I started destroying the cargo the driver was delivering until he opened up the back door. He put a knife to my neck and in an instant I remembered my combat training and took it away from him. He looked helpless at the receiving end of my blade. I couldn’t bring myself to kill him though; instead I took off running.
—The diary of Megan Jean
Mia kept pacing back and forth. She’d spent the afternoon thinking of what to say and took solace in the fact that Greg would lead her.
“He should have been here fifty minutes ago,” Zack said.
“Greg wouldn’t let us down,” Alex said.
“You’re saying that about a man who has been lying to his own country for years,” Zack said.
“Maybe something happened to him,” Corinna said.
Mia feared that was the case. They heard a noise and Mia froze in place. She heard footsteps heading toward the waiting room. Zack drew his weapon.
“Where did you get that?” Frank asked.
“Greg said not to bring a weapon in here,” Alex said.
The door swung open and Greg Finnegan stood there in his full formal attire.
“Apologies for my tardiness,” Greg said. “But I had to pick up this.”
He was carrying a garment bag over his shoulder. He stepped into the room and hung the bag. He brought the zipper down and a long, flowing dress spilled out. It had wide crimson straps that met at a gold belt. A shimmering piece of gold material went up the center. The skirt was cut asymmetrically and seemed to move on its own.
“You were late because you had to pick up a dress?” Zack asked.
“I don’t have time to argue with you,” Greg said.
He went toward Mia and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Change and meet me on the studio floor,” Greg said. “Men, come with me.”
Greg stormed out of the room and Mia was left alone with Corinna.
“Are you nervous?” Corinna asked.
She went toward the garment bag and took the dress off its hanger. Mia stripped out of her clothes and Corinna helped slide the gown over her head.
“I don’t know what to say,” Mia said. “This seems like such a mess. This obsession with beauty is part of the ideals I want to end. Greg thought getting this dress was more important than prepping me.”
“I saw the dress back at the house,” Corinna said. “Greg wasn’t late for that reason.”
Mia gave Corinna an accusatory glance.
“I have always been a bit of a snoop,” Corinna said. “He was late because he didn’t want to prep you.”
Corinna gripped Mia by the shoulders.
“You know what to say,” Corinna said. “Whatever your heart tells you. I have never admired a single person as much as I admire you.”
“I’m not special,” Mia said.
Corinna spun Mia around so she was looking in the mirror.
“Do you know what I see?”
Mia didn’t respond.
“I see someone with a kind soul. You had everything you ever wanted, first with Grant’s proposal, then finding love with Andrew. The two of you could have gone off and lived a safe, quiet life, but instead you came back to help people you don’t even know and will probably never meet. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to accomplish that.”
“This all started because of you,” Mia said. “When you told me about that magazine article it changed my whole outlook.”
“No,” Corinna said. “This started years ago when the Registry was put in place. We are the ones who are going to stop it and you will lead us in that endeavor.”
Mia turned around and gave her sister a hug. She was at a loss for words. This felt too real.
“What if I made a mistake?” Mia asked. “What if Andrew dies tonight?”
“You wouldn’t love him if he wasn’t willing to take that risk,” Corinna said. “Now get out there, sit on that couch, and wait for your signal to begin your story.”
Mia gave a half smile. She forced her fears away. She wasn’t doing this for herself or for those she loved. Mia was doing this for the whole world.