In the After

class.”
    A spark of understanding glints in his eyes and he speaks without turning toward me. “I’m not crazy. I’m in here because of what I learned about the Floraes.”
    “What did you learn?” I whisper, my chest tight .
    He turns to me. “You don’t want to know.”
    “I do . . . I do want to know. Tell me,” I plead .
    “You don’t.” He raises his voice. “You don’t want to know.” He was yelling now, and the orderly who escorted me from my room rushes over and tries to calm him. I sit in my chair, concentrating, wanting desperately to understand .
    “Amy, you’re sweating. Did Frank upset you?” a nurse asks .
    I nod vaguely and she leads me to my room, where I’m left to wonder what Frank discovered about the Floraes, what he’s afraid to say out loud .
    • • •
    School was canceled the next morning while New Hope recovered. We weren’t supposed to leave our apartments. I tried to call Vivian, but a voice kept prompting me for an emergency access code. All the lines were being held for official use.
    I watched the news for a while, but I couldn’t stand hearing the names of the dead read over and over, each time with new additions. They announced them alphabetically, so Vivian would be near the front. After they skipped over Alvarez for the third time, I flipped to cartoons for Baby.
    There was a knock at the door and I yelled, “Come in.” Rice appeared in the living room. “Rice!” I was so happy to see him I jumped off the couch. I ran at him, nearly knocking him off his feet with a leap of a hug.
    “I’m so glad you’re here. My mom told me that you were okay. I thought we weren’t supposed to leave our homes,” I said, giving him an extra squeeze.
    “The director’s assistant gets special privileges.” He was holding me tight and kissed my head. “I had to stop by, especially after I heard about what you did last night.”
    “My mother told you?” I asked, breaking away.
    “Haven’t you been watching the news?”
    “I needed a break from the death toll and I didn’t think it was good for Baby.”
    “Here.” Rice took the remote and switched the channel. Baby was watching us, grinning.
    I’m happy you’re here, Rice .
    To my surprise, he replied, Hello, Baby. I show Amy television .
    “Rice, I didn’t know you were learning our sign language.” I was impressed. I realized I’d have to watch what I said to Baby around him.
    “. . . she saved us,” the TV blared and I recognized the Minder from last night. “If it wasn’t for her all those children would have been killed. I would have died.” The Minder was crying and someone handed her a tissue. “She’s a hero.”
    “That’s not what happened,” I started to say, but then the newswoman continued.
    “There are rumors that Amy Harris plans to take the Guardian test after she classes out. The director has no comment at this time.”
    I turned to Rice. “Did you mention to anyone that I wanted to be a Guardian? Like maybe Dr. Reynolds?” Dr. Reynolds saw me leave the Rumble Room, but what good would announcing it do? I was sure he would have control over what was said on the news. Wouldn’t he rather no one knew I was breaking the rules?
    Rice shook his head. “No . . . I knew you were up to something with Kay, and after all of your Guardian questions at the party, I’d have to be pretty dense not to figure it out. I haven’t told anyone, though.”
    “You don’t think Vivian said something, do you? She’s the only other person I told.” I couldn’t imagine Vivian gossiping after she promised she wouldn’t.
    “I don’t think she said anything, but Amy, I have to tell you something. It’s why I came over.” His face turned dark as he took my hand, squeezing it softly.
    “What?” I asked, even though I got the feeling that I didn’t want to know. “What is it?”
    “Amy, I’m so sorry. It’s Vivian,” he said, looking into my eyes. “She’s on the list of the dead.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
    “Amy.” Rice takes a seat next to me in the common room. He looks at me with a kind smile. “It’s me, Rice.”
    “I know.” I smile back and my heart pounds loudly. “How are you?” I try not to sound too excited .
    “Good. I just came from visiting Baby. . . .”
    “Baby! How is she?” I ask desperately, any pretense of composure discarded. I haven’t seen her for a while, not since her visit with Dr. Reynolds. And how long ago was that?
    “She’s fine. I