"Remember," I said, "we have to act completely normal. No one can suspect anything."
Lily nodded, her face pale with worry. "I know. It's just... it feels wrong, doesn't it? Pretending everything's the same when we know the truth."
I squeezed her hand. "I know. But it's the only way we can help. We have to be strong."
As we entered the kitchen, Gus bellowed at us as usual. "You two! Start on the bread for today. And be quick about it!"
We set to work, kneading dough and trying to look as ordinary as possible. But it was hard not to see everything differently now. Every guard that passed by the kitchen, every overheard snippet of conversation - it all took on new meaning.
Midway through the morning, Beta Mark appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Rebecca, Lily, a word," he called out.
We
