Taken (Erin Bowman)

Maybe your unique situation will shed some light on things.”
    I nod, baffled, and then freeze. The thought hits me like a punch in the stomach.
    “Wait? Here? The Heisted boys appear here ?”
    “Weathersby you said, right?” Frank flips through some papers he’s pulled from his desk. He finds what he is looking for and winks at me. “Blaine. He’ll be in the cafeteria this time of day. Breakfast.”
    I almost forget to breathe. Frank motions for me to stand and places a hand on my shoulder. His palm is warm, reassuring. He is shorter than me and raises his eyes to meet mine before saying, “Come. Let’s go find your brother.”

FOURTEEN
    FRANK LEADS. WE PASS THROUGH a series of corridors and he has to unlock several of the doors as we progress, but does so by swiping his wrist before a plain, silver box. The hallways are impressive, adorned with radiant lights and a plush floor comprised of the Franconian Order’s triangular emblem. It repeats itself in several shades of red, edges lining up to form an intricate pattern.
    When we arrive at a towering set of double doors that I suspect to be concealing the dining hall from view, there is a subtle beep and Frank puts one hand to his ear. His fingers pinch a small device that rests wrapped about his earlobe. He raises one finger toward me, motioning for me to wait, and paces the hall. He hmmms and ahhhs a few times, nodding curtly. I realize he must be talking to someone, and through that tiny object. He speaks just once, at the tail end of the conversation.
    “Get a team together immediately. If this is true, we may get fantastically lucky. I want them sent out first thing tomorrow, at the latest. And, Evan, round up the necessities for a meeting. I’ll join shortly.”
    The device beeps a second time and Frank lowers his hand. “My apologies,” he says.
    I point at his ear. “What is it?”
    “Just a way for us to talk—the Order—even when we are far apart. You’ll see all sorts of new technologies in your time here. Harvey didn’t exactly have you living in the modern era.”
    I’m not fully following, but I nod. Frank rests a hand on my shoulder. “I’m very sorry to do this, but I have to attend to some pressing business. Find your brother, get some food in your system. I’ll make sure someone retrieves you in a bit to show you to your room.”
    I nod. As soon as Frank removes his hand from my shoulder, I wish he’d put it back. He makes me feel anchored in this strange world.
    “My scouts think they spotted Harvey outside Taem,” Frank says, walking backward down the hallway so that he still faces me as he speaks. “We just might be able to intersect his travels if we act quickly enough. But, shhh , you didn’t hear that from me.”
    He winks, rounds a corner, and is gone.
    I put a palm to the double doors, and push my way inside.
    The dining hall is extremely large and filled with numerous tables and even more chairs. Each item is identical, crafted with such precision I long to meet its maker. The place is packed with Order members. Some chatter while they eat. Others stand in line, gathering their meals from a long table at the rear of the room. It almost reminds me of the feast during our Heist ceremonies.
    My stomach growls at the smell of hot food, but not even hunger is enough to distract me. Blaine is here. I stand near the entrance and scan the crowd. It is a sea of black suits, each Order member blending into the next. And then, I spot him. His hair is gone, shaved close to his head, but it is him. Like everyone else, he wears the dark uniform of the Franconian Order. He’s laughing at something, and I feel whole. I dart across the room. I’m still several tables away when he sees me.
    “Gray!” he exclaims. And then he is jumping from the table, spilling water on his lap. The people around him duck as his tray is knocked askew. The next thing I know Blaine is clasping his arms around me, and I’m almost crying because I thought we’d never see each other again.
    “What are you doing here?” he asks, shaking me.
    “It’s a long story.”
    “I can’t believe—I mean, I’m glad to see you—but how did . . . This isn’t happening.”
    My cheeks hurt from grinning, but I can’t stop. To see him so utterly confused is beyond amusing.
    “Did you . . . Did you climb ?” he asks quietly.
    I nod, still smiling. Although I would have thought it impossible, his face grows even more startled. I have a million