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  Coughing, he quickly transformed back to his cheerful self, slapping his hands on his knees before standing. “Let’s have a look at your heart, shall we?”

  I nodded, grateful. I wanted to get this over with.

  Doctor Magnum quickly led me to the back room, casting a wary glance at the front door on the way.

  Four blindingly white walls greeted me. The matching white cabinets on the far wall accentuated the black, marble table that stood perfectly in the middle of the sterile space. Next to it was a silver table scattered with various shining instruments I didn't want to know about.

  I squeezed my hands, taking in the room and thinking about all the people who had laid on that table, willingly giving up their hearts. And I was about to do the same.

  Chapter 8

  “Please.” He motioned to the shining ebony table.

  I swallowed, trying desperately to calm the ferocity of my heartbeats. When I pulled the hood of my cloak back, my long ponytail spiraled down my left shoulder. I had tied it back this morning with a red ribbon Silas had given me a few years ago.

  I sat on the hard surface before laying completely flat. The chill of the black marble seeped through my wool cloak, causing cold bumps to cover the entirety of my flesh. I took a deep breath and clasped my hands over my stomach as I stared at the crisp white ceiling. Everyone had to extract their heart. Everyone wanted to extract their heart. So why did I feel nothing but dread?

  Shuffling and clanging sounds came from my right. I twisted my neck and watched as Doctor Magnum arranged a variety of instruments on the small table with his back to me.

  “So,” he mumbled, picking up a very sharp object as long as my arm. “How’s your friend doing?”

  “Um,” I stammered, unable to take my eyes off the instrument in his hand. “I’m sorry, what friend?”

  “You know” —Doctor Magnum turned slightly, revealing a rather casual smirk—“the one who’s always visiting you. What’s his name? Stephen? Stifle?”

  “Silas,” I whispered. I absentmindedly reached for the ribbon in my hair, trying to think of him right now. I knew Doctor Magnum had done this hundreds of times before, but handling my Extraction like a normal appointment felt wrong. Bringing up Silas felt even worse.

  “Ah, yes, Silas. Is he well?” he asked above a piercing clink of metal.

  It took all my strength not to vomit as he picked up an even larger object, this one with several blades sticking out. “Yes.”

  “That’s good, that’s good.” Doctor Magnum turned around with his polite smile and motley collection of torture devices. “Now, forgive my memory. A long, youthful life doesn’t mean a long, youthful brain!" He chuckled at himself. I stared at him until he cleared his throat and turned back around. "But I seem to have forgotten what he traded his heart for.”

  I squeezed my fingers tightly, nausea filling my stomach. If what Silas had said was true—that he never had a heart of his own and was given someone else’s—wouldn't Doctor Magnum already know since he was the one who had performed the Extraction? And for me to reveal that Silas was still holding onto that heart without trading it would bring serious consequences.

  I gave the doctor a weak smile, trying to fabricate the best lie I could. “Silas wasn't really into Heart Reign.”

  “Wasn't?" Doctor Magnum stiffened. It was odd how he could emote so easily. It had been decades since he traded his heart. "What happened to him?"

  Panic rose in my throat, and I squeezed my fingers. “I’m not sure."

  Doctor Magnum turned his full attention on me. "Is he not attending Heart Reign?"

  "I don't know," I mumbled, hating that my heart felt like it would burst.

  “That’s very . . . interesting.” Doctor Magnum paused for a few moments, his silence like a needle injecting anxiety into my veins. The clinking of metal tools echoed throughout the room until the doctor cleared his throat. “Well, I’m sure he'll be fine." He whipped back around.

  A churning sound came from in front of him, and I shut my eyes for a second. I wanted this to be over.

  Answering my silent plea, Doctor Magnum turned around. My heart froze once I saw what was in his hands: a long metal cylinder equipped with several sharp gadgets protruding from it. The different blades were at least two inches in length, shining like fangs. All the blood drained from my face. Doctor Magnum laughed heartily. How could he laugh?

  “Oh, Adelaide, don’t worry. This isn’t the setting we use for Extractions.”

  He pressed a button, and the sharp objects retracted into the cylinder. At one end, a smooth, rounded tube slid out. Sharp minuscule teeth jutted from its metallic circumference that was just wide enough to cover the area of skin above my heart.

  “That doesn’t look much better,” I muttered.

  Doctor Magnum laughed again. “I always enjoy Extraction conversations. Most people are too eager to extract their heart and never question my methods.”

  “That’s reassuring," I squeaked.

  Doctor Magnum walked to one of the cabinets and pulled out a simple white dress with two giant pockets in the front. “Before we begin, you must put this on.”

  I stared at him, hoping he wasn’t serious. His stern look didn’t waver. Swallowing, I sat up and grabbed the dress. As I began to untie my cloak, I shot a glare over my shoulder.

  “You can’t stay in here."

  He snorted. “Of course not. I’ll be waiting outside. Just knock when you’re ready.”

  After he closed the door, I studied the dress. There wasn’t much to it. The neck scooped lower than I would have liked, but I could surmise that it was designed with the purpose of an Extraction in mind.

  With some regret, I pulled off Lyle’s light blue sweater and my pants, changing into the white gown. The fabric tumbled to the ground, touching the tops of my boots. The cool winter air sent chills up my exposed arms and chest, causing the bumps to return. The last time I had worn clothing without sleeves was at Lyle’s Heart Reign, when the weather was still warm and welcoming.

  I knocked on the door and within moments, Doctor Magnum returned. He stopped briefly and stared at me as if in a trance.

  “You look just like her,” he said, barely above a whisper, his face paling. I stared at him in confusion. Shaking his head, Doctor Magnum smiled politely, forcing his casual demeanor to return. “Shall we get started?”

  Laying back down on the table, I felt like an animal being led to slaughter.

  Doctor Magnum stood next to the table, looking down at me. A piece of his white hair slipped from his braid, framing his youthful face. With a stern look of concentration, he placed the cool metal tube on my chest, causing my whole body to tense.

  Sensing my fear, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit.”

  In one motion, he turned the cylinder, causing a churning sound as pressure hit my chest. I let out a gasp when the cool metal pierced my flesh. As the tiny metal teeth cut deeper and deeper into my skin, I shrieked, but Doctor Magnum continued placing pressure on the cylinder. The crisp metal descended on my heart, and my body pulled in two different directions. When the cylinder made contact, my heart let out a cry, trembling as it fought the ascending pressure. I gripped my fingers tightly, feeling tears well in my eyes before they streamed down my cheeks. They were probably my last. I was being stretched to the point of breaking.

  Then I heard it. A snap reverberated inside my ears, and my eyes shot open. It was as if I had lost the entire essence of my being. Everything that had made me who I was vanished.

  Gasping, I sat up, placing my hand where the device had just been. My skin was cold, drained of all life, leaving a void behind. A thin white line traced where the circular device had extracted my heart. Everything felt empty.

  I looked over to see Doctor Magnum still holding the Extraction device, staring at something in his hand with a look of awe.

  “Doctor Magnum, where is my heart?” Although it was no longer within me, I still fel
t it brimming with fear.

  “It's been years since I've seen anything like this.” He looked up, his eyes wide with terror. “Adelaide,” he whispered. “You must leave Barracks.”

  “What?” I exclaimed. What was going on? What was wrong with my heart?

  “You must leave now!” he yelled suddenly, pulling me from the table and pushing me toward the door.

  “But, why?” I spun around, evading his grasp to face him.

  “I—I never thought it was possible or that I would see it again. I’ve only read about such things before, but never thought . . . people will find out. He will find out." A look of horror passed over Doctor Magnum's face. “He’ll come back.” He pushed his fingers through his hair, moving the strand that had fallen from his braid.

  “Doctor Magnum, what are you talking about?”

  Grasping my wrist, Doctor Magnum pressed something into my hand. Something warm, vibrant, and teeming with life. He leaned over and said harshly, “Run, Adelaide, you must run!”

  I looked down, unable to believe what was in my hand. My heart wasn't small. My heart wasn't gray.

  It was big.

  Red.

  And alive.

  Chapter 9

  “Run!” Doctor Magnum screamed again.

  I pulled my gaze away from my heart, my brain unable to comprehend what was going on. My heart wasn't supposed to be red and pure. What did this mean? What was going to happen to me?

  Looking around in panic, I quickly grabbed Lyle’s sweater and wrapped my heart in it before sprinting out of Doctor Magnum's office. The frigid air encased my limbs, but I couldn't stop. A line of Traders waiting for their Extractions stood in front of his door, bending around the hut. All those of age chattered with excitement until they saw me, clutching Lyle's sweater to my chest. I didn't give them time to question me as a sprinted past them, running straight into Governor Willow, just as I had seven years ago.

  "Adelaide.” The governor puffed a cloud of purple smoke from his pipe. He locked his thumb into the small pocket on his vest before he twitched his mustache. The fabric strained over his rotund stomach with each inhale he took. "It's been some time since we've seen you at Heart Reign." His gray eyes darted from my face to the bundle in my hands. A hungry look appeared on his face, causing me to take a step back and clutch the warm ball tighter. "Have you had your heart extracted yet?"

  Just then, a local vendor rushed up to Governor Willow, complaining about how the place for his display had been taken by another traveling vendor.

  Taking advantage of the distraction, I quickly turned and ran in the opposite direction, farther into the market.

  It was absolute chaos. People were everywhere, shuffling about each display, lost in the revelry of Heart Reign. I pushed past them as they laughed at charismatic performers and ate delicious foods, completely unaware of what was happening around them. The winter air bit at my exposed skin, and I held my arms tighter to my chest. This wasn't part of my plan.

  “Hey, watch it,” a thick-bearded vendor with beady eyes sneered as the crowd pushed me into his display. Recognition swept over his face, and his upper lip curled. “I don’t take just anyone’s heart. Especially a fool’s.”

  My newly extracted heart pulsed against my arms through Lyle’s sweater, and I held it close, ignoring the vendor’s words.

  “Isn’t that her?” a local gossip whispered as I pushed past.

  “It should be a good show if the Leper of Barracks is back again,” a previous Reigner commented with a cruel smirk.

  But I kept running through the crowd, ignoring odd looks, crude insults, and vocal acknowledgments of my identity.

  The last report of a fully red heart was before Schism descended upon Barracks. After he came, they had vanished.

  I paused for a moment, swinging between two displays to catch my breath. The glow seeping out from between the fibers of Lyle's sweater was barely containable. Though my heart was light, I felt a strong power emitting from it. How could someone like me have such an extravagant heart?

  Even though it was no longer within me, I could feel it palpitating with excitement and fear as I nestled it close. My heart had been extracted, but I could still feel.

  A large crowd of people rushed past the alley, some of them stumbling into it as they pushed and shoved one another. I felt as if I had been transported back in time, seeing the same scene play out in front of me from seven years ago.

  I clutched the pulsing ball of fabric, walking closer to see the crowd. The people looked like a horde of animals that had been starved for months. They tore at each other to get to where Schism had first appeared, all to trade their hearts for an unknown choice—something we had been void of for many years. But a choice of what? Happiness? Life? They didn’t even know what kind of choice they were making. But I did.

  I pushed my way into the crowd, ending up a few rows back from where Governor Willow stood. His thick white mustache curled at the ends. He took the pipe from his mouth and grimaced.

  "Traders and previous Reigners, welcome to Heart Reign," he said with mild enthusiasm. But the crowd, still possessing wisps of their emotions, cheered wildly. Governor Willow's men stood on the inner rim of the crowd, attempting to block any Traders from breaking through.

  "As is tradition, we are going to begin the first trade with our most popular vendor,” the governor said.

  The crowd cheered again as a black plume of smoke erupted behind Governor Willow. The warmth of my pure heart dulled at the flashy entrance of Schism Breaker. I laced my fingers around it, feeling the fear consuming me once more.

  The blood-red doors appeared on either side of the monster with the sparkling smile. The crowd roared with applause as people lifted their hearts in the air. A few people in the front swooned at the sight of his beautifully pale skin and long hair and had to be pulled out from under the feet of the demanding, pressing crowd.

  Governor Willow returned his pipe to his mouth and grimaced as he clapped at Schism's arrival.

  "My good people of Barracks," Schism said, his head bowed, hushing the crowd with his soothing voice. Slowly lifting his head, he flung out his muscular arms. "Welcome to Heart Reign!"

  Once more, the crowd exploded, shoving one another to get to the front. I attempted to hold my ground, but it was as if an invisible force directed the crowd, pushing me right into the face of the man who had ruined my life.

  An unnerving grin bore down on me. “Are you brave enough, little Addie?”

  I stared Schism straight in the eye, unwilling to let him see the fear I still felt. I took a step forward, and the crowd gasped before going silent. The grin widened across Schism’s flawless face.

  “Let’s get a round of applause for this very special” —he took my hand, caressing my pure heart in the process, and kissed my knuckles— “and very beautiful young lady.”

  My heart recoiled as I ripped my hand away from his frigid grasp, causing him to chuckle as the crowd’s applause grew louder. The people cheered all around me, encouraging me to do the same thing. The same thing Lyle had done. But I wasn't here to trade my heart for an unknown choice. I was here to get my brother back.

  It was excruciatingly loud. The chants and cheers of the crowd bounded off the cobblestones and wooden buildings, polluting the air with adoration for a monster. The noise overwhelmed every one of my senses. I shut my eyes against the cheers, trying to block them out. All sounds floated away until I was left with only one: the solitary beating of my pure heart.

  A surge of strength filled me with determination as I opened my eyes to find Schism staring at me with a grin more wicked than the last. We both knew what was about to happen.

  “Now, you all know the rules.” Schism turned to the crowd that cheered at his will. He turned back to me with an evil glint, palm opened. “A payment is needed.”

  Narrowing my eyes, I stood still, waiting for the opportune moment. Schism circled me like a predator, then leaned in close. “Are you brav
e enough, little Addie? Brave enough to choose like your dear brother did all those years ago?”

  In a flash, he was between his blood-red doors, pushing on the doorframes of each. They swung open simultaneously, and the crowd roared. Each door revealed nothing but the white birch Wintertide trees behind them.

  Schism walked back to me, his grin transforming into a scowl. For a moment, the whites of his eyes darkened to black. Like pits of tar, they stared into me, seeming to suck out any life nearby. After a moment, they shifted back to normal, but I had already seen enough.

  The image of the crumpled piece of paper Lyle had dropped came to my mind. The script was distinct and sharp. I had only known one person to write in that way, and that was my father. The hope that Lyle had discovered something about our parents was enough to give me the strength to find him at any cost.

  A new wave of courage I had never felt before poured into my veins as I glared up at Schism, holding my head high. “Are you brave enough to let me?”

  The muscles in Schism’s neck tensed as his feet moved mechanically away from the doors, allowing me an opening to rush toward the door on the right, the same door Lyle had chosen. A mixture of sounds filled the air, but each passed through me as one singular sound. The crowd was still roaring with applause mixed with gasps, thoroughly enjoying the dramatic display. My heart pounded with each step.

  As I approached the threshold of the door, a string of voices wound together, entering my mind.

  Do you think you’re clever? they asked.

  As I ran toward the door, I searched the crowd around me, trying to find the source. But I realized the voices spoke only in my thoughts.

  We know who you are, Adelaide Tye. You can’t hide your pure heart from us.

  I gasped but kept running. Darkness surrounded me as cold air ripped at my skin, but I didn’t stop.