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  I entered the kitchen, my feet sliding over the hardwood floor, my hand on the counter, guiding me through the darkened room. I jumped at every creak in the floorboards.

  “Lily…”

  I halted, a shiver running down my spine.

  “Who’s there?”

  My eyes moved over every shadow, but there was no one in the room with me. Trying to still my shivering, I tiptoed to the dining room.

  “Mom?” I called. “Dad?”

  I slipped into every room downstairs cautiously, searching for my parents.

  “Lily…”

  The voice floated to me once again. It was not a voice I recognized. It was dark, sinister…cold. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, my eyes searching every nook and cranny for the owner of the voice. I could feel his eyes on me, observing my actions as I searched my dark home.

  My brain jumped to the horrible conclusion that my parents had left. I was certain they had gone to Central without me, leaving me alone in our old house with the owner of the sinister voice.

  I crept to the stairs, holding my breath, terrified any stray noise would give away my location.

  “Lily…”

  While being cold and terrifying, the voice was also alluring and seductive, almost demanding to be found. I looked into the dark shadows at the top of the staircase, searching for any signs of my parents…or the owner of the voice tantalizingly calling my name.

  “Mom? Dad?” I hissed, placing my foot carefully on the first step, transferring my weight as slowly as possible to avoid making noise.

  As I ascended the stairs, I could feel his eyes on me…following me…

  “Little Lily…” the voice whispered. It was closer now, drawing me nearer as I climbed the stairs. I could almost feel his breath on my neck, whispering the endearing name, causing my hair to stand on end.

  I turned at the top of the stairs, starting toward my parents’ bedroom, my eyes scanning the family portraits on the wall. Framed pictures extending through generations of my family broke the boring tan color of the wall. In the center of the collection of photographs was one that my father had always explained as his favorite. It was a picture taken when my grandfather first took my father fishing. The young face of my father was smiling triumphantly in the photo, holding his prized trout with a look of pure glee as my grandfather pointed at the fish with a broad grin of his own. My father often teased about how my grandmother had trimmed the picture down to squeeze it into the only frame she had at the time, slicing off one of my father’s ears, the tail of the trout, and the top of my grandfather’s head just to hang it on the wall that much sooner.

  Despite the small picture, it was one that my father adored and stared at often, so it caught my attention. For some reason, in the darkened hallway, it looked as though all the other photos on the wall had moved away from my father’s favorite, causing it to stand out.

  “Look, Lily…”

  The picture looked different. As I drew closer, I could see it was the entire picture, before it had been cut to fit the frame. There was a third person in the picture, the person’s head leaning against my father’s with a brilliant smile. I stepped closer, trying to discern the stranger’s features.

  “Lily.”

  “Lily! Look!”

  I snapped awake, my heart pounding. It took me several moments to realize I was in the living room once more, the lights on and my parents seated on the couch next to my chair. My startled jump disturbed Dexter and he hissed, jumping from my lap and slinking off irritably. My parents were laughing loudly, adding to my groggy confusion as I turned my attention to the reason my parents were making a fuss.

  “The new Official Regulator for the Western Region is Thomas Sandover. The incumbent Official Regulator for the North-Midwest Region…” the reporter named off who had won methodically, unaware of the celebration taking place in our living room.

  “I’m so proud of you!” my mother exclaimed, kissing my father passionately, her arms wrapping around him.

  I could not share in their elation. I felt as though my throat had closed up, making it impossible to breath. I stared at the floor, my heart thundering in my chest.

  If my dream was any indication, I was already lost in the dark shadow my father’s victory had cast over my life.

  Chapter Two

  It was the last day of school and the last day before our move to Central for my father’s new promotion. I was on the verge of tears all day—my close friends were in tears as we said our goodbyes. We hugged and tried to stay together as long as possible outside my house before they went home to prepare for the school’s summer trip to Europe. I was too upset about having to move to the capital to be disappointed that I would miss our summer trip to Europe. My friends would return from the trip and go back to the school they knew with the friends they knew, and I would have to start again in a new city that I already disliked.

  I kept asking my friends if one of their families would adopt me—they did not realize the question was serious.

  We hugged once again before they departed, and I felt a part of me leave with them as they disappeared from view.

  I stepped through our front door, barely recognizing the house without the furniture that had barely moved or changed since we had moved into the house ten years previous. The moving men would get the beds and other large furniture items the following morning for the final truck load to our new house in Central.

  Everything I had ever known had been stripped, taken away with each packed box. I wanted to be excited and happy for my father and his accomplishment, but the reality of our move hurt too much for me to ignore.

  Dex had become agitated as we progressed with packing up the house, and had taken to clinging to me whenever I was home. He trailed close behind me as I walked slowly toward the living room, looking around the bare walls, feeling like a stranger in the house.

  My mother poked her head out of the kitchen.

  “Good talk with the girls?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll stay in touch with them.”

  I could tell from her tone that even she did not believe the statement—she was just saying what she thought I needed to hear. She had been going on and on about the new life waiting for us in Central, so I knew she did not care about leaving behind the life we had built in our current city.

  “Dinner is just about ready. Can you help me?”

  I set aside the glasses and plates for that night’s dinner before pulling the rest of the dishes out of the cabinets to be packed.

  My father came downstairs and helped, trying to cheer me up by explaining that things were going to be great in Central. He said that I would be exposed to different kinds of people and I would grow even more as a young lady. I nodded, unable to force a smile, and told him “I know” quietly. Both of my parents had clearly not figured out that their tactics at reassuring me were making my anxiety far worse.

  As we ate dinner, my mother took my father’s hand.

  “This is so wonderful, Tom,” she said with a grin.

  “It’s not like we haven’t been to Central before,” I mumbled, thinking of the various trips we had taken to the new capital city for one reason or another.

  “I know,” my mom said. “But this is different. We’ll be a part of the people. We are going to be part of something big…something…” She ran out of words, letting out a breath and smiling, giddy. “It’s going to be wonderful.”

  “I hope so,” my father said. “And Lily, I know you’ll enjoy it once we get settled. It will take some adjustment, but you’ll love it in time.”

  I could only nod, not nearly as confident.

  I continued staring at the blank walls of my room late into the night, Dex curled beside me. I felt the tears overwhelm me like a wave, rolling down my face as I tried to stifle my sobbing.

  The emotions stirring in my chest were a sickening storm of anger and sadness, but all those feelings were paltry c
ompared to the terror that wracked my body. I could not understand my fear, but it was potent. It was as if I understood, once we were in Central, that there would be no way for me to not be a politician. This move was not only ripping me away from the life I had always known. It was also deciding my future for me.

  The lack of control over my life terrified me.

  * *** *

  It was a three-day drive to Central. My parents had chosen a house they loved from a virtual tour. Most of our furniture had already arrived at the house, along with most of the boxes, which felt disconcerting, since I had not seen the virtual tour and had no idea what the house looked like, let alone how it would look with our belongings in it.

  My mother was the most excited, saying over and over again that the new life in Central would be like a dream.

  It was already starting to feel like a nightmare for me.

  Dex and I were quiet in the backseat as we drove across the land to our new life.

  I would start at a new school when the next semester began in three weeks—since the school in Central was on an intensive-track program and had shorter summer breaks—so I had less time to settle in the new house and get to know the layout of the city, which added to my anxiety.

  I had to admit, though, after three days trapped in the car with my giddy parents, I was very grateful to arrive in Central.

  The city was alive with activity and intense energy. The last time I had been in the capital I had been fourteen, and the Central I saw out the car window as we drove through seemed different than the city in my memories. When I was fourteen, the city was steeped in history, filled with old museums and statues of the heroes of the Second Revolution. Looking around now that I was three years older, I realized that the city was far more modern and hummed with activity.

  “Is it like you remember, Lily?” my dad asked.

  “Not really…”

  “Let’s get to the house and then we can go out for dinner!” my mother said. “We’ll celebrate being here and your impressive achievement!”

  “Alright, stop,” my father chuckled, taking her hand tenderly. “You’re going to give me a big ego.”

  Our new neighborhood was so clean and spacious I could not help but stare. The houses looked more like estates, and there were children playing on the front lawns and running around with pets as parents watched from seats on the front porch or watered their manicured flowerbeds. The neighborhood seemed so stereotypically perfect it was unsettling. It felt fake.

  “This is beautiful!” my mother gasped, her face glued to the car window.

  We slowed as we turned onto the street of our new house.

  “Here it is!” my mother exclaimed, pointing excitedly. “Thirteen, forty-three. Right here! Right here!”

  “Yep, that’s it,” my father affirmed, turning the car into the driveway.

  I stared at the house, holding Dexter in my arms as I climbed out of the car. The house was huge, standing proudly, accented perfectly by its perfect front lawn, blooming flowers, and tall fence, trees shading the area with big green leaves that contrasted the white stucco and clay-red roof.

  “Come on,” my mom breathed, hurrying to the door and urging my father to follow with the keys.

  When my father opened the door, we were greeted with the sight of our boxes stacked within. The house smelled new. The drapes were open, allowing in beams of light that did not reveal a hint of dust in the air, showing that it had been recently cleaned.

  “Oh, it’s perfect!” my mother gasped, her hands to her mouth as her wide eyes took in everything about our new home.

  “Take a look around,” my father urged me. “You didn’t get to see the virtual tour. This house is quite spectacular.”

  I stepped out of the foyer, more hesitant than both of my parents. A large, sweeping staircase stood in front of me, leading to the second floor. To my right was the dining area, which had enough room to fit the immense table that my parents used to entertain colleagues. On the left was the living room, which had enormous bay windows looking over the front lawn and a glass door leading to the biggest backyard I had ever seen in a large city. The living room extended to another patio door that led to the covered hot tub outside.

  The kitchen could be accessed by the living room or dining room and had a connected breakfast nook. The kitchen was fully equipped with state-of-the art appliances that nearly glowed against the dark granite counter tops.

  Through the kitchen was another living area, also with access to the backyard. On the far left side of the second living room was a door that led to the three-car garage and next to the door was a smaller staircase.

  Dex looked around curiously but made no moves to leap out of my arms and explore. I was unsure if he was uncomfortable with the new house, or if he could feel my own apprehension about the vast house.

  I climbed the narrow stairs and turned to see a bedroom. Considering how large it was, and the windows looking over the driveway, as well as the lavish bathroom, I assumed it was the master bedroom. I pouted.

  “I want this room…”

  Stepping out of the bedroom, I turned the other way and walked the short hallway at the top of the stairs to another door, which led to another bedroom. It was smaller, but had an amazing view of the backyard. Curiously, I walked through the room, peering into the closet and finally opening the other door to see another short hallway with a door directly in front of me open to another bedroom while the open door to my right led to a bathroom to be shared with the two bedrooms. Walking through the third bedroom, I found myself at the top of the main staircase. The hallway at the top of the stairs was dark due to lack of windows, light only coming from the gaping mouth of the main staircase arch.

  Feeling a little lost in the mammoth house, I looked both ways at the top of the stairs, and decided to go through the door to my right.

  My jaw dropped to my chest.

  It was the largest bedroom I had ever seen, expanding to the front of the house with large windows looking over both the front and back yards. The two walk-in closets made me realize I had found the master bedroom.

  “I guess the other one is ours, Dex…”

  I walked through the expansive room, marveling at the space.

  “This house is huge,” I hissed. I turned at the end of the room, where an archway brought me into an octagonal room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

  The archway across the sun room led to the master bathroom. It had a roman bathtub, a large, double-headed shower with glass doors and a double vanity. The front window was sandblasted with a calming beach scene, obstructing the view from both sides.

  “And I thought our other house was nice.”

  I managed to find my way back downstairs, taking the main stairs to familiarize myself with the layout, though I knew it would take me time to feel comfortable with all the extra space around me. Every room moved easily into another, and another, making the whole house accessible from many different areas, with the exception of the room I had chosen—admittedly, that was probably what I liked about it.

  I found my parents in the small living room by the office, talking about how they were going to arrange the furniture. When they saw me they stopped talking, both of them smiling with expectant expressions.

  “What do you think?” my mother asked.

  “This has to be at least twice the size of our last house…” I murmured.

  “I know, isn’t it beautiful?”

  “How did we ever manage to get it?” I pressed. “It seems to me like a house this nice should have been sold a long time ago. It doesn’t look like anyone’s ever lived here.”

  “The agent said that it had come on the market the day before we asked about the neighborhood,” my father explained. “Apparently this was an empty lot for a long time and the contractors just finished this house last month.” He smiled and hugged me. “It was fate.”

  “Have you chosen your room?” my mom asked.

  “That one,” I
pointed to the small staircase.

  “I thought that would be the one you wanted.”

  “Have you seen the master bedroom?” I gaped. “It’s massive!”

  “No, let’s go look. I sort of remember what it looks like from the tour,” my father said. He turned to me. “You can go get your things out of the car and start thinking about how you want to set up your room. The truck should be here soon.”

  I went back to the car, leaning in to grab my bag of sketchbooks and Dexter’s bed. When I maneuvered the items out of the car with the cat still in my arms, I was startled by the bark of a dog behind our car. Dex jumped, his claws digging into my arms as he hissed at the large, black dog.

  “Jake, stop it!” the dog’s owner scolded. I looked at the other end of the leash and saw a woman in workout sweats, yanking her pet back. “So sorry,” she said gently, laughing apologetically. “He won’t hurt anything. He just wants to play.”

  I nodded, trying to soothe the still-agitated Dexter. The woman with light blonde hair and wrinkles around the corners of her mouth and eyes, looked me over before glancing back at the house behind me.

  “Is your family moving into this house?”

  “Yes.”

  “Welcome to the neighborhood, and congratulations on your family’s appointment. I’m Susan Vance, your neighbor,” she introduced herself, pointing to the house left of ours. “And, you’ve met Jake,” she gently pat the Labrador.

  “Nice to meet you,” I greeted. “I’m Lily Sandover and this is Dexter.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Lily.”

  “How did you know my family had been appointed?” I asked curiously.

  “Well, because you’re moving into this neighborhood.” Her tone suggested that the answer to my question should have been obvious. “This area is specifically for people who have been appointed to Central. And…I’ll let you in on a little secret. Your family must have done something right.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because this area in particular is for people who Leader and the Commission think will go far and do well,” Susan explained with a wink.