Prototype Dorian

Three days before the Selection

Ryan is still sleeping on the couch—and drooling on it too—when Morgan and I step out of the bedroom, while Devon has already made the table and our breakfast. Once again, I marvel at how different they are from each other. Maybe that's why I like Devon so much.

"Good morning," Devon says with a bright smile. "How's your sleep?"

"Good, thank you."

"It was good!"

Morgan and I answer at the same time. We glance at each other. There is a peculiar softness in their eyes that makes me look away. I clear my throat and focus on tying my hair into a ponytail.

Devon chuckles, a glimmer of understanding shining in his eyes. "Good, good. I'm glad you two had some rest. Come and sit down. Let's eat."

We take our seats. Breakfast is flat, round pieces of bread with drizzles of syrup and dollops of cream. Devon calls them pancakes. It is apparently very popular for breakfast on Ground Earth, but only for breakfast. It's so interesting that there is food specific for the start of the day.

"And after this, you'll leave for your mechanic appointment," he reminds Morgan.

"Thank you again, Dev," they say. "I will be sure to give General Lorensky the rest of my money after I'm back in the Tower to pay you back for all your troubles."

"Oh, please don't worry about it." Devon tilts his head in Ryan's direction, who is still sound asleep. "I'll make him make up for it in other ways."

We dig into the pancakes. Once again, Morgan and I can't help but let out a satisfied grunt together. The mixture of the syrup's sweetness and the cream's savory forms the flawless coating for the fluffy, sponge-like cake. I understand now why this is so popular—although I do not understand why it is only consumed for breakfast. I'd eat this for every meal.

Devon grins at us, delighted at our reaction. "So, the two of you, if you're ready to share, please tell me more about your time at the Piranhas. I'd like to find out more about what happened." He stabs his pancakes with his fork. "I just found out how much destruction they've caused and I am seriously pissed."

Morgan fixes their gaze on their pancakes, so I decide to take on the storytelling role. I tell Devon about calling a taco shop number, getting a bike ride to the beach, and then meeting Big Papi. When I reach the part about introducing myself to Big Papi as someone from the Neon District, Devon chokes on his food. It takes him a few moments to compose himself and ask, "How did you learn about that place?"

His flabbergasted expression never leaves his face as I recount Morgan's and my meeting with the woman who wanted to hire me. Meanwhile, Morgan continues staring intensely at their now-empty plate, their ears a shade darker than normal.

Thankfully, when I resume talking about the Piranhas, they both return to their usual state. Devon pays close attention, peppering me with questions, while Morgan interjects with some of their past lived experiences.

Ryan crawls out of the couch just as I wrap up the story with him rescuing us from the underground.

"Good morning," Devon says curtly. "Your sister was almost sex-trafficked to the Neon District yesterday."

"What?" Ryan's jaw slackens.

"Wait, what?" I say too, bewildered.

"The Neon District is a dangerous place, Lara. Try not to associate with anybody from there again, okay?" Devon stuffs a small piece of pancake into Ryan's opened mouth. "And this is all you get for breakfast for waking up late. Now go take Morgan to the mechanic." He turns to me and winks. "As for you, you're going shopping with me. We are going to make chupe for when they're back."