Secret Value of Zero, The Read Online Free PDF Page A

could program a camera to run a loop of the previous scene, but only for a few moments. Trove made it seem like nobody had been in the stairwell.
    Meke glanced at the handheld, wishing for one. As a Zero, she could never have a handheld. Only Fivers and Stars could carry them and knew how to use them. The rest did things the ordinary, hard way.
    As they reached the bottom floor, Trove crouched by the door. His shoulders flexed, visible even through the thick black fabric, as he turned to look up and down the hallway.  
    Meke slid along the wall, feeling purposeless and directionless.
    They crept along the turning and twisting hallways, stopping and going to re-program the cameras.  
    Meke's mind filled with sudden vibrations. She clutched her head; her mind could only interpret the feelings as pain. She stopped in the middle of the hallway. Trove, a few paces away, waved her on, face set in impatience. She shook her head, unable to form a coherent thought other than, there is someone there.
    Trove pulled her arm. This time it was no gentle tug; it was a wrench. Meke jerked free, her jaw set. She wouldn't be dragged about.  
    She knew there was something ahead of them, hidden away in another hallway. She raised her hands and signed. “There are people ahead of us. Let’s go another way.”
    Trove looked at her blankly. He didn’t understand her. Panic started to grow in her chest. She needed to make herself understood. She grabbed his arm, mouthed the word people and pointed in the direction of where she felt the tickling sensation. Trove looked at her strangely. He turned his head sideways, listening for any sounds of movement.  
    He shook his head at Meke. He grasped her arm so tight that his fingers sunk into hear arms. With a quick glance around, he pulled her along. Meke thought about struggling, but knew it would be worse than useless.
    They turned the corner and faced a guard.  
    The stocky man’s jaw went slack with surprise. The surprise only lasted a few moments. The guard reached for his baton—the usual weapon of all of the institution’s guards—and had it halfway out of its holster when Trove punched him in the jaw.  
    The man staggered back but regained his footing against the wall. Trove reached into his boot and whipped out his dagger. As the man struggled upright, Trove walked up to him, his dagger glinting under the fluorescent lights.  
    Meke stood frozen, watching. She felt a sudden emergence of movement behind her. She twirled around and saw yet another guard.
    A second passed with the two of them staring at each other. The guard opened his mouth.  
    As soon as she saw him move, Meke ran at the man, pushing him against the wall. The impact knocked the man’s breath out of his chest. His eyes went wide and he gasped.
      Meke was already pressed up against the man, fumbling for his baton. The man tried to shove her away, but he had no purchase, so he ended up just swatting her. Meke pushed away his flailing hands and grabbed the baton’s cool handle, drawing it out of the holster.  
    Once Meke had the baton in her hands, the guard’s face turned ugly with anger. He lunged at her, but Meke hopped away. He lunged again, but went past her as Meke moved away.  
    She brought the baton down on the guard’s head with a solid thump that reverberated through the handle. He crumpled down to the floor, clutching his skull. Blood streamed past his fingers.  
    The guard brought a knee up, but couldn't lift himself up. Meke’s thoughts barreled around. What should I do? Should I hit him again? What if he’s hurt?
    She raised the baton, preparing for another blow. Suddenly, she felt a firm grip on her wrist. She had been so focused on the man in front of her that she had ignored the movements behind her. Trove took the baton from her and kicked the man onto his back. With one swift stroke, Trove crushed the man’s windpipe.  
    The man sputtered and coughed, then remained still. Meke stood there,