The case was too large, but I was able to tuck in the excess material and close the buttons. Carrying it under my arm, I hoped it looked like I was just carrying a pillow. If anyone stopped me, I’d already planned to say I was taking the case for cleaning because I’d spilled something on it. The hallways were still eerily quiet as I made my way back to our bedroom. Coming up the back steps, I was able to glimpse Calla when she left our room on her way to meet me. As soon as she was out of sight, I bolted inside, flung open my cedar chest, and stashed the Bound Book underneath my assortment of green dresses. My heart rate slowed when I made my way back into the hallway. I was breathing normally by the time I joined Calla in the nail salon.

The attendant worked quickly to buff out imperfections in our fingernails, then reapplied fresh coats of a nude nail polish before applying a clear topcoat. Calla and I chatted quietly, waiting for our nails to dry.

I wished I had paid more attention to the program that had been delivered to us earlier. “What time does the ball start?” I asked.

“They will call for us around six,” Calla said, blowing her fingernails.

“Right after supper?” I asked.

“Yes, but tonight we’re all having supper upstairs,” Calla said. “We don’t have time to clean up the dining hall afterward, so everyone’s eating in their rooms.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. That was one of the many things I wouldn’t miss about this outdated place—the robotic ways the other girls behaved at dinner. It was our nightly ritual, every girl telling her story of her One. A ritual I’d participated in, trying not to stand out. It was disturbing, nonetheless, listening to the girls chant the same story over and over.

“I think you’re done,” said the woman who had worked to fix our nails. Bending over Calla, she tested one of hers. “Yes, this has set nicely. You may go.”

“Time for our showers,” Calla said as we headed back to our room.

“You go ahead first,” I said. “My nails are still tacky.”

Calla grabbed her toiletry bag and robe. “I’ll be quick so there’s still hot water left for you.”

“Thanks.” I smiled, secretly impatient for her to leave.

When the door closed behind her, I dug through my cedar chest and retrieved the Bound Book. I flipped through the pages until I found the most recent entries written in the middle. Long lists of names were written in what looked like gold. Not golden ink, but in real gold. Skimming over the list, my heart skipped a beat when I found James’s name at the bottom. I used my finger to trace to the end of the line, smiling when I read Leath Elliott.