Expiration Date (Books 1 and 2)

59 The Rosens

Colton~~

I sink onto the couch cushion beside Seong-ho. This is going nowhere.

We spoke with the Rosens yesterday, but if they do know anything, they didn't share it. Based on facial recognition software, we were able to determine a city in the middle of last night. The rebels had appeared in photos most frequently in a place called Cinderville in North Carolina. After Seong-ho and I finish speaking with the Rosens, I'm joining Eli to question the rebels on Cinderville. I suspect Eli has already taken the term questioning loosely.

On the couch across from us are Vienna's parents and her brother. Seong-ho was chosen to question them today because of his experience with rebels. We still don't have any evidence that they are rebels themselves, but maybe they know something without realizing it.

"Isn't there anything you can share with us?" Seong-ho clasps his hands, leaning forward on the couch across from the Rosens.

"We're sorry, Zeta," Vienna's father says, placing his hand over his wife's. "But we were just as taken aback as you were by Vienna's betrayal."

"Did she ever talk to someone you didn't know?"

Vienna's mother looks at her husband. "We thought she only spoke to people in the Society."

I rub at my wrists. "Did she have a habit of going places without your knowledge?"

"I'm sorry, Beta." Her father turns up his hands. "If she wasn't with us, she was with you."

It feels like a hand clutches down on my heart and twists. "And the name Cinderville means nothing to you?"

Her parents and brother shake their heads.

Breaking their eye contact, I stand, my neck stiff. "Please excuse me."

They bow their heads as I exit the room and leave Seong-ho to continue his questioning.

I make my way below the Society to the cells, clenching my hands. One way or another, the rebels will talk.