The door opened behind her, and in stepped Mitch. It was a shock to see him in civilian clothes instead of a suit. For the first time, I could see my twelve-year-old brother in his body. He was wearing brown cargo pants and a muted green hoodie with a black toque. A canvas knapsack slouched over one shoulder, and a torn black bandana was tied around one belt loop. I recognized the bandana and backpack as the ones he’d had when he was first captured all those years ago. They looked small against his new body. Fragile, like playthings. God, did we ever have a chance of making it together back then?

“What do you think?” he asked me, smiling as he turned in a small circle. “Pretty good, right?” He seemed genuinely happy, and his body was relaxed with no tie to fidget with like a slow-working noose.

“Yeah, pretty good.” I felt warm toward him, especially in this moment when everything else seemed to be spinning. This is how he would have looked if we’d managed to stay together seven years ago. Oh, why hadn’t we been able to stay together? My eyes started to burn. I looked away. I had to get away today. Forget waiting until the mission; there was no way I could pass this test. There was no way I could bring in others.

“Excellent, Agent Dusome,” Mellin agreed. “Very convincing. You should both get some filth on your faces and under your nails when you leave, though. You are entirely too clean.”

“Right, we’ll stop and roll around in the mud like pigs,” he laughed. The prep room agent joined in. I managed a small smile to cover the dread in my stomach.

Mitch stood beside me. “Isn’t this great, Francis? We were made for this. Even my old limp will be of use. I can make up some story about getting away from Recruiters.”

“Please don’t offer up too much information. It might be more than you’re capable of remembering,” Agent Mellin sighed. I was getting real tired of her thinking my brother was an idiot, even though I also thought he was mostly an idiot.

“Right, so we’ll go with Agent Dusome and Agent Francis to tell you lot apart. And to be clear, the same rules apply to you both, Agents.” She became very serious very fast. “Failure will result in both of you being brought back for radical extraction.”

“Yes, ma’am. Understood,” Mitch answered, straightening his posture at her harsh tone.

“Yes, ma’am,” I parroted back with a little less enthusiasm.

I had no idea what “radical extraction” was, but it did not sound like something I was willing to wager against. All thoughts of a quick dash into the woods were swept away. I was sure I could make it, if it came to that. I could escape, and maybe even get to my family quick enough to warn them. All I had to do was find out their coordinates. But Mitch? Even if he stayed out of my way so I could plan an escape, even if he could hold it together that long, he sure as hell wouldn’t make it out of reach of the Recruiters who would be waiting close by. Mostly because he wouldn’t want to. He would rather be extracted…radically, apparently.