I look away. Then look back, because I can’t help it.
He’s tall, dark-haired, with the kind of easy confidence that comes from never having to question where you fit. His mark is visible on his wrist—I can’t tell the House from here—and there’s something else there too. A secondary mark, smaller. I don’t recognize it.
“Who’s your friend?” He’s looking at me now, curious but not aggressive.
“She’s new,” Zoe says. “Being assigned to cluster housing.”
His eyebrows lift. Just slightly. Just enough.
“Yeah?” He looks at me differently now—not suspicious, but aware. Like he’s recalculating something. “Good luck.”
Then he kisses Zoe’s cheek, squeezes her once, and walks away.
Just like that.
They touched like it was nothing. Like it was easy. Like they’d done it a thousand times and would do it a thousand more.
“That’s Eli,” Zoe says, already moving again. “We finalized a few years ago.”
She doesn’t explain further. Doesn’t offer context or reassurance or any of the things I’m not asking for anyway.
I follow her in silence.
Cluster housing is separate from the other students. Down a path lined with identical houses that look more like containment units than residences. Zoe stops in front of one of them—same as all the others, nothing to distinguish it.
“This is it,” she says.
I stare at the door.
“They know you’re coming,” she adds. “I’ll check on you tomorrow. If you need anything before then, there’s a directory in the main hall.”
“Thanks.”
“Good luck, Nova.”
That’s twice someone’s said that to me today. It’s starting to feel less like a wish and more like a warning.
Zoe walks away without looking back.
I stand there for a long moment, staring at the door. Behind it are five people I’ve never met who are apparently supposed to be mine. Five strangers who’ve been waiting for me without knowing who I was.
Five men who probably have expectations I can’t meet.
The system didn’t ask me if I wanted this.
It never does.
Chapter 5
Kyron
The phone screen has gone dark twice and I keep tapping it awake without reading anything.
I’m in the chair by the window. Good light. That’s the reason.
The others are scattered around the room, pretending to do things. No one’s fooling anyone.
None of us are talking about it.
