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“But not how, apparently.” I am still processing my reactions to the two creatures we’ve found. Though I’ve seen them so many times, until Dace pointed them out I never really looked at them. I never realized they were so unique or beautiful.

“Most people don’t,” says Dace, without rancor. “Everyone just moves along lost in their own heads, never noticing much.”

“Except you.”

“Well, I’m a naturalist. Comes with the territory. And I like to see things, you know, the way they really are. Not just what I think they might be.” Dace steps back and stares at the pile of large rocks. “Did you ever study the Impressionists?”

“The artists? Sure. Pretty cool stuff.”

“Well, that was their thing, looking at landscapes and objects and even people with a clear eye. Really seeing, without filtering through the lens of what they expected to see.” Dace reaches out and slips his fingers between two of the rocks. “Looking without prejudice or preconceptions.” He yanks one of the rocks free.

I shriek, fearing a slide that will bury us both. “What the hell are you doing?” I shout, racing to his side and slapping his hand from the rocks.

Dace turns to me, his face perfectly calm. “I think there’s a cavern under here. I’d like to see if I’m right.” He peers into the dark hole created by the missing rock. “Definitely something. Listen.”

He yells into the opening. The sound reverberates for several seconds.

“You’re loco.” I back away. “Now look, I said I’d show you around. But I also promised to protect you. Back off and let’s go around to the other side of this rock pile. There’re likely to be some other creatures you can examine with your computer thingy.”

“Alright,” says Dace, reluctance sharpening his tone. He steps away from the rocks and strolls to his bike. “Let me grab some stuff first.”

I yawn as I wait for him to collect his equipment. Although I was in bed early enough last night, I didn’t sleep well. Spent too many hours planning every aspect of my escape from Eco.

We walk around to the opposite side of the rock pile. Dace keeps his eyes on the ground, undoubtedly searching for more creatures, while I stare absently at the horizon. As he kneels and takes samples of the thin soil, I sit down in the shade of the rocks and lean back against a large boulder that’s in no danger of moving. Enjoying the coolness of the stone behind my back and the warm wind playing across my face, I close my eyes.

I wake to silence. Jumping to my feet, I stare wildly about. There’s no sign of Dace.

The sun has dropped lower in the sky, telling me the afternoon is drifting toward dusk. I run around the perimeter of the rock pile, calling Dace’s name, but receive no reply. The bikes and our supplies are just where we left them, except Dace’s emergency kit is missing. I swear and dash to the section of the rock pile where Dace removed the stone.

Many more rocks have been pulled aside, forming a narrow opening no bigger than the width of a pair of slender shoulders. I run back to the bikes and fish a solar flashlight from my bag. Strapping my own emergency kit around my waist, I walk slowly toward the dark opening in the rocks.

I have no desire to step into that crevice, no inclination to follow Dace on his foolish expedition. But he’s my responsibility as well as my only hope of getting my family off this godforsaken planet. I can’t leave him no matter how much I’d like to.

Stupid boy.

Another stupid boy. More trouble than they’re worth.

Dace’s bright smile flashes through my mind. I take a deep breath and squeeze through the narrow opening, stepping into the darkness.

I flick on the flashlight. It casts a faint bluish glow as I pull out my holofone and check its illuminated screen. Of course, there’s no signal. I suppose I should’ve called for help outside, but I really don’t want to alert anyone to the situation unless absolutely necessary. Connor Patel might not be so eager to uphold his end of the bargain if he knows I lost his nephew on our very first day together.

I’m standing in a passage that’s bigger than I’d anticipated. Although my head brushes the ceiling, I can stretch my arms wide and not touch the side walls. The rock that lines the passage is dark as rich soil, but flecked with something bright as silver. I focus my flashlight on the stone and the imbedded flakes glitter like finely polished metal.

The sharp scent of mineral-infused water fills my nostrils. I creep forward, gripping my flashlight like the stun gun my grandfather taught me to use for protection. I wish I had that gun now, though I doubt there’s anything in this cave I could use it on. Well, maybe one thing. I smile grimly as I consider using a stun gun on Dace.

The slope of the passage informs me I’m descending deeper below the surface. There’s a faint sound I strain to identify—a gentle slap, like water washing against the side of a bowl. I follow the passage as it veers to the right and a gust of air blows against my head. Looking up, I spy a shaft that rises up through the rock ceiling. It must ascend to the surface, funneling air into the cave. At least I won’t suffocate, although that might be preferable to being lost in a cavern with no food and little water.

Water. That’s what I hear. Waves lapping against a shore. I shake my head. I’ve only heard such sounds on holodiscs. I must be imagining things.

I turn another corner and almost drop my flashlight. I’ve stepped into a large cavern, its domed rock roof pierced with air shafts that channel rays of light. The light pinpoints rough ledges and paths, and water—a still, clear body of water like a small underground lake. I’m standing at the top of a steeply inclined path leading down to the water and a rocky shore.

Dace is kneeling upon that shore, holding another monitoring device over the water.

“Mierda!” I make my way down to him, keeping a hand on the stone wall that edges one side of the path. “Just wander off and expect me to follow? You could’ve been killed instantly in a rock slide, you moron.”

Dace looks up at me. There isn’t even a flicker of contrition in his eyes. “But I wasn’t.” He holds up the monitoring device as I approach. “There are living creatures in this water, Ann. Did your colony know anything about that?”

“No.” I stride over to him. “We knew there was water, of course. But creatures? How could that be?”

“Air, water, some form of food chain. Why not?” Dace pushes back the dark hair falling into his eyes. “I’m picking up traces of vegetation too. Water-based, but plants for sure. Not here, but drifting in from somewhere else.” His eyes narrow as he examines the other side of the chamber, where the lake touches a stone wall. “I wonder … ”

“Don’t even think about getting in that water.” I grab Dace’s shoulder. “You’ve already pulled several idiotic stunts today. No more.”

Dace yanks free of my grip. “You have no scientific curiosity.”

“I have an instinct for self-preservation.” I kneel beside him. “You seem to be lacking that gene.” I stare into the lake. It appears dark, but only because I can see straight to the smooth black stones that line the bottom. “Your device must be malfunctioning. Nothing could live down here. It looks dead, and cold.”

“It isn’t.” Dace leans forward and dabbles his fingers in the water. “Tepid, which is also strange.” His gaze focuses on the opposite wall. “I’m betting there’s more to see, behind that barrier. This is just a small overflow or outlet or something.”

I extend one finger and touch the surface of the lake. It’s much warmer than it looks. Not hot, but comfortable, like a cool bath. Sitting back on my heels, I stare at the tip of my finger, half-expecting some type of skin reaction. But the single drop of liquid glistens innocently.

“It’s perfectly harmless,” says Dace. He picks up a small fragment of rock from the shore and stuffs it in his pocket before rising to his feet. “I don’t get it. No one’s ever explored these caverns before? In all the time you’ve lived here, I’d have thought someone would’ve been curious.”

I stand, shaking the dampness from the bottom of my jeans. “Curiosity gets people killed. My grandparents, for example. My mother’s parents,” I add, noting Dace’s puzzled expression. “They were geologists, so of course they were interested in exploring the rock hills. But after they were killed in a slide no one else wanted to attempt it. I mean, we knew there was more water, but we had enough for our uses from the compound’s wells. And after the terraforming went bust … ” I shrug. “What was the point?”

“Exploration. Discovery.” Dace fiddles with his gadget. “So I guess that wasn’t high on the list of the colony’s concerns.”

“No, survival was more important. And my grandparents … ” I shine the flashlight at the lake. “Well, they didn’t die instantly, you see. They were trapped. For days and days. Trapped, injured, and suffocating. They recorded it all—for science, I guess.” I shake my head. “My mother saw that holo file. The others tried to keep it from her, but she insisted, or so I’m told. It was all before I was born. My dad says it broke her.”

Dace stuffs the digital monitor into the pouch strapped to his waist. “She doesn’t seem broken to me.”

“Yeah, I don’t see it either.” I keep my gaze focused on the lake. “But Dad always tells me that story when I complain about her. She’s kind of a bitch, you know.”

“That I can believe.” Dace lays his fingers on my arm. “But very beautiful. I see where you get it from.”

“Me?” I glance down at my hands, at the skin that’s many shades darker than my mother’s porcelain complexion. “I don’t look like her. I take after my dad’s side of the family.”

He’s staring at me with the strangest expression. I’ve seen Raid look at me with desire, and this isn’t the same. But there’s obvious admiration in those dark eyes.

“Your coloring, yes. But you have some of her features. I noticed that at dinner. Not the nose, though. You actually have a much more interesting nose. A regal profile.” Dace swiftly turns his head aside. “Scientist, remember? Trained to observe. And also, I … ” He gazes out over the lake. “I like to do graphic stuff. On the computer.”

“Art?” I raise my eyebrows. “You’re an artist?”

Dace draws an invisible circle with one booted foot. “Don’t know if I’d say that. But yeah, I like to create stuff. So I notice things—the way they look, the way the planes and angles … ” He stops speaking, tightening his lips.

“That’s pretty cool.” I think of the immersive games I’ve played with Raid and the others and consider that someone, somewhere, must have designed them. It’s a curious thought, one I’ve never contemplated before. All those images—at one point, they were just an idea. Until someone’s mind and hands brought them to life.

“We should go back,” I say, after several minutes of staring at the placid lake in silence. “It’s getting late.”

“But we can return tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” I turn to study Dace. He smiles, obviously trying to charm. It almost works. “Oh, I suppose. But you can’t tell your uncle anything about this. Not yet. If my parents find out, they’ll forbid me to escort you anywhere.”

“Sworn to secrecy.” Dace grabs my hand. “Thank you, Ann. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Oh, I think I do.” I tighten my fingers around his. Partially in agreement, partially because I suspect Dace isn’t accustomed to a girl’s touch.

Proving my theory, a faint touch of color flushes his light brown skin.

“I really want to go to a real university,” he says, not pulling his hand away. “More than anything.”

“And I really want to get off of Eco,” I reply, giving his hand a final squeeze before I release his fingers. “More than anything. Looks like we’re on the same wavelength.”

“Seems like it.” Dace places the hand I’d gripped into his other hand and absently strokes his cradled fingers. “Hopefully we can both get what we want.”

“That’s the plan.”

I turn as I hear a splash from the lake. “What’s that?”

“Don’t know.” Dace steps close to the edge of the rocky shoreline.

As I reach to pull him back, there’s another splash.

“Something’s in there,” says Dace under his breath.

From the center of the lake a form rises.

My fingers lock onto Dace’s arm. I give a little yank. “Back.”

The form takes shape, lifting its body half out of the water. It has a sleek head with the pointed snout of a dolphin, but the slick brown fur and front paws of an otter.

“Holy shit.” Dace stumbles backward, almost knocking me over. I throw my arms around him to keep him on his feet.

The creature watches us with large, liquid brown eyes. There are no visible ears, but it cocks its head as if listening to some distant sound. With a wave of its solitary flipper tail, it leaps above the surface and dives back under.

“What the hell is that thing?” I shake Dace slightly. “Come on, naturalist. Explain.”

“Don’t have any idea.” Dace leans back against my chest, breathing heavily.

“Wow, some insight there.” I blow into his dark hair to force his head away from my face.

He lurches out of my arms, falling to his knees. Fumbling with his pouch, he pulls out a holofone. “Pictures,” he mutters. “Must get pictures.”