Aaron stared at Alex, and the identical twins stood motionless, facing each other. Finally Aaron spoke. “I have never understood you, and I never will. Please leave me alone.”

And with that, Aaron swiveled around and pushed open the 3-D door, stumbled a bit on the unnatural threshold that was made by the painting not quite reaching the floor, and slammed the door behind him.

Alex smashed his hand down on Mr. Today’s desk. “No!”

Broken Ties

I’m sorry, sir. I—I made such a mess of everything,” Alex said as he dropped into a chair. Mr. Today snapped his wrist again, and the scenes reappeared on the black- boards behind his desk. They watched Aaron shake his head and flip the light out on the blackboard that showed his room.

The old man sat behind the desk and pressed a finger to his lips, looking disappointed and perhaps angry, but saying nothing, as if he were waiting to hear more.

“I mean … what was I thinking? I’ve ruined everything.” A look of pure agony washed over Alex’s face as he realized the extent of the trouble he had created. “Oh,” he groaned, “I should have talked to you, or Ms. Octavia, or someone. But I was so sure I could convince him to come, and that would be that, you know? Quill would wonder where he went, but they’d never guess.… Then I just found out tonight what Will was planning to do, and, well, I went a little crazy. I had to beat him to Aaron, and I didn’t think … I didn’t think it through. I mean, he’s close, Mr. Today—really close.” He rubbed his temples and let his head sink back in the chair. “And I know I shouldn’t have done it. I just was so sure. I mean, we’re twins! I know him. Or at least … I thought I did. I really thought I had him there. For a split second there was just a flicker of something—like he wanted to believe me. But back when I was in his room, he said—he said—” Alex relayed the entire conversation, starting from the beginning.

Mr. Today just listened and waited for Alex to finish. The look on his face changed as the story came out.

“And you know what?” Alex asked. “He’s right. He did his duty to Quill, and I failed. And now I failed to do my duty for you, too.” Alex slumped back in his chair, miserable.

They sat in silence for a moment.

“Are you quite finished?” Mr. Today asked kindly. “I don’t wish to interrupt until you’ve gotten it all out. Every last nasty bit.”

Alex looked up. “He reported me. It was him, way back when we were nine. He was already turning people in back then. Not just me. Meghan, Samheed, and Will Blair, too. I never knew anything could hurt like this.”

Mr. Today nodded. “I know. You weren’t the only ones. He turned in a great deal more than that.”

“He did?”

“Yes. Every year before the Purge I meet with Justine and go over the reports. Aaron has had his sights set on the palace for some time now.”

Alex shook his head sadly. “All this time,” he said. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it’s hurtful. And you wouldn’t have believed me. I guess you needed to see it for yourself.” Mr. Today sighed. “And once I saw the door and figured out what had happened, I, too, hoped you might have been able to change his mind. Alas.” Then his face brightened a little. “I’m glad to have you here, though. Aren’t you glad to be here?”

“Yes,” said Alex. “But it still just kills me—how could he be so horrible? How could he be so evil without me knowing it? He was my closest … my closest everything! And I feel so stupid. I should have known, back in the mud.…” He sighed. “And what happens now?” His voice grew fearful.

“We’ll never know until it happens,” Mr. Today said. “But it’s likely that Aaron will report having seen you, even though he promised he wouldn’t. And it’s likely that Will Blair will succeed eventually in getting his door finished. Which one of them acts first … only time will tell.”

“I’m really sorry.”

“Come now, Alex. Let’s be done with the apologies,” Mr. Today said. “Let me tell you, my boy. I admit to holding out the slightest hope for the twin connection in getting him to stay here, once he walked in the door. I’ve witnessed that power before. But I should have known better.…” Mr. Today trailed off, deep in thought, and it was quiet in the room for several minutes.

Alex, who was completely spent, drifted off to sleep in the chair during the silence, but he startled awake when he heard a growl at the door. Standing there was a most enormous gray wolf.

“Hello, Marcus. Claire said you wanted to see me?” The wolf’s gravelly voice was as deep as a bassoon.

Mr. Today rose to his feet and smiled warmly. “Gunnar. How good of you to come. I’m sure you recognize Alex Stowe. Alex, this is Gunnar. You may have seen him a time or two on your treks through the jungle.”

“I—yes,” Alex said, remembering. He was a bit nervous having the wolf so close, but he swallowed his fear and said, his voice shaking only a little, “It’s nice to meet you.”

The wolf nodded politely. “Marcus, is everything all right with … the children?” The wolf’s bright blue eyes shifted toward Alex briefly, and he left the rest of his question unasked.

Mr. Today looked puzzled, and then his face brightened. “Oh! Oh, yes, quite fine. No, I wanted to speak with you about matters of Quill, which continue to change by the minute. Aaron Stowe knows of our existence now. Do what you can to keep him in sight. I fear he’ll share the knowledge with Justine within days, if not immediately.”