“What’s happening?” I whispered to Leo. He was a few inches taller than me, so he had to lean over when he said “role.”

“Timothee Tramónd,” a voice said from above the main hall, a large, glittering, castle-like structure where the headmistress and other leaders lived.

I had been there yesterday to meet with them. “Leo Fartwinkle.”

Leo walked up to a large gray pole and held his wrist to a small square while everyone laughed at him. I hated it.

“Cedar Deadri.” Deadri? I turned to everyone behind me as they laughed. Alea and Kai stood next to me and glared.

“They’re not worth it,” Alea whispered as she led me to the pole. I hesitated as she told me to hold my wrist to it.

I flinched as a needle pierced my skin, and red blood spilled out, a small gray square stuck in my arm. What was this? Alea led me to Leo, smiled, and walked back to the crowd.

I was still in shock at everything that had just happened. Leo gently took my hand and pulled the sharp gray thing out of my wrist.

“What’s happening?” I asked him, my voice shaky.

“I’m sorry you had to do that, Cedar. You shouldn’t even be here. I can’t imagine you did anything to deserve this,” Leo said, squeezing my hand.

“Leo, what’s happening?” I said again, my heart pounding. I wanted my family, I didn’t like this place, and why did my hand hurt so bad?

“It’s a tracker, they do it weekly because most of us pull ours out like this. They hurt our hands,” he said, gesturing to my throbbing wrist.

“Well, why do you still have yours on?” I asked. He rubbed his wrist. “They do extra precautions for me. I tend to… try and run away a lot.”

I reached for his hand and inspected the rusty metal tracker buried deep in his wrist. “Leo, this looks painful,” I said. He shrugged, but I could tell he was bothered.

“It’s not that big of a deal Cedar, but let's get you somewhere safe. Follow me,” He grabbed my hand and ran for the trees.