I sat folded into myself, arms crossed, head down, gaze averted out the window, where all I could see was the blurred wall of the track as it passed us by. The Overseer sat across from me, content to let me simmer. I wanted Kyer, and Brin, and Lyra, too. I wanted my friends back, and my freedom. What would the Officers do to them now that we were separated? Would I ever see them again?
Worse, what would the Overseer do with me?
An eternity seemed to pass. The Overseer finished his drink and set the glass on the seat beside him. He uncrossed his legs and recrossed them in the opposite direction. He watched me ignore him. Was he waiting for me to say something? If so, he had a long wait ahead. I vowed I wouldn’t be the first to break the silence between us.
Finally, he sighed. It was a lo
