Oh sure. You and me are tight. You just don’t realize it yet. Each time you dreamed, opened the floodgates, reached out to the others, I was right there. Now that you’re my suitemate, looks like I can come to you, too. Which is nice, since I get no visitors, except for your aunt, that one time.

You led them to us?

We probably shouldn’t be allowed to wander around killing people. It’s not our fault, though, that we were picked up by the bastards and made to be weapons of mass destruction. I do wonder if we’ll survive, though, what’s coming.

What do you mean?

Ryan began playing again, swerving in his seat. I remember. I remember everything. I bet your little friend, Miss Lily, remembers too, but she’s too scared to talk about it. You and Dr. Sweetness are grownups, so they scorched your memory, it’s what they do to adults. But us kids remember. Oh wait, you were a kid when you were taken, right? So you must remember.

William frowned. Everything I knew was wiped out by the same agency that is locking us away.

Well, don’t be too grumpy about it. I wish I didn’t remember. I know what they did with us, how we’re different than the ones before. When they trigger us at the end, we’ll be just fine. Not like the old models, with their bleeding ears and blown up brains.…

William’s stomach cramped.

Nanna.

Listen, Ryan, don’t say anything to them about how we communicate. I have to find a way to get us out of here.

You can’t stop it. The US might be in slightly better shape with three of us underground, but, as you probably have figured out, it’s happening all over the world. All you have to do is read any news website and you’ll see it. Hate to say it, but if I were in their position, I’d lock us up down here and throw away the key. And we’re down deep. Level forty-two deep. There’s no way out.

Just please don’t reveal that we can communicate.

Sure. Just don’t be a stranger, OK? I think we’re going to be down here for a long, long time.

I promise.

The boy was gone, the connection broken.

William knocked over two stacks of books and kicked a trashcan across the room. He pounded his fist on the door, yelling to be let out.

Lily stirred, and Jane stood. He saw them, as clearly as he could see Ryan, also rising from his chair.

He knew he could unleash them all. But it would do nothing. It would only prove why they need to be buried in a taxpayer-funded tomb.