Sneak (Swipe Series)

throat.
    Three months ago, Logan Paul Langly could not have imagined he’d wind up here. Three months ago, Logan Paul Langly was a normal kid with a normal life. He went to school, he mostly did his homework, and like all kids his age, he waited patiently for his thirteenth birthday—the day he would finally be Marked. By now, Logan should have been a full American Union citizen with full American Union benefits. But instead, he was here, a Markless fugitive stranded and alone—and that was the least of his worries.
    Growing up, Logan had always thought of New Chicago as being familiar and close. He and his family had visited often to see his grandmother on birthdays or for the Inclusion Day parades. New Chicago always reminded him of cakes from his aunt and uncle’s bakery downtown, of school trips to museums or family trips to sights and shops. He had felt like he belonged there. It had felt almost as much like home as Spokie did.
    But New Chicago did not feel like home tonight.
    And Logan did not belong anywhere now.
    “Hands out, hotshot!”
    Logan spun in the direction of the voice behind him.
    “I said hands out !”
    Under darkness, Logan could see the silhouette of a teenager in front of him, poking up from behind a trash can and holding its lid as some type of defense.
    “I’m not . . . I don’t . . . I’m no hotshot,” Logan stuttered, barely even knowing what that meant, but the girl was already rushing at him, fumbling with Logan’s coat, tearing at it. Finally she had Logan’s wrist, and with the hand that held the lid, she pushed Logan’s sleeve up tight past his forearm.
    “Stop it! Stop it!” Logan yelled, wide-eyed and horrified, as the girl twisted his arm painfully to get a better look. “I’m no hotshot! I’m Markless, you beggar! I’m Markless! Like you!” And with these words, the girl paused finally, her arms slackening ever so slightly. She peered down at Logan’s wrist, squinting severely in the dim light.
    Logan was right, of course. His wrist was empty.
    “Oh. Well, then it’s nice to meet you,” the girl said suddenly, smiling big and toothy. “Welcome to the Ruins!”
    2
    “It’s how we get by.” The girl shrugged, sitting cross-legged next to Logan by the lake. “I’m sure you understand.”
    But Logan rubbed his elbow tenderly, not understanding at all.
    “Oh, get over it!” she scoffed. “As if you’ve never accidentally attacked a friendly stranger.”
    “I haven’t,” Logan said. “And where I come from, no one else does, either.”
    “Oh yeah? Where’s that?” The girl rolled her eyes. “I’d love to visit.”
    Logan rose to his feet. “Slog Row,” he said. “In Spokie.” Then, more quietly, “You can’t visit anymore.”
    The girl paused for a moment, cocking an eyebrow and taking in the sight of him. “You’re a long ways from home,” she said.
    Logan laughed. “You have no idea.”

    The two of them walked along the water’s edge for some time after that, Logan still nursing his elbow, the girl swinging her trash can lid playfully. “So you looking for anything in particular?” she asked. “It isn’t an easy hike from the suburbs to the Ruins. Especially not this time of year.”
    “I wasn’t headed for the Ruins,” Logan said. “I’m headed downtown. I’d still be on my way if you hadn’t stopped me.”
    “Well, then you’re lucky I did! Markless like us don’t stand a chance downtown anymore.”
    Logan looked at her, narrowing his eyes.
    “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard.”
    He shrugged.
    “DOME. They’ve gone bonkers!” She raised her eyebrows, pausing for effect. “Come on. You must know this by now. What they’re doing—”
    “I’ve been on the road a long time,” Logan said, shaking his head. “Hiding in alleys, lost in the woods . . .” But the truth was that Logan did know. The truth was that Logan knew exactly what the Department of Marked Emergencies had been doing in the month since his Pledge. The Department of Marked Emergencies had been looking for him . He knew because they’d chased him in circles for weeks. He knew because they’d barricaded every last entrance to his hometown of Spokie. He knew because it took him three false starts to make it even this far toward New Chicago without getting caught in his first few steps.
    Logan shrugged. “I haven’t exactly been keeping up with current events. Been about a month since I’ve spoken to anyone at all.”
    The girl eyed