We’re not planning on being stopped, but this is an extra precaution in the event that we’re asked to identify ourselves we have to know the information on our RR cards as if it were our own.

“Delia Dupont,” I say, the words slipping from my lips more easily than I expected. Then he focuses his eyes on me until everyone is staring, watching, waiting to see if I screw it up.

13A-XC2.” Castle nods as everyone takes turns regurgitating the information etched into their fake RR cards. Factory 15B-XC2.” Kenji doesn’t wait for a prompt when he says, “Hiro Yamasaki, 8891-11DX. “My name is Keith Hunter, 4556-65DS,” Winston says. Factory 19A-XC2.” “Winston,” Castle orders. I live in Sector 45.” “Occupation,” Castle says again, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. She sounds slightly robotic when she says, “My name is Erica Fontaine, 1117-52QZ. Now.” Lily tugs the scarf away from her mouth. Castle draws himself up to his full height. Castle pauses at the door, which looks small enough to be a window. See what my parents must be experiencing wherever they are. I will see what the people of this new society must endure now. Today I will see the world as a civilian, really see things up close for the very first time. I can see what looks like a small square of a metal door from here. We’re walking uphill, up a series of stone stairs stacked into the ground. It’s only when the terrain under my feet changes that I realize how close we are to getting outside. Although if I’m perfectly honest, I’ll admit I haven’t made much of an effort to explore anything. I’m increasingly aware of how little I understand about this place, how little I’ve seen of it. And walk.” I lose track of which tunnels break off in which directions as Castle leads us toward the exit. If we want to blend in, we have to do as the people do. “And we sure as hell can’t be caught in a tank. “Most civilians don’t have cars,” Kenji explains. “So how are we getting there?” I ask anyone. I search for something to say to shake the silence. I could run away, blend into the background and never be found again. Follow me.” No one really speaks as we follow Castle down these corridors, and I’m left to wonder how easy it would be to just disappear in this inconspicuous outfit. “Don’t forget what we discussed,” he says. And then I remember how I nearly killed Adam yesterday and suddenly I’m not sure how to move my lips. Today, I’m just a girl in a group wearing normal clothes and normal gloves. “All right, everyone,” Castle says, clapping his hands together. 10 other people I still don’t really know. A door clicks shut and we all turn at once.

Unravel me by tahereh mafi