Free The Last Girl by Joe Hart

with something in his pocket. “I talked to Dad again about what will happen after your induction.”
    She lets the quiet of the room build for a moment. “What did he say?”
    “He said it will be up to the Director whether or not we can go with you and your parents to the safe zone.”
    “That’s never happened before, Lee, and you know it. Grace and Halie’s Clerics are reassigned now, and so are their sons. What makes you think you and Simon will be any different?”
    “There’s no reason not to let us go. I’m working on getting a private audience with the Director. If I can, I’ll make him understand.”
    She turns to face him. “He won’t listen, Lee. Don’t you get it? The system doesn’t make allowances. Not for you, or your father, or for me. We’re just pieces in a game.”
    “Listen—”
    “What’s your last name?”
    Exasperation has finally stripped him of his cheerfulness. “You know what it is.”
    “Say it.”
    “Asher.”
    “And what’s mine?”
    He blinks, then sighs. “I don’t know.”
    “I don’t either. No woman here does. What purpose does that serve, Lee? What could possibly be gained by keeping our heritage from us?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “It’s control. It’s just another wall built to keep us in place.” She glances away from him. He seems to struggle with something and looks down at the floor.
    “I always told you I’d give you my last name.”
    She studies him and then slowly moves to stand before him. She puts a hand to his cheek, and he looks into her eyes. “I know you would. But I need my own. Do you understand?”
    He nods. “It scares me a little when you talk like this. You sound like you’re going to do something rash.”
    She is on the edge, the cliff beneath her feet once again. What to say? How much to tell him?
    “If we were able to leave, would you come with me?” she asks, her foot hovering over the drop.
    “What? What do you mean, leave?”
    She looks around, knowing they are alone but unable to help herself. “I mean, escape.”
    It’s like she’s hit him with something. He steps back from her, and her hand that had fallen to his shoulder drops to her side.
    “Zoey, think about what you’re saying. The wrong person hears you even breathe that word, and you’re in the box.”
    “I know, but there’s something wrong. There’s always been something wrong. This place isn’t what they tell us, what they’ve pounded into our heads for years.”
    “Look, I know you’re shook up. I heard about what happened today, but you have to think about this logically.”
    “I am. This has nothing to do with Rita.” She stops herself. “You know, maybe it has a lot to do with Rita. You know why she’s so angry? Because she’s the only one of us who’s ever seen her parents’ faces. She came here when she was five, but that’s enough time to remember. I can’t forget how much she cried. Do you remember?”
    He nods. He seems to have run out of words.
    “That anger she has for everyone and everything, it’s not a coincidence. She was taken, Lee, just like we all were. This isn’t right.”
    “It’s for the greater good.”
    “You don’t even know what that means.”
    “I know Reaper and his men go out, week after week, hunting for another infant girl, and they never find one. I know my father has dedicated his life to protecting you, and soon he’s going to have to let you go. He would never turn you over to any kind of danger.”
    “He has no idea what waits behind those steel doors in the infirmary.” Their voices are barely above whispers, but the vehemence in them could cut flesh.
    “And neither do you. There’s no reason not to believe the Director and Miss Gwen. No one has ever hurt you besides Rita and the other two.”
    “See, that’s where you’re wrong,” Zoey says, moving to her bed. She picks up the copy of The Count of Monte Cristo . “Maybe you should read this. Then you’ll have an idea how much