“But we don’t!” Maude argues. “Don’t you understand, old man? We don’t care about accomplishments and fame and money, and we certainly don’t approve of your sick scheme to replace all these families, to get the ultimate revenge. Because that’s what this is, isn’t it? Revenge, plain and simple.”

Gravelle begins pulling a holographic keyboard out of thin air, and within seconds, he’s typing commands into it.

“Pru almost died because Tessa felt the need to take revenge on her,” Theodora says, all the while watching Gravelle. My pulse pounds, reacting to his cold silence. I can only imagine what he’s doing with those commands. It can’t be good. “I’ve done your bidding my entire life. You can torture me or terminate me, I don’t care. This is where it ends. I won’t do it anymore.”

Gravelle keys in a final command, then turns to Theodora, surveying her. “This rebellion of yours causes me a lot of suffering, Thea. You may not acknowledge it, but I have loved you for the past seventeen years as though you were my own. And now, you’ve given me no choice. That was the activation command I keyed in, for the stealth virus. It will momentarily begin invading your cells, and I’m afraid there’s no antidote. I’m distraught that things had to come to this, but if I were to let you get away with this reckless display, I’d be sending a dangerous message to the others. I’m sorry, Theodora.”

“I don’t believe you,” Theodora says. “I bet you wanted to build this virus into our DNA, but you never found out how. You would have needed your brother’s help. And from what I can tell, Albert Seymour was never on board with any of this. He’s a scientist with a moral compass. Which is a lot more than I can say about you.”

“Believe what you want.” Gravelle shrugs.

“I will. And I’m calling your bluff,” Theodora continues. “Look at me. I’m completely fine.” Theodora addresses all of us, and she has a point; she does look fine. She hasn’t fallen to the ground like Ransom did that day in the dining hall, seizing. Still, I worry she’s taken this too far. Gravelle meant what he said. I have no doubt he would do it; he doesn’t love us. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.

“Enjoy the feeds, and the snacks,” Gravelle barks. “I’ll return shortly.” He walks out, conferring with his guards, who have brought out plates of food. We don’t even touch the snacks. Eventually, we’ll get hungry enough, and we’ll have no choice. But for now, we huddle around Theodora. Is she feeling okay? Is she too hot? Too cold? Feverish?