The Variables

“Good evening,” Miao said. “May I help you find your apartment?” She nodded toward a binder.

“I’m Lucy King,” Lucy said. “I think my family might have already left...”

“Of course, Lucy.” Miao smiled. She didn’t even glance down at her binder. “You are in the executive suites. Sky Bridge 2, landing 4. You’ll find your family’s nameplate on the western side. Would you like me to page a guide?” She put her hand on the table near a small walkie-talkie.

Lucy shook her head, mumbled a thank you, and ducked through the crowd again. She followed Miao’s instructions—floating along Sky Bridge 2, venturing down the steps to the fourth landing—and then sca

Theirs was a three-story collection of rooms, with open metal winding staircases leading from one area to another. Like the other apartments, the far wall was all glass and looked out over the ocean. However, they were further up, above sea level, the water licking below them and disappearing out of sight.

From the second story, Lucy could hear Ethan’s voice gaining momentum and intensity. She looked to Galen who mouthed fighting before he slipped down the metal staircase to the lower level. Angling her body just below the exposed loft of their third floor, Lucy tried to listen, but she couldn’t hear everything. So, instead, she walked steadily up the stairs, until she could see her mother, father, and Ethan huddled in an open area. Their voices carried down to her, and she listened to every word.

“Mom, you’re wrong about this. Dead wrong. And I’m not fighting with you. He belongs with me and that’s final. If you’re unwilling to go to battle for me and Teddy, then I’m done.” Ethan paced along the room. He looked at the floor, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans.

“This is not up for debate,” Scott told his son. “If you think we have any power here, you are wrong. Blair has Teddy. And that’s final.”

“That child belongs with me,” Ethan snapped. “How could you just let him go to her without a fight? How could you just hand him over like he was someone’s lost dog? That child is mine. And he will be mine. Or...”

“Or what?” Scott asked, exasperated. “I’ve used every last token of goodwill and favors.”

“Furthermore,” Maxine interjected, “you have no more claim to him than Blair. Let’s not split hairs here, Ethan. That child is an orphan and if Blair can offer him a warm home...”

“Teddy is my responsibility.”

“Well, Ethan,” Maxine replied, “that’s great that you’ve decided to suddenly step up and assume some sort of misguided quest for fatherhood, but where were you when Teddy was having night terrors or wetting the bed? Where were you when he wanted you and you wouldn’t say a damn word? I’m sorry, son, but we don’t think Teddy is best with you. You’re just a kid yourself—”

“This is ridiculous...Blair isn’t even here! She’s hired a na

“Could you stop? Remember what you’re up against. Huck will win this battle, and you would be wise to let him,” his father added.

Ethan stopped pacing. He hung his head. Lucy rested against the railing.

When he finally straightened up to look at his parents, Lucy could see the defiance in his shoulders and the heavy rise and fall of anger rolling up and down his back. Under his breath, he hissed out an angry expletive and turned toward the staircase. He walked out of the loft and to the stairs and worked his way down the spiral steps: his good leg, his prosthetic leg, his good leg, his prosthetic leg. When he saw Lucy, his nostrils flared and he pushed his mouth tight.

“Move,” he demanded.

“What can I do?” Lucy asked. Her mouth was dry and her words caught in her throat. “I’m sorry. I’ll do anything.”

Ethan scoffed. “Maybe that’s the one thing you should stop. Just stop trying to do anything to help. Because if you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re not helping anybody.” His words stung, and Lucy bit her lip to hold back the tears. He slid past her and stormed out of the house, and slammed the door behind him.

Lucy looked up and saw her parents staring at her with interest.

“Taking up eavesdropping as one of your party tricks?” Maxine asked with disdain.

“Stop, Maxine,” Scott chastised. He looked down at Lucy softly. “We were worried you wouldn’t find your way.”

Moving up another rung, Lucy wiped her eyes. “Where do I sleep?” she asked in a quiet voice. She was grateful for her father’s tenderness.

Maxine pointed to her left. Lucy followed her mother’s directions and walked the rest of the way up the stairs. Off of the loft, there was a small bedroom with a twin bed and a chest of drawers. She was certain if she opened the drawers she would find her own pair of Kymberlin-issued sweatpants, but she was too tired and logy to see for herself. She collapsed onto her bed and sat there for a long time pondering her brother’s words. Then she shut the door to block out her parents, who were still speaking in hushed tones. Achy and weepy, Lucy’s hand went to her neck and she felt around for Salem’s cross. When she found her neck bare, she realized with a mixture of sadness and relief that Grant had the necklace around his own neck now. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine what he was doing back at the System without her. All of the inhabitants, except for those bound for Copia, had left. It must be strange underground with the empty halls, the barren apartments, she thought.

Then she groaned and slapped her palm against her forehead.

Her bag.

She had left it at Cass’s apartment.

Her letter from Grant—the one she was supposed to read her first night away from him—was stranded. She put her sandals back on and walked back out into the loft, past her parents.

“Where do you think you’re going?” her mother asked, moving between Lucy and the staircase.

“To Cass’s. I left my stuff there.”

“Get it in the morning,” Maxine told her and she pointed back toward Lucy’s new room.

“No,” Lucy said. Her voice shook and she was worried that she would burst into tears at any moment. “Grant gave me a letter to read my first night. I have to read it. I can’t leave it until the morning. I promised I would read it.”

Her mother rolled her eyes, but she stepped to the side. “Goodness, Lucy Larkspur. Please be quick.”

“Curfew is at eleven,” Scott told her.

“Curfew?” Lucy stopped with her hand on the railing. “There’s a curfew?”

“Yes, the lights will dim to conserve energy. A patrol will bring you home. So, hurry,” Scott said and he motioned her along.

Lucy trotted out into the hall. She walked up the stairs and back through the sky bridge, and down the other sky bridge; it was a laborious jaunt—nothing seemed easily accessible from anything else. It hadn’t felt like such a long walk before, but now she realized it had to be nearly a half a mile away. Feeling tired and sluggish, Lucy opened the sea level door to Cass’s hallway, but then she froze. Her hand still on the knob, the door ajar, Lucy watched as her brother walked down the same hall with his back to her. Lucy slipped into the hallway and shut the door soundlessly, and she ducked into the first alcove and watched him as he knocked twice on Cass’s door.

Had he looked in her direction, surely he would have seen her peeking out beyond the doorframe of the first apartment on the floor, but he didn’t look. Her heart beat wildly. Why hadn’t she just called out to him? Why was she hiding? But what was he doing down here?

Cass opened her door and Ethan mumbled a hello.

“Well, well,” she said.