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Victria’s eyes dart around the coathered around Doc by the door One of the first things we learned was not to ask too h’s words are incendiary

“ No, ” I say “We’re the freaks ”

And we are Everyone else on the spaceship Godspeed doesn’t stay up late at night, worrying about whether or not the ship will ever land They don’t spend their ti pictures They never worry about whether Bartie will be able to rip his gaze off Victria long enough to notice anyone else

“ We’re not that freakish,” Victria says “I heard Elder takes the mental meds too ”

I gasp in surprise Elder, our future leader, is onin the City noaiting the tie and joins Eldest on the Keeper Level of the ship—but even the hint of madness in our leader disturbs me “Will he come to live at the Hospital?”

Victria nods “I heard Doc talking to Eldest about it Elder will beto one of the farms for a bit ”

I want to know h interrupts us

“It’s better Being on the h says Her voice is clear and slow, as if she’s ht of each word and deter it

“You don’t remember what it was like before None of us do ”

“I remember,” she insists

“Yeah?” My voice is a challenge “What was it like?”

“ Nothing ”

“Tell us,” I demand

“ Nothing It was like nothing It was like being empty inside ”

Victria and I exchange a look