Chapter 25 · Empty Cage, Cold Truth

"Don't you look away!" The gate slammed behind us and the broadcast laughed right in my ear.

"Welcome to Level Zero, lovebirds. Did you really think we'd keep the merchandise where you could find it?"

I was already on my knees in front of the pod. Not a kid. A doll. Plastic skin, photo taped to its chest. My brother's face. And that red stamp bleeding through. TRANSFERRED TO SECTOR 9 INCINERATION.

"No," I said. "No, no, no. That's not him."

Kane's hand locked around my wrist before I could rip the photo off. "Mara, don't touch it."

"Get off me!" I yanked hard. His fingers didn't budge. "That's my brother! They said he was here! You said he was here!"

"I said the manifest said he was here," he snapped. "This isn't a manifest. This is a fucking stage."

The broadcast kept talking, smooth and amused. "One hundred and twelve cradles. All empty. All sterilized. You two synchronized your hearts for nothing. How romantic."

I stared at the rows. A hundred empty cages. Small. Too small. The metal still cold. The straps still hanging open. Like they'd just been emptied.

"Where are they?" I screamed at the ceiling.