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"It’s beautiful," Aht, but when I see it, I only remember the way it really happened, not the way Harley painted it
The painting is vividly bright, even though inwas dark: the water, the , looking down into the pond--me, Harley, Victria, Bartie, and, behind us, Orion Harley had used some sort of reflective paint on the surface of the pond--but just beneath theon her back, her laughing eyes peering up toward the surface Koi swirl around her fingers, and a lotus plant’s roots tangle in her loose, thick black hair
"He really liked koi," Ah’s favorite"
I can taste the h’s skin I can see the bloated way her face squished under Harley’s touch
"Let’s look for the clue," Ae of the pond "It’s probably on the back, like the other one"
I lift the canvas up to the light, then flip it over
"Look," Aht ink on the back and, in the center of it, another tiny e is written on the back of the painting in the sa as the first clue:
1, 2, 3, 4 Add it up to unlock the door
"Does he mean the door on the fourth floor of the Hospital? The one that leads to the elevator that goes down to the cryo level?" I ask
"I don’t think so He told you about that door; he knows I’ve seen what’s behind it If he left these clues for me to find, then he must mean one of the other locked doors"
"There aren’t any--" I start, but I stop abruptly There are few locked doors on the ship--and fewer doors still that h But there is one area that is full of locked doors, doors locked with a keypad whose code even Eldest didn’t know
"The doors on the cryo level," I say "The ones near the hatch"
Aot that vid screen with you?" I ask Amy pulls it out of her pocket, and I snap the er on the ID box on the screen The screen co a h to see the screen, but not so close that she touches in video feed>>
Orion is barely visible, hidden in shadow He sits on the fourth step of a large staircase extending out of view behind hiainst his knee in a jittery, almost nervous way
"Where is that?" Amy asks
I shake my head, intent on the video
The cae He speaks softly, almost kindly
ORION: First, I want to say I’h I never asps
I say nothing, but a heavy stone sinks in ht as well have She figured it out Eldest’s biggest secret The one he doesn’t want anyone to know
"What could that be--"
"Shh"
Orion pauses, sing hard as if overcome with emotion
ORION: A--Kayleigh’s h, but there are things I can do Locks I can change Fool that he is--he hasn’t thought to check them
Orion stops abruptly His eyes lose focus
ORION: I don’t knohat’s right or wrong anyh died I don’t knohat she kneas so the whole ship should know I don’t know if she should have found the truth
Orion shifts on the steps
ORION: I don’t know if killing her orth saving the ship
He shrugs, as if there’s a possibility that killing her was excusable, or even understandable
ORION: Maybe it was Maybe Eldest is right This truthI don’t think anyone wants it
Orion tucks a piece of hair behind his ear
I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear
ORION: That’s why I need you, Amy You will know Because you were born on a planet, but you’ve lived on Godspeed You’re the only one on the whole ship who can knohat to do with this truth
Orion turns to face the camera, and his eyes seem to lock with mine
ORION: I’ve seen the armory Eldest showed it toquestions Like: If we are on a peaceful, exploratory mission like Eldest says, why are we arlance at Amy, but her attention is focused on the vid screen Inside er Amy never believed Orion had a reason to kill the frozens--she thought he was crazy and that his theory that the frozens would exploit those of us born on the ship was a delusion I don’t think she believes there even is an ar Orion talk about it
Orion looks over both shoulders, fear filling his face He looks guilty or afraid or both
ORION: So here’s what you need to do, Amy You need to see the armory for yourself You were from Sol-Earth, your father was in the military You should knohat is a reasonable ao to the armory See for yourself
Orion shifts out of focus, then leans forward, his face filling the screen