Graduation Day (The Testing 3)

“But you think I must have. Otherwise, why else would I be here, right?” Before I can reply, she turns to Tomas and asks for the wet cloth so she can clean her wound, saying that she is the most qualified owing to her field of study. Tomas hands her the cloth but stays nearby as she begins to dab the blood away.

The set of Stacia’s jaw tells me she is done asking questions for now, so I turn back to Will and ask, “When did your Testing memories return?”

Will shrugs and sits on the ground next to the wall. “Right after Dr. Barnes told us we’d been accepted to the University. When I looked around and didn’t see Gill in the room, I knew something was wrong.”

I remember that Will had to be restrained and was taken away by officials when he realized his brother wasn’t there. It took days before he returned.

While Will explains the flashes of memories he experienced, Stacia lets Tomas help finish cleaning up the bloody wound. I shift closer so I can see it. The hole made by the bullet isn’t large. Perhaps a half inch in diameter. Maybe less. But the swelling and red rim around the injury are concerning. As is the blood that continues to trickle out. Since this is the only puncture in Stacia’s arm, I have to conclude that the bullet is lodged inside.

Stacia comes to the same conclusion and decides to bandage up the arm instead of doing anything more to treat it. “I can’t dig the bullet out myself. And even if I could I’m sure it would do more harm than good. I wish I had broken into the residence pharmacy and taken some of the good pain meds. All I have are some anti-inflammatories.”

“I mixed some herbal remedies with water,” Tomas says, taking the bottle marked with a circle out of his bag. “It’ll take away the pain, but there’s a chance it will also put you to sleep.”

Stacia looks at the bottle and shakes her head. That simple movement makes her wince. In a strained voice she says, “I think I’m going to need a clear head for this. But if you don’t mind, I’ll hold on to it for later.”

When Tomas hands her the bottle, she opens it and smells the contents. After a moment, she asks him to pour some of the liquid on one of the bandages she brought with her. I pull the ointment from my bag and hand it to Stacia for her to use on the wound as well. The easing of tension in her shoulders tells me that the combination might be enough to help get her through what is to come.

Before we discuss that, there is still something I have to know. “Why did you tell Enzo about the pulse radio in my room?”

“If I give the wrong answer are you going to threaten to shoot me like you did with Will?” She gives me the same smile I remember from The Testing dining hall. “Is this my test, Cia?”

“Would you pass?” I ask, conscious of the gun in my hand. “Not only was Enzo burned and almost killed, but it happened in my room. If it weren’t for Ian, I would have been detained by officials. I might even be dead right now. You set that up. I think it’s fair to ask why.”

Stacia looks around the room. All eyes are on her. “When we went into the library, Enzo started asking a lot of questions about you. He said he was worried that you might be doing something that could get you in trouble with Professor Holt and he wanted to help. I figured it was the perfect opportunity. You hadn’t come up with a test, and there wasn’t any more time to waste. So I told Enzo you had found some recording that you thought was important and were trying to decide whether to turn it over to the president. He went after the recording and proved he wasn’t on our side. I’m sorry he got hurt, but I did us a favor.”

“All you proved was that Enzo wanted to see what was on that recording,” I say. “You have no idea what his motives were.”

“Cia’s right.” Will speaks up from his spot in the corner. “Enzo could have been worried enough about Cia that he was willing to risk punishment in order to learn what trouble she might be facing.”

“Or he could have been spying on her and was looking to collect a reward for turning information over to Dr. Barnes,” Stacia shoots back.

And we may never know. As much as I want to believe Enzo will pull through, I saw how badly injured he was. It is impossible to imagine the pain he will endure and how he will

survive it in order to come back from that.

“Worrying about what’s been done isn’t going to help us now,” Raffe says. “Enzo will recover or he won’t. We can’t change that outcome. The only thing we can do is learn from the mistakes made and make sure we don’t make the same ones in the future.” When no one contradicts him, he adds, “The only way to prevent something like this from happening again is to agree that one person makes the final call on how we move forward from here. And the only reason we’re having this discussion is because of Cia. She pushed for information about The Testing and found the truth behind Symon and the rebellion. The president asked for her help. Cia is our leader. From my position, whatever decision she makes on something should be final. Does everyone else agree?”

Will is the first to nod. Not that what he thinks truly matters, since he is not a part of this. Not really. Tomas studies Raffe and then gives his assent, which leaves only Stacia. I still do not know whether she believes in this cause or if she is only doing it for a reward she thinks she’ll be given once it’s over. Whatever her reason, it is clear she is not happy when she sighs and says, “Fine. Now can we talk about what we plan to do next? We don’t have much time.”

I push my worries about Stacia to the side. Now that the others have arrived, we are faced with two unanticipated problems. Will’s presence and Stacia’s injury. Tonight will be physically and emotionally challenging. I don’t believe Stacia can handle it in her condition. However, I am certain she won’t allow herself to be left behind. And from the way Tomas is acting, it’s clear he is unwilling to discuss strategy with Will in the room. But we really don’t have a choice.

Raffe doesn’t seem to have the same concern since he asks, “So now what?”

Tomas and I look at each other. I can tell he doesn’t want to talk, but as this group’s leader the decision is mine.

Taking a deep breath, I tell them about my brother and what is happening now in the rebel camp. Raffe and Stacia merely nod when I mention Zeen. They listen as, pulling out the list, I explain the strategy Tomas and I have devised. Two teams. Four targets. All to be reached between dusk and dawn, starting tonight.

“But we might have to revise that plan now that Stacia is injured,” I admit. “Maybe Ian . . .”

“No.” Stacia shifts and winces but says, “I’m going. You can’t force me to stay behind.”

“She’s right,” Raffe says. “We need all of us to make this work. Even if we could get word to Ian, I don’t think he’d leave campus. He’s determined to talk to as many of the rebel students as he can and sway them to ignore Symon’s orders. If Stacia thinks she can handle this, then she should try. If she starts having problems then we’ll deal with it.”

“Fair enough,” Stacia agrees. “So which one of you is going to be lucky enough to team up with me?”

“I will,” Tomas offers. “Out of all of us, I’d be the best one to help with the pain if it gets too bad.”

That’s not the real reason. The look Tomas gives me as I start to object tells me I’m right. Any one of us would be able to apply ointment or dab on some of the plant-doctored solution that Tomas has created. But while I am sure Tomas would prefer to face what this night will bring together, as we faced so much of The Testing, doing so would force us to trust the two members of the other team to do exactly as they say they will. Tomas does not fully trust Raffe. I do not trust Stacia. Knowing that, this pairing is the only one that makes sense.