Chapter 1

"Joshua, do you understand the situation regarding your tuition fees?"

Dad sat at the head of the dinner table, cradling the same coffee pot he'd cherished for over a decade. He gently blew on his cup of coffee before taking a sip.

I was wiping grease stains from the tabletop with a dishcloth. I replied flatly, "I understand."

Mom came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced watermelon and set it on the coffee table. "That's good," she said.

Letting out a relieved sigh, she casually nudged the plate toward my brother, Jonathan Hayes.

"Jon is at a critical stage with his startup. We can't let the cash flow run dry. Once his company gets on its feet, our whole family will benefit from it."

Jonathan was wearing headphones, both hands flying across the screen. Without even looking up, he opened his mouth and bit into a slice of watermelon Mom held out for him.

"Thanks, Mom."

Then, he turned to me and, with his mouth still full, said, "Josh, once I secure this investment, I'll take you to pick out a new phone. That piece of junk you're using is so slow that it takes half a day to get a reply from you. It's so annoying."

I glanced down at the old phone sticking halfway out of my pocket. It had been passed down by my younger sister, Jasmine Hayes, when she upgraded to a new model.

There was a huge spiderweb-like crack down the top right corner of the screen, and I had to squint just to read anything on it.

"No need," I said as I rinsed the dishcloth and hung it beside the sink.

Jasmine was sitting in front of the mirror, doing her makeup.

"Josh, stop looking so miserable all the time. Everyone voted that day. If you stay here, we can see each other every day. Besides, why do you need so much money just to go to some crappy local teachers college?"

Some crappy teachers college.

Two weeks ago, I received an early admission offer from North City University, one of the top five universities in the country. I had stayed up countless nights and gone through three boxes of pen refills to earn that opportunity.

But Jasmine said she couldn't bear to see me go so far away from home.

So, Dad called a family vote. Four to one. My place at North City University was replaced with a spot at a teachers college just three stops away from home. And now, even the tuition for that college was going to be taken away from me.

"I'll find a part-time job this afternoon," I turned around and said to them.

Dad finally tore his eyes away from the TV and glanced at me. "That's more like it. Family is supposed to help each other. Jon is the eldest son. He'll have to carry the family's name someday. It won't hurt you to contribute a little more."

I said nothing and went back to my room.

It was a tiny room that contained nothing more than a single bed and an old desk. Sitting on the desk was my acceptance letter from the local teachers college.

I turned on my old computer. There was an unread email sitting in my inbox.

Sender: Northwest Podin Desert Key Research Base

Subject: Final Confirmation Regarding Joshua Hayes's Classified Research Project

I opened the email.

"Dear Joshua Hayes, your application has passed the final review. This project is a national-level classified research program. Tuition will be fully covered, and you will receive a monthly living allowance.

"Note: The project site is located in the Northwest Podin Desert. Conditions are harsh, and you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Once you confirm your participation, you may not leave the facility without authorization for five years, and you may not contact the outside world freely.

"Please upload your personal identification documents and proof of your household registration transfer within three days."

Without hesitation, I clicked on the button to confirm my participation.

Jonathan's laughter rang out from the living room.

"Jas, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. Let's go to that new sushi restaurant."

"Yay! I want salmon sashimi!"

Jasmine jumped out of her chair in excitement.

Mom's voice was filled with laughter too.

"Go easy on the raw fish, you two. You can't eat too much of it."

"Mom, you're coming too. Dad, let's go! Go, go, go!"

The four of them happily discussed what they were going to have for dinner. No one came to knock on my door. No one asked if I was coming.

I stared at the words "Confirmation Successful" on my computer screen. Then, I began taking inventory of the few warm clothes I owned.

Winters in the Northwest must be freezing.