With that, she swung the branch at me. I raised my own, blocking her blow. Whoever had made the fake tree had done a darn good job, because even though I could feel the reverberations all the way down my arms, the branch didn’t break.

Throwing my weight behind it, I pivoted the branch in a wide circle, trying to disarm Bee, but she was prepared for that. She’d planted her feet, and while she grimaced, she kept her hold on the branch, and then, with a sharp stabbing motion, managed to drive me back.

“The only way for what?” I asked. “For him to run away and get caught by Alexander and the rest of the Ephors, who will kidnap him and turn him into their personal fortune-teller?”

I gritted my teeth, hands nearly numb with how tightly I was holding on to my weapon, and let myself be led backward. That had been one of Saylor’s lessons: Let them think they have the upper hand. Bet on their overconfidence giving you a window of opportunity.

“No,” she replied. “It’s the only way for any of us to have a normal life again.”

Bee pushed forward with her branch and I stepped back, my high heel catching on the velvet curtain a little.

And then suddenly I was blinded by bright lights and I heard a big intake of breath, like a bunch of people had gasped all at once. What the—

In front of me, Bee hesitated for a second, her head swinging to the left.

Oh. Crap.

We were onstage.

As I looked out into the audience, I saw my parents tilt their heads to the side, faces wrinkled in confusion. Next to them, Aunt Jewel raised one hand to cover her mouth.

Aunts May and Martha were still eating lemon drops, seemingly unconcerned that their niece had just torn down the curtain and appeared onstage with her best friend, both of us swinging giant fake branches.

The music was still playing, something from Swan Lake, and I remembered Rebecca in a tutu.

She was frozen at the corner of the stage now, staring at me and Bee, one arm still raised over her head, her feet in second position.

Then, with a grunt, Bee swung at me again, the branch connecting with my thigh. The pain helped me focus, and I turned back to her, parrying with a vengeance. My blow caught her on the ribs, and as she staggered back, she cried, “Just let it happen, Harper. I promise, it’s for the best.”

I gave one quick glance to the audience, my eyes searching for David. But his seat and the ones around it were empty, and my stomach was jumping, my chest still so tight I could hardly breathe.