Chapter 1

My family was all about democracy. Every decision was made by a family vote.

My parents, my brother, Alex Lane, and my sister, Sophie Lane, each had a vote. I had one too. But with four against one, I never won.

Back in my tenth grade, Alex wanted a new computer. The vote was four to one.

In the end, he used the money I'd spent three years saving up for tutoring classes.

When it was time to fill out college applications, I got an early acceptance to Summit University.

But Sophie cried, saying she didn't want to be too far from me. So the whole family held another vote.

Dad pressed my application form down on the table. "Majority rules. You're going to a local college."

I said, "I worked my ass off to get into Summit University."

Mom frowned. "Why do you always have to be so stubborn? Summit University is so far away. If you get sick, who's going to look after you?"

Later, when Alex was short on cash for his startup, Dad waved my acceptance letter in my face and announced, "Your tuition money will go to Alex first. He needs it more right now."

Sophie hooked her arm through mine, smiling brightly. "We all raised our hands and voted, so don't sulk about it, okay?"

I stared at the acceptance letter they'd voted on, and suddenly, it all seemed kind of ridiculous.

It turned out that their version of democracy meant the four of them officially deciding what I had to give up.

That night, I stopped fighting. Instead, I quietly went online and filled out the Northwest Desert Confidential Research Application Form.

From then on, I was the only one who got to vote for myself.

*****

"Emily, have you figured out the tuition thing yet?" Dad sat at the head of the table, holding the ring he'd had for ten years.

I was wiping the grease off the table with a rag. "I've come to terms with it."

Mom came out of the kitchen with a plate of sliced watermelon and set it on the coffee table.

"Good," She said, letting out a long sigh. "Alex's business is at a make-or-break moment. He needs every dollar to keep things running."

She picked out the reddest slice and handed it to Alex, who was sitting on the couch playing video games.

Alex didn't bother to look up. He opened his mouth and took a bite. "Thanks, Mom."

Still glued to his game, he mumbled, "Once I get that investment, I'll get you a new phone. That old thing is so slow. It takes forever for you to text me back. It's holding everything up."

I glanced down at the old phone sticking halfway out of my pocket. It was the one Sophie had ditched after her freshman year.

The top right corner of the screen was cracked like a spiderweb, and I had to tilt my head to make out the words.

"No, thanks," I said, rinsing the rag and hanging it by the sink.

Sophie was sitting in front of the mirror, putting on eyelid tape. "Emily, stop looking so glum. Everyone voted that day. If you stay local, we can see each other every day.

"And come on, it's merely a crappy local college. Why do you need so much money for it? Mom and Dad are only doing this for your own good."

A crappy college? My nails dug into my palm.

Half a month ago, I got an early acceptance to Summit University. It was one of the top five schools in the country.

I spent countless nights cramming and burned through three boxes of pens, all to earn this opportunity.

But Sophie said she couldn't stand the thought of me moving far away. She'd gotten so used to my breakfasts and to having me fetch her packages.

So Dad called a family vote. It was four to one.

I had to give up Summit University, choosing a local college three stops from home.

Now, even my tuition was being stripped away from me.

"I'll go look for a part-time job this afternoon," I said, turning to face them.

Dad finally looked away from the TV and glanced at me. "That's what I like to see. Family's meant to look out for each other."

I didn't say anything. I turned and walked back to my room.

My room was tiny, with only a bed and an old desk.

On the desk sat the acceptance letter from that local college.

I pulled open the drawer and shoved the acceptance letter all the way to the bottom. Then, with a sigh, I powered up my ancient computer, the one that took a full three minutes to crawl to life.

When the screen finally lit up, there was an unread email sitting in my inbox.

It was from the Northwest Desert Research Center

The subject read: [TOP SECRET: Final Confirmation Letter for Emily Lane's Confidential Research Project.]

I clicked on the email.

It read: [Dear Emily, your application has successfully passed the final review process.

[This project is part of a top-secret, national research initiative. Your tuition will be fully covered, and you'll receive a monthly living stipend.

[Note: The project is based in the Northwest Desert, and it's a pretty tough place to work. You'll need to sign a strict confidentiality agreement.

[Once you confirm, for the next five years, you are not permitted to leave the base or contact the outside world without authorization.

[Please upload your background check paperwork and your voter registration cancellation confirmation within three days.]

With a calm hand, I clicked "Confirm Participation" without any hesitation.

Alex's loud laughter echoed from the living room. "Sophie, dinner's on me tonight. Let's check out that new restaurant."

"Yeah, I want salmon sashimi," Sophie cheered.

Mom's voice was warm with laughter. "You two, don't eat too much raw stuff. Your stomachs can't handle it."

"Mom, you should come, too. Dad, let's go," Sophie said.

The four of them were making dinner plans, joking and laughing.

No one knocked on my door. No one asked, "Emily, are you coming?"

I stared at the confirmed message glowing on my screen, then quietly went through the handful of warm clothes I owned.

I guessed winters in the Northwest Desert got pretty cold.