Chapter 9: The Tri-State Exam

The next morning, the Tri-State Practice Exam began.

I pinned my proctor’s badge to my blazer and started my rounds, nerves buzzing.

In Aubrey’s exam room, I saw her working slowly, carefully, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. She bit her lip in concentration, sneaker heel tapping anxiously against her chair.

I nodded and slipped out to Exam Room 1—the room for the school’s top scorers.

Most students were deep in concentration. Except Natalie, who hadn’t written a word.

I glanced at her sheet. Instead of math, she’d filled the page with hate:

"What a lousy exam, just die."

"Trash exam, trash proctor, all a bunch of losers."

"Why are Natalie’s grades so good, what right does she have? I wish she were dead!"

Ugly, angry words covered the page.

At the same time, she hissed to her system:

[This time, swap my paper with hers. Don’t let anything go wrong! Not just the scores—I want the papers swapped too!]

[A cold buzz flickered through my thoughts: Request received. This time, the swap will not be restricted. Regardless of whether Aubrey finishes her paper, the swap will occur, and there will be no impact on reality.]

[Good. That brat made me lose face last time. This time, I’ll make her lose everything!]

I felt sick. If the swap worked, Aubrey would be blamed for Natalie’s filth.

I took a deep breath and started to leave. My footsteps echoed off the tile floors, too loud, too sharp.

Aubrey, whether you survive this depends on you.

Just as I reached the door, the Fair SAT System spoke in my head:

[Detected cheating system carrier near host. Analyzing.]

I froze, heart hammering. Was this… a second system user?

A chill ran up my spine. Outside, the American flag snapped in the spring wind. Something was about to change at Springfield High—and I’d be right in the middle of it. And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I was ready.