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about as compassionate as the flu. And like the flu, I’d get over him and his feverish touch. Right?
    Doubt churned in my stomach as I remembered how I felt pressed against him. I was thankful the dark masked my blush as Ebony nudged me to look ahead of us.
    Grateful for a distraction, I complied. The flu, compassion and feverish touches lost my attention as we drew closer. I realized the windows I’d just deemed tiny were in fact as big as the transport pod propelling me toward them—we were like a minnow flanking a whale. We gravitated toward the belly of the huge fish where an illuminated line of pods formed at its center, presumably to drop off its precious, foolish cargo.
    We waited in line as pod after pod disappeared up into the belly, each reappearing after dispensing its passengers. We moved closer to the undercarriage of the Bellator , awaiting our turn to be devoured. Many times I glanced around our pod to see if any of my peers had come to their senses, but they all seemed eager for their fate. I knew I couldn’t escape to the crushing pressure of ocean around us, but maybe if one or more of them would help me overthrow the conductor…
    Too soon, the pod in front of ours moved next in line. I watched in terrified curiosity as a door above it opened, spilling white light into the surrounding darkness. All heads in the victim pod’s cabin looked up in expectation. Without warning, they were sucked up into the belly of the beast, light disappearing with them. More frantic now, I darted glances around the cabin, looking for a willing accomplice. And found none.
    After several torturous minutes, the pod re-entered the water without its passengers, as if the Bellator had eaten them and spit out the pod as bones. I tried to swallow and—good grief, had I grown an Adam’s apple? I clutched my neck to make sure the lump wasn’t actually protruding.
    In my nervous fit, I didn’t realize we were under the door until it opened, pouring light into the cabin. And, like a group of trained seals, we all looked up. I tried to look away—just to see if I could—but couldn’t tear my eyes from the white nothingness. In the next instant we catapulted up, swallowed whole.
    Somebody screamed. Might have been me. Another rash of snickers broke out, and I clamped my mouth shut.
    The pod rested on the cage-like floor of a lighted white room, and although we were still immersed in water, it was draining quickly. Within seconds, we were able to step out onto dry vents. While the other passengers retrieved their duffel bags from the rear of the pod, I waited alone, hugging myself like a lost child.
    The conductor ushered us through the only door in the room, out into a long hallway where we lined up, side by side. The walls were painted a very soothing—and very fitting—ocean blue instead of the customary, morbid black. The hallway extended without apparent end in either direction, with bright white lights embedded into the ceiling every few feet. Smiling, Ebony took the place beside me. I resolved to thank her later for her kindness.
    Little-Man silenced us with “Atten-hut!”
    As unique as his fingerprints, Lt. Horan’s gait on the squeaky hallway floors announced his presence. He strode up to me wearing a mirror-shattering grin. “There you are, Worm! Did you miss me?” he screamed in my face. Without taking his eyes off me, he yelled, “The rest of you are dismissed. Go get processed, find your quarters and stay there.”
    I wanted to think Ebony brushed against me on purpose, to reassure me, not because Lt. Horan was practically foaming at the mouth. But the hall seemed to vomit cadets. After a few minutes of shuffling, nudging and duck-and-cover, the lieutenant and I faced each other alone.
    “Did you bring your toothbrush, Morgan?” His voice was a sickening sweet.
    “No,” I replied, grateful for it.
    “That’s okay. Every new cadet is issued a complimentary toothbrush. I’ll get you one.”
    I followed