The Maplethorn Initiative (Book 1, The Maplethorn Series)

Choke

"Carver had to have said something!" Liam insisted.

"He said, at ease, and carry on," Cam replied. "That was it."

Over on his bunk, Tober pulled his knees up to his chest. "Maybe it was because Keegan took that book from the library?"

"Didn't you put it back?" Cam asked.

"Yeah."

"Then it has to be something else."

"Screw it." Liam sprang from his bed. "I'm going to talk to Carver." He was through the door before Cam could get in another word.

Resting his chin on one knee, Tober let out a long sigh through his nose. "That'll go well."

They didn't have to wait long before the door burst open again.

"So?" Cam asked hesitantly. "How did it go?"

Liam hurled the door closed and threw himself onto his bunk. "I hate this place!"

"You can still write to Kinsler, can't you?" Cam offered. "I mean, no matter where he—"

"No!" Liam flipped onto his back. "Once you're out of here, you're just gone. Nobody tells anybody where you went, and you don't get to be goddamn pen pals!"

Cam saw the tears welling up in Liam's eyes and turned away.

"To hell with it." Liam was on his feet again. "I'm going to go find Kinsler."

Cam spread his arms to corral the bigger cadet. "You'll just get kicked out too!"

"I don't care anymore," Liam said, shoving Cam out of the way.

"And if you find him? Then what?"

"I just need to know what he did." Liam punched the door instead of opening it. "I'm sick of them taking people out of here and not telling us why."

"Okay, I get that," Cam sympathized. "Do you know where Kinsler is?"

"Getting kicked out means going to juvie." Liam jabbed a finger toward the window. "But they don't just throw your ass out the door and say, 'Jail's that way!' He's still here somewhere. And I bet I know where."

"Quarantine?" Tober breathed.

"Yup."

"What's quarantine?" Cam asked cautiously. "Remember, I'm new here."

"There are special quarantine rooms in the infirmary." Tober's accent crept back in as he spoke. "Supposedly, if you're sick and the doctors can't cure you right away, they put you in there, so you won't infect the other kids. It's one of the reasons everyone avoids sick call."

"It's also where they hold anyone who is transferring out before graduation," Liam added.

"Uh, transferring out? That means...?"

"Juvie." Liam slapped Cam on the back of the head. "Pay attention. Gah!"

"Have either one of you been there?" Cam asked, smoothing his hair back into place. "To the quarantine rooms?"

"No," Liam admitted. "But I heard about them from someone who has. There was a new kid that came in with a weird flu or something. He said they made him stay in the basement of the infirmary till he was better. He also said that's where they kept the guys they were shipping out."

"Chow!" Captain Carver's voice rang through the hallway.

Cam reached for the doorknob. "Let's go eat and we'll figure something out when we get back."