***
Thebluecarresembledapieceofmangledtinfoilwrappedaroundthe
telephonepole.Athintrailofsmokeoozedfromthehoodandcrawledupthe
mutilatedframe,disappearingbeneaththecolossaltruckthatsatatopthecar’s
remains. Eve watched as the truck’s driver fumbled for the door handle, and sherealizedthatshehadbeenheremany,manytimesbefore—butforwhatever
reason,thistimesomethingwasdifferent.Shelookeddownatherhands—they
were smooth and mature, with long, slender fingers and a faded, pencil-thin scarheadingstraightacrossherrightpalm.Shehadgottenthatscarduringa
fightintheseventhgradewhenoneofherclassmateshadthreatenedherwitha
knife. “I’m gonna cut that gift right out of you, chime,” he’d said to her throughgrittedteeth.Suddenly,sheknewwhatwassostrangeaboutherdream;
shetouchedherfaceandfelthersharpcheekbonesandpointednose.The accident was so real, so accurate, but for the first time in eleven years, the dreamhadchanged:Evewasnolongerachild.Shewasseeingthenightmare
throughtheeyesofhernineteen-year-oldself.
“Don’tyoutellanyone,littlegirl.Don’tyoutellagoddamnsoul,y’hearme?”
Eve’sheartracedassheresistedtheurgetokillthemanwithherowntwo
hands.Whatgoodwouldthatdo?Afterall,thiswasonlyadream,andhewas
alreadydead.Still,shecouldn’tslowtheheavybeatinginherchest.Afteryears of being haunted by this recurring vision, she had grown accustomed to it, desensitizedeven;andnowthatithadchanged,shefeltherselfpanickingonce
again.
Sheclosedhereyes— MaybeI’llwakeup,shethoughttoherself. WhenI open myeyes,everythingwillbebacktonormal. Withonelastmomentofhesitation, sheopenedhereyes.Thedrunkdriverwasgone,andinhisplacestoodJason
Valentine.
Helookedexactlyashehadonthehospitalgurney:hischestwascarved
open,andhisfleshandmusclehunglimplyathissides.Evestaredinhorrorat
his pulsing heart, at the blood that drizzled down his stomach, past his navel, and onto his jeans, while his eyes looked back at her with an empty, lifeless gaze.
“We’reallgoingtodie.”
Hisvoicewascalmandunwavering.Eve’slegsbegantoshake;shewanted
torun,towakeup,tofindawaytoescapeJason’spresence,butshecouldn’t
stopherselffromstaringdeepintohisunblinking,expressionlesseyes.
“Wehavetostopit.Wehavetomakeitend.Oreveryonedies.”
Evelurchedupinherseat,andacoupleofnearbystudentsgiggledand
whisperedtooneanotherastheywatchedhercatchherbreath.Shewasinthe
Rutherfordstudyhall,tryingtotackleherassignmentsfromthedaypriorbut
failingmiserably.Hereyespanneddowntoherscratchpad;herdigital
textbook read Page One, and she cursed under her breath. It was Heather ’s fault
—hersleeplessnight,hertossingandturning,thenew,horriblenightmares
thattormentedher.Withasigh,sheadmitteddefeat,gatheredherbelongings,
andheadedforthedoor.
Evehoppedintheelevatorandpressedthebuttonforthefirstfloor.Itwas
nearlyseveno’clock,anddinnerwouldsoonbeavailableinthedininghall.
TheideaofeatingtherewiththeBillingtonelite,andevenworse,with
MadisonandHayden,madehercringe.Shewouldmuchrathereatbyherself—
beingalonewashercomfort,herrefuge,theonlythingthatfeltfamiliarand
safe—butitwasaluxuryMadisonhadensuredshewouldneverenjoyagain.
TheelevatordoorsopenedtorevealasightEvehadn’texpected:thelobby
was filled with students, all madly dashing in the same direction—straight to therecroom.Curious,Evefollowedsuit,peeringovertheirheadsand
shoulders as they squeezed their way through the tight space. The room was crammedwithRutherfordians—manysatcross-leggedonthefloor,while
otherssharedthescantchairs,andsomeeventeeteredatopthetables—but
everylastoneofthemhadtheirsightssetonthewall-sizedHVscreen.
Thenewswason.Asharplydressedanchorwoman’shologrampacedthe
floor,walkingthroughafewofthestudentswhosattooclosetotheprojection.
Shestoppedandfacedtheroom,hertonesomberandurgent.
“Inourtopstoryoftheday,controversytearsthroughBillingtonUniversity.
Accordingtowhatwebelievearereliablesources,Interlopershaveinvadedthe esteemedcollege.EvenmoredisturbingarereportsthattheInterlopersarenot just occupying the campus—they are, in fact, abducting chimera students and performinglivedissectionsonthem.”
ThestudentssurroundingEvenervouslymurmuredtooneanother,butshe
“AnanonymoussourcewithinBillingtonhasinformedChannel4Newsthat
asmanyasninechimeraabductionshavetakenplaceattheuniversityoverthe past several months, and that Billington officials have resorted to extreme measures in order to keep these attacks out of the headlines. The most recent abduction and dissection, occurring just yesterday, is certainly the most shockingofthemall:Channel4hasconfirmedthatBillingtonsophomoreJason
Valentine, son of New York Senator Donald Valentine, is the latest attack victim.”
AsmallphotoofJasonappearedinthetopcornerofthescreen.Hissmile
wasfriendlyandsincere,butEvefeltachillrunthroughherbody.
“Accordingtoouranonymousinsider,JasonValentinesufferedlife-
threateninginjuriestothechestandabdomenandiscurrentlyinrecovery.
SourcesspeculatethatnoonewithintheValentinefamily,includingJason,was awareofhisstatusasachimera.SenatorValentinetookananti-chimera-rights stance during his campaign, and thus far, has not released any statements regardinghisson’sconditionortheattacksatBillingtoningeneral.”
AfewstudentssnickeredtooneanotherastheypointedatJason’sphoto.For
abriefmoment,Evethoughtthatsheheardoneofthemmutter,“Chime.”
“ThistragicdiscoveryatBillingtonUniversitymarksaturningpointthat
many have feared: the US Government has now officially declared the
Interloperpopulationaphysicalthreattochimeras.”
“Whatareyoudoing?”
AsharpvoiceranginEve’sear,breakingherconcentration.Shejumped—
thenlookedtohersideandsawHayden’sgrey,beadyeyesstaringbackather.
“God,Hayden,youcan’tjustsneakuponpeoplelikethat.”
“Madisonsentmetolookforyou.You’relatefordinner.”
“I’m late?Isshemyroommateormymother?”
“Lesstalking,morewalking.”Haydenscannedtheroom,herfacevapidand
expressionless.“Let’sgo.”
EvefollowedHaydentowardthedininghall,shovingherthoughtsofthe
Interloperstothebackofhermindasbestshecould.Astheymadetheirway
past the long rows of tables and chairs, she saw Jason’s mangled body flash before her eyes, and she blinked furiously to rid herself of the images. With littletimetocalmherself,shefinallyfoundMadison’stableandsatinfrontof her.
Madisontrailedherforkthroughhersalad,tossingbitsoflettuceacrossher platelikeachildplayingwithherfood.
“Ugh,”shemoaned.“Thissaladistheworst.
Thesecherrytomatoestaste
likebarf.”ShelookedupatEveandgrowled.“Wherehaveyoubeen?”
“IwasintherecroomwatchingHV.Haven’tyouseenthenews?They’re
talkingaboutyour belovedJason.”
Madisonploppedherforkinthemiddleofhersaladandgrimaced.“Don’t
evenremindmeofJason. So disappointingtohearhe’sachimera. Gross.”
Evewinced.“Gross?”
“Totally! Just think, if we were to have babies, they’d be tainted, like crossbreeds,or mutts.Plus,I’msurehischestlookslikeavomitosismessnow thatit’sbeenrippedopenandsewnbacktogether.”Shewrinkledhernoseand
pushedherhalf-eatensaladofftotheside.“Ican’teveneatjustthinkingabout it.”
Evebitherlipandshovedherhandsdeepintoherpockets,attemptingtokeep
herangeroutofsightasshedugherfingernailsintoherpalms.
“So,I’mguessinghe’sbeencutfromyourlistoftoptenfuturehusbands?”
“God no. He’s been demoted, but not removed completely. He’s down to numbertennow—barelyhangingonbyathread.Buthe’sstillrichandpretty.
Thatcountsforsomething.”
Everolledhereyes.“Ican’tthinkofanythingthatmattersmore.”
“Idon’tknowwhatsheseesinhim,”Haydenadded,slurpingherjuiceand
glaringpointedlyinEve’sdirection.“Idon’tknowwhatsheseesina lotof
people.”
“Ladies!Fancyseeingyouhere!”
AbubblyvoicetrilledbehindEve,catchingheroffguard.Shecringed—she
knewexactlytowhomitbelonged.
“Heather!”Madisonbeamed,muchtoEve’ssurprise.“Hon,youlook
fabulous!”ShehoppedupfromherseatandgaveHeatherafirmsqueeze.
HeatherglancedbackandforthbetweenMadisonandEve.“Ididn’tknow
youtwoknewoneanother,”shesaid,hereyeslightingupwithdelight.Evewas
familiarwiththelook—andshedidn’ttrustit.
Madisonsmiled.“Oh,wemorethan knoweachother.We’reroommatesand
instantfriends.Attachedatthehip,really.”
EvelookedbrieflyatHayden;theblondeangrilyscowledbackatherand
downedherjuicelikeitwasashotofvodka.
“Well,isn’tthatspecial.”Heather’seyesdancedacrossMadisonandlanded
onthelarge,glitteringorbsthathungfromherearlobes.“Madison,Imustsay,
thosearesomebeautifuldiamondearrings.”
“Younoticed!”MadisonshotaquickgloweratHaydenandEve.“Thesetwo
bottomfeedershaven’tsaidawordaboutthem.”
“AretheyagiftfromDaddy?”
“Youknowmetoowell,Heather.”Madisoncuppedthedanglinggems,
stroking their platinum settings affectionately. “They’re new, you know. You
can’tbuytheminstoresyet,andthey’realreadysoldoutinpresale,butthose sortofrestrictionsdon’tapplyto me,obviously.”
Heathercockedherhead.“They’reawfullysparkly.”
“That’sbecausethey’reEverlastingDiamonds,thelatestthinginsynthetic
gems.”
“Synthetic?”Haydenasked.“So…they’refake?”
“They’rethe future of fashion,youidiot,”Madisonsnarled.“Naturaldiamonds arescratch-resistant,butthey’renotshatterproof.Everlasting
Diamondsaretotallyindestructible.”Madisonflickedherwristnonchalantly.
“It’schemistryorsomething,Idon’tknow.ButIdoknowthatit’sthefirstof
its kind, a diamond to surpass all diamonds. Nothing like this has ever been madebefore.”
Evesquintedhereyes,blindedbytheshimmeringmonstrosities.“Idon’t
understand.Whywouldanyoneneedashatterproofdiamond?”
“Whywouldanyoneneedaneedlelacedresshand-stitchedbyFinnishnuns?
Becauseit’sextravagantanddynamicandaboveallelse,it’sa statement.”
“Astatementofwhat?Wealth?”
“Exactly.Besides,thetoughnessiswhatmakesthesebadboyssotwinkly,
andreally,that’sallthatmatters.”MadisonturnedtoHeather,hereyesglowing
withself-regard.“Mydaddyevenletmecomeupwiththecommercialslogan:
yourheartwillneverbreak,andneitherwillyourdiamonds.”
“Well,aren’tyouthelittlemarketingmaven.Somuchsothatyou’vesold
me,”Heathercooed.“It’sashamethey’renotavailableforpurchase.”
“Iknow,it’sarealpaininthecrotch,butwhatcanyoudo?”
“What canyoudo?”Heatherrepeated,strokingherchinalmostcomically.
“That’saphenomenalquestion.Ifonlysomeonehadspecialaccesstothese
EverlastingDiamonds.IknowifIdid,I’dgivesometomyfriends.”Shestared
atMadison,hereyesfiercelyfocused.“Myclosestcompanions.Theoneswho
knewmy deepestsecrets.Youknow,outofthegoodnessofmyheart.”
MadisonlookedbackatHeather,hercheekssuddenlymorphingfrompink
towhite.
Heatherfoldedherarms.“Butthat’sjustme,ofcourse.”
Madisonsprangtolife,immediatelydiggingthroughhergoldenclutchlike
adogtrackingascent.Sheyankedavelvetcoinpursefromherbagand
pouredoutitscontents:threesmalldiamonds.
“AnEverlastingDiamondfor each ofyou,”shesaid,placingoneintothepalm ofeachgirl’shand,“becausethat’showmuchyouallmeantome.”
Eveeyedthejewel;itwassmall,thesizeofapea,andyetsheknewitsvalue
likelysurpassedevenhermostlavishestimates.
“Madison,youare sogenerous!”Heatherchirped,admiringhergeminthe
light.“HowunfortunatethatIhavetwoearsandonlyonediamond.”
Madisonforcedapainedgrinandreluctantlypulledonelastgemfromher
coinpurse.“Nowyouhavetwodiamonds,”shemanagedtoutterthrough
poorlyconcealedgrittedteeth.“Justforyou,myoldestfriend.”
“Butwhatabout—”
“Shutup,Hayden,”Madisonsnapped.SheturnedtoEve,whohadremained
quietthroughoutthisodddisplay,andscowledresentfully.“Iknowyou’renot
toofamiliarwiththefinerthingsinlife,butthatdiamondisworthmorethan
youare. Ifyouloseit,I’llgutyoulikeafish.”
“Speakingofguts…”Heatherplacedherdiamondsinherhandbagand
turnedtoEve,gentlyrestingherhandonhershoulder.“Howareyouholding
up,darling?”
Evegrumbledandshookthegirl’shandfromhershoulder.“I’m fine,thanks.”
Heatherleanedintowardthegirls.“Wewereinthemedicalwardyesterday
whenthewhole…”Shepausedandlookedfromsidetoside.“… situation
happened.”
Hayden’seyeslitupwithcuriosityandMadisongasped.
“Eve!”theheiressyelped.“Howcomeyoudidn’ttellme?”
“It’ssomethingI’drathernottalkabout.Ever.”
HeathertookaseatfacingEve.“Youknow,IhadaclasswithJasonduring
thefirstsemesterofourfreshmanyear.Ineverwould’vesuspectedthathewas
oneofthem.”SheturnedtoMadison.“Whataboutyou,doll?You’veknown
himforquitesometime,haven’tyou?”
“No one is more shocked than I am, that’s for sure.” Madison pouted
melodramatically.“Ifeelliedto—betrayed,really.Heshould’vesaid something.Heshoul
d’ve told me—”
“Hedidn’tknow.”
Thetablefellsilent,andEvefeltalleyesonher .ForGod’ssake,learnto keep yourmouthshut,shethoughttoherself,andyetshecouldn’thelpit.Shelooked upatthethreegirlsbesideher.
“TheysaidsoonHV.”
Heatherfrowned.“Youseemsotense,darling.Areyousureyou’reokay?”
“IsaidI’mfine.”
Heathergiggled.“Oh,Eve,sotight-lippedandfullofmystery.Iswear,
you’re like an onion—you have to be peeled back layer by layer.” She stood from her seat and patted down the pleats of her skirt. “It’s been so lovely catching up, but I have places to be and things to do. Thank you for the diamonds,Madison.”Justasshesteppedawayfromthetable,shestoppedand
turnedtowardthegirlsonelasttime.“Oh,andEve,mylittleenigma,dotake
careofyourself.Icertainlycan’twaittoseeeachandeveryoneofyourlayers.
They’refascinating,I’msure.”
ThethreesomewatchedHeatherscamperaway,completelysilentuntilshe
hadturnedthecornerandleftthedininghall.
“Thank Godshe’sgone,”Madisonhissed,slumpinginherchairwithrelief.
“Thatcould’vebeenasuckgasmicmess.”
“Whatwas thatallabout?”Eveasked,dumbfounded.“Thecompliments,the
diamonds.Ithoughtyouhatedher.Youtoldmeshewasa vulture.”
“Yeah,well,shecan’tknowthat.”
“Whynot?”
“Eve,don’tbesonaïve,”theheiresssneered.“Thatslopholehasruinedtoo
manyreputationsinherlifetime.Ican’triskgettingonherbadside.Youknow
whattheysay:keepyourfriendscloseandyourenemiescloser.”
Eve caught herself before she rolled her eyes. In fact, she realized that her disapprovalwasalmosthypocritical.Afterall,shewaseatingwithMadison
andHayden,twogirlsshecouldn’tstandtobearound,andforwhat?For
safety. For survival. That was what she had told herself each day as she toleratedtheircompany.Inherdesperationtocoastbyanonymously,shewas
becomingwhatshedespised:afake. Keepyourfriendscloseandyourenemies
closer—thewordsechoedthroughhermind,andsheknewtheydescribedher