request for a six pack of beer, would you. And make sure they send us the good stuff. Nothing in a can.”

  Grinning, Jade reached for the paper. “You’ve got it.”