Free Vanquished by Katie Clark Page A

thought hits me. They’re going to make her abort the baby. You aren’t allowed to have children before the given time. If she refuses, they will lower her status, and she won’t be allowed to take the Test.
    The thought of Jamie in a Lesser city horrifies me, but the alternative is much worse.
    “What will you do?” I ask. I’m afraid to hear her answer. I’m afraid she’ll say she’s keeping the baby, and I’ll never see her again. Middles aren’t allowed to enter the Lesser cities. But I’m more afraid she’ll say she’s not keeping the baby. I don’t care what the government says, the thought of killing a little baby makes my stomach hurt. It can’t be right, no matter what they say it does for society.
    She studies me for a minute and then looks straight ahead. “I won’t abort the baby. I won’t do it.”
    I sigh with relief. Somehow, never seeing her again is more palatable to me then thinking my best friend is a baby killer.
    She glances at me when she hears the sigh. “Do you think it’s the right thing?” Her eyes are unsure, scared.
    “Yes!” I say, way too quickly. I take a moment to figure things out. “Yes, it’s the right thing. I don’t know why or how, but I know it’s got to be the right thing.”
    Jamie nods. “Me, too. I haven’t told anyone yet. I wasn’t really sure at first, but I’m pretty sure now.”
    I think of Easton. I don’t know him well at all. How could this have happened? “What will Easton say about keeping the baby?”
    “He’ll go with me. I’m sure of it. He loves me.”
    Her words stick out to me. He’ll go with me. Because they’ll be forced to leave the city. But will he go with her? I sure hope so. A strange fear creeps into my belly, and I close my eyes against the dizziness that hits me.
    “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
    The fact she doesn’t know for sure I’ll keep her secret hurts me, but then I consider the position she’s in. If I think I’m scared and confused, how does she feel? As soon as anyone finds out she’ll be sent away. The longer we can keep it quiet, the longer she’ll get to stay in Middle City 3.
    “No, I won’t tell. How long do you think you can keep it a secret, though?”
    I have no idea about things like babies and pregnancy. I’ve never actually known anyone who was having a baby.
    Jamie shrugs. “I don’t know.” She covers her face with her hands. “I don’t know how this happened. I’m so stupid.”
    I want to tell her, yeah, pretty stupid , but I don’t. I doubt it would help the situation.
    “They’ll try and make you do it, you know? They won’t let you go so easily.” She’s from a good family, and she makes good grades in school. They won’t let her go without a fight. If she aborts the baby, she can stay, even though she would be on probation. They will try to make her abort.
    She grinds her teeth together. “I won’t give in. I’ll prepare myself for the worst future possible—living in filth, or poverty, or…or alone.” The last word comes out as a whisper.
    We’re almost home now. I stop and give Jamie a hug. “I’m glad you told me, Jamie. I’m glad you’re making the decision you are. You’ll do the right thing—we’re too much alike, and I know what I’d do.”
    Jamie smiles, but her eyes pin me down. “That’s what I’m afraid of, Hana. Don’t meet that guy alone. Please!’
    I freeze, appalled at the thought of going there with Fischer.
    “We don’t even know each other!” I say. “And I told you it’s not like that.” I can tell my ears are red because they burn like fire.
    Jamie studies me another short moment and shrugs again. “I’m just saying.” She hugs me one last time. We’re in front of her house now. “Thanks for taking me with you. It’s good to know I’m not alone.”
    “You’re not,” I say.
    We both stop talking when her mom steps outside. “Jamie, that boy is in the backyard. Did you invite him over again?” It’s