Harriet helped Marie slip back to the alleyway by her old apartment. Apparently, Harriet moved every semester to keep her neighbors from getting suspicious.

“Do you know your way from here?” Harriet asked.

Marie nodded.

“Okay. Talk with your friends and get back to us next week. You know where we are now, and we’ll plan on being in that apartment next Wednesday. Does that give you enough time to talk to your friends?”

Marie nodded again. “Plenty of time.”

Marie and Harriet hugged before Harriet slipped away. Marie walked as quickly and as quietly as possible back to the barn. She was meeting with the guys as usual Friday night, and she had no way of contacting them before then, so she’d just have to wait until then. It’d be too suspicious to go by their house, especially without a watch. Besides, she had her interview with Mr. Germain Friday as well. She’d have to mentally prepare herself for that one. Thinking about it already brought out a burst of anxiety she tried to stuff back into its little box.

She slipped back into her sleeping spot in the barn. She checked for any lights, but it seemed like Mrs. Germain had taken the night off. She wasn’t sure how many times Mrs. Germain came to check in on Sophie. She checked her watch in the moonlight. It was almost three in the morning. She felt the exhaustion consume her, but her mind was still too alive for her to get any sleep at all.

Marie forced her eyes closed. She needed her sleep. They were probably going to do some weeding tomorrow, and she needed her energy. She was almost asleep when she heard voices right outside the barn.

“Are you sure they’re asleep?” someone asked.

“Yes. They refilled the sleeping gas two nights ago.”

“I meant we’ve been gone an hour. Won’t it have worn off?”

“No. This stuff lasts much longer than an hour.”

Marie heard some grunting as the door opened. She barely opened her eyes to try and discern what was going on.

“What about last week? Someone saw and we had to take him in and get his memories wiped.”

Two men were carrying Sophie in the barn. She had a mask over her face, probably feeding her whatever sleeping gas they were talking about.

“No. Last week the gas was almost out, and they didn’t get the usual full blast of it. Mr. Germain himself assured me it’s completely full. There’s no way anyone can be awake.”

Marie’s eyes were wide, and she was glad these strangers couldn’t see her.

They situated Sophie back in her spot and one of the men took off Sophie’s mask.

“I don’t want to tell the boss when he’s wrong, but I seriously think clean, shampooed blonde hair will stand out and make people notice way more than ratty brown.”

“Let’s just get out of here. Macbeth himself could haunt here.”

The two men quickly left, closing the door behind them. Marie lifted her head just a little. Sophie, and for all she knew everyone else, was fast asleep. Her heart pounded with adrenaline. She almost got caught. Again. So many strange things happened to the hobos at night. Who was the boss? Was it the Germain’s? Was it President Arnold himself? Why did every answer she get only multiply the questions already in her mind?

The men disappeared into the night, and Marie sat up, trying to study Sophie. The blonde hair reflected the moonlight quite well. Marie settled back down. She didn’t think she’d get any sleep, but the lingering gas must have gotten into her system and she was soon fast asleep.

Marie quietly worked across from Sophie. Sophie was quiet, her hair pulled back and tied with a strip of cloth. Marie did the same, but there were some frizzy locks that still escaped. Marie decided again not to say anything and let Sophie talk if she wanted to. Marie did the same thing at breakfast, talking instead to her other friends and let Sophie get comfortable.

The sun beat down on them and Sophie wiped the sweat from her forehead. Being in the middle of the farmland, there was no shade to give them any comfort from the horrible sun. Marie could just faintly smell the chemicals they used in her hair, and there was definitely some shampoo she smelled. Hobos were never given shampoo.

“Hot day, huh?” Sophie said.

Marie glanced at her and gave a small smile. “Yep. Sure is.”

They remained quiet the rest of the work period.

A few hours later, a worker went around, announcing lunch. Marie glanced up to see tables already set up and volunteers handing out bagged lunches to the hobos. Marie could spot Audrey handing lunches to a hobo and laughing at his joke. Marie waited quietly in line, smiled at the volunteer and thanked them for the lunch, before leaving to find a quiet place to enjoy her lunch. Marie rested her back against a concrete wall before taking a bite of her sandwich. She closed her eyes, chewing, pretending to enjoy it, but really she was so exhausted. Friday was tomorrow. All this sneaking around at night was really getting to her. She needed some sleep and was quietly hoping Mrs. Germain would make one of her visits so the sleeping gas would be used to ensure a good nights sleep.

“Hey,” Sophie said.

Marie’s eyes snapped open and she looked up at Sophie. “Hey.”

The bagged lunch crinkled in Sophie’s hands. “Where’s your other friends?”

Marie sat up a bit and scanned the group of hobos before settling back against the wall. “Must have gotten separated from them. They went off in a different direction.”

Sophie paused before sitting down next to Marie. The triumphant feeling swelled and Marie tried desperately to hide her smile. They quietly ate their lunch, watching another hobo looting through a dumpster.

“Do you think he got enough for lunch?” Sophie asked.

Marie shrugged. It looked as though the hobo life aged this poor man. Marie was struck with the desire to know this guy’s past. This desire to know who they were was happening more frequently. What kind of past did these people lead that made them such enemies to President Arnold? The hobo man found a clock in the dumpster and tucked it into his shirt like it was a precious jewel. Marie watched with a pained expression as he slunk deeper into the alleyway with his treasure.

“Do you think this is all we have to look forward to in our future?” Sophie asked.

“I… certainly hope not.”

Sophie gave Marie a lame smile. “You know, I still don’t know why you’re being friendly to me. And I guess I’m tired of asking. It feels nice to have someone look out for you again. I’ll just take it as it comes.”

Marie gave Sophie a curious look. “Why does that sound so ominous? Are you expecting me to run?”

Sophie gave a shrug. “I mean they all do, eventually.”

Marie scoffed. “I wouldn’t.”

Sophie didn’t look at Marie.

***

Albert sat down with his tray at lunch. He stretched a bit before settling down. Lunch time was when Billy would do his little rhyme exercise with everyone. Albert hated it, but he couldn’t deny the help it gave.

Billy sat down across from him. “I do declare! The cooks have made my favorite food.”

Albert began sifting through the words as quickly as possible. “Yes, I do find it great. It lifts my mood.”

Billy didn’t miss a beat. “Though I believe these potatoes would be better stewed.”

“That would indeed make them quite renewed,” Abe said as he sat down with his own tray.

Billy smiled. “Tell me, dear friend, how was your debate?”

Abe began pulling out his utensils. “I laid down the facts and gave it to him straight.”

“Did you do it softly so he still thinks you’re his mate?” Albert asked as he peeled an orange.

“No hard feelings, in debate. But that orange will have a different fate,” Abe said.

Albert smiled as he peeled off a slice and popped it in his mouth. He turned to Billy. “Tell me, oh poetry master, what rhymes with orange?”

Billy was in the process of drinking his milk before he set it down. “To find one, I must consult my list and begin to forage.”

Abe and Albert gave slow, impressed nods. Albert was never a fan of this activity, but he had to stretch his mind to be able to think of rhymes in an instant. He knew his life depended on it.

***

Marie glanced around before she found Sophie looking like her same sullen self. Marie walked over and set her tray down. The utter surprise on Sophie’s face seemed weird. It took Marie a few bites of food before she realized Sophie was still staring at her with that surprised look. Marie swallowed her food.

“What?” Marie asked.

“I just... I thought you’d sit with your other friends after what happened last night,” Sophie said.

Marie frowned, then glanced around the cafeteria to see Pusher, Numbers, and Poet were sitting across the way, staring at Marie and Sophie.

“Um, I must have slept really well last night,” Marie said. “What exactly happened?”

The surprised look faded, and instead turned into a frown and she dropped her gaze again. “I... I stole Poet’s blanket last night.”

Marie glanced again at her friends. Poet particularly looked angry. Marie’s heart sank. Both of them had watches on, and she had to be extremely careful as to what she said.

“Oh.” Marie said, trying desperately to think of something.

Even though Sophie was trying to hide her face, Marie noticed her friend looked distraught.

“How did it happen?” Marie asked.

Sophie glanced up, then back over at Poet. “I...”

“How did you steal her blanket?” Marie asked.

Sophie groaned. “I don’t know. I really don’t. I must be some sort of sleep kleptomaniac. I didn’t mean to, but... sometimes I think everyone would feel better if I just slept outside.”

“That’s not true,” Marie said. She tried not to celebrate the fact that Sophie came to her with her fears and was talking them through. She hated that she had to be guarded with what she said. She didn’t want to ruin the small friendship they were starting to build.

Sophie glared at her porridge. “I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’m so confused! I’ve tried everything I can think of, but other people’s blankets always manage to get on me somehow. It’s like I’m a magnet. Weird things happen to me, and I don’t like it.”

Marie shook her head. “That’s got to suck.”

“Yeah, and it’s been my whole experience here as a hobo. I’ve tried to figure it out, but I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore.”

Marie watched her friend, trying to decide the safest way to approach this. She took a deep breath. “You know what? You’re right! It is weird. Let’s put our heads together and figure this out.” It would be too weird if she didn’t offer help, but she wasn’t sure exactly how much help she could give with them wearing watches.

That night Marie slipped out as soon as she heard Sophie going to sleep. She wasn’t sure why, but if Mrs. Germain was going to try and ruin Sophie’s life, she had to find a way to stop it.

Marie leaned against the barn, trying to think of what she needed to do. She kept thinking for a while, realizing there was little she could do. If Sophie and Marie “figured out” what was going on, the S.E.A. would most likely erase their memories again. Marie would be okay, but Sophie would go blank, and she’d come back to a place where her reputation wasn’t the best. It might break her already broken self-esteem.

Marie heard a soft hissing sound and tried to step away from the barn. It must be the gas. What with the holes in the barn, she didn’t want to get too close. She made a tentative glance around the building to see if someone had come, but no one had. The gas must be turned on somewhere else. It was a little chilly. Maybe Mrs. Germain would try and steal someone’s blanket again. If so, Marie could just put it back so Sophie wasn’t in danger of making someone else angry. And ruining her reputation all over again.

It was about a half an hour later when Mrs. Germain entered the gated area with a flashlight. Marie backed away out of sight and waited as Mrs. Germain slipped inside the barn. Once again, Marie felt like she was watching something personal as Mrs. Germain knelt next to Sophie. Marie crept away from the light and found a comfortable spot to sit in. Who knew how long Mrs. Germain would take this time? She gave Mrs. Germain enough room to have the privacy she needed.

Marie rested her head against the barn, trying not to make a sound as Mrs. Germain continued to sit by Sophie. To be honest, Marie was both sympathetic towards Mrs. Germain and felt weirded out by the whole thing. Mrs. Germain probably spent more time at Sophie’s bedside watching her sleep then being actually present in Sophie’s life. Maybe Mrs. Germain was feeling a regret that Marie couldn’t fathom.

A car crept up the street of the hobo’s gated area. Marie frowned. The headlights were off, and she could tell it was a super nice car. A figure got out of it and headed toward the barn. Marie slithered to the back of the barn, hoping it was dark enough that this new figure wouldn’t see her. She pressed herself against the back of the barn right as the front door was thrown open.

“Madeline!” Mr. Germain hissed. “What are you doing here?”

Mrs. Germain gave a little squeal of surprise. Mr. Germain did not sound happy. Marie froze, feeling the color fade from her face. She hoped Mr. Germain was so distracted with his wife being here that he would conveniently not notice that Marie was nowhere in the barn. Her heart pounded just thinking about it. A short trip to make sure Sophie wasn’t accused of stealing any more blankets had now taken a dangerous turn.

“Let go of me!” Mrs. Germain said.

Marie’s eyes were wide as she heard Mr. Germain dragging Mrs. Germain out of the barn. They were right outside the barn door.

“You need to stop coming here. It will only make things worse. Our daughter is gone. It’s better to imagine if she were d-”

Marie heard a loud slap and couldn’t help but wince in sympathy.

“Don’t you say that. Don’t you ever say that!” Marie knew the hobos were under a sound sleep with sleeping gas, but she was still surprised to hear Mrs. Germain’s raised voice.

“Scientists and mathematicians are dangerous. We tried to reason with Sophie, but she fought us on every turn. She’s chosen her side, you need to get it together, and fight for yours.”

Mrs. Germain began to cry. “You think this is easy for me, Ambrose?”

“Oh, and it’s easy for me?”

Mrs. Germain sounded like she was growling. Marie bit her lip, hoping they kept fighting and would eventually move to the car so Mr. Germain wouldn’t notice she was missing.

“You’ve wasted months’ worth of sleeping gas. Months! President Arnold was kind enough to let us oversee keeping her disguised, but that’s it! He told us to stay away from her on all other occasions. You need to listen to him. He’s trying to keep Musical Land safe.”

“At the cost of our daughter’s life?”

Mr. Germain sighed. Marie hugged her legs close to her chest.

“It’s not like she’s actually dead. It’s just that Sophie knew too much. She would have been fine if she wasn’t friends with that little mad scientist. It’s them who President Arnold is trying to protect us from, and it’s them you need to blame for our daughter’s situation.”

Marie felt her heart stop. She hoped Mr. Germain wouldn’t think of her. If he did, he might look for her among the sleeping bodies. She heard Mrs. Germain crying softly.

“There’s only so much more of this I can take,” she said.

“You are doing amazing. As soon as we get rid of science and math, maybe President Arnold will rethink our suggestion about letting her live with us in her state.”

Marie covered her mouth, eyes wide. She thought Sophie had a hard enough time as a hobo, but what Mr. Germain suggested sounded so much worse. The thought made her stomach turn.

“Come on, Madeline. Let’s go home and get some rest.”

Marie held her breath, too scared to even breath. The Germain’s made their way to the dark car parked by the gate. Mr. Germain had a hold of the flashlight and an arm around his wife. Mrs. Germain’s shoulders were slumped, her head bowed, and Marie noticed every so often she was wiping at her cheeks. They got in the car. The headlights came on and Marie ducked out of instinct, even though she was on the other side of the barn. The car drove off, and Marie didn’t dare exhale until she was certain they were gone.