Guardians by Susan Kim

Gideon would have dismissed such an episode. The idea that he had any interest in Esther was not only absurd, it was distasteful.
    Still, what did it say about the girl?
    Gideon had always believed that the blind boy was Esther’s most powerful ally. The two had a relationship that seemed like a fortress, unshakeable and strong. But Aras had just made it clear that he was jealous of Gideon and suspicious of the time he spent alone with his partner. While ludicrous, such mistrust was intriguing as well. For if Aras didn’t have faith in Esther, that meant there was a fundamental weakness between them, a crack in their seemingly perfect union.
    And weakness could always be exploited.
    But how? he wondered.
    Despite Aras’s parting words, Gideon was too excited to sleep all night.

FOUR
    E LI AWOKE WITH A START .
    He had been sound asleep, and, for a few moments at least, he had been happy. This much he remembered, although the details were already fading fast. When he realized he had been dreaming of Esther, he felt a flare of embarrassment, followed by irritation. Ever since she had partnered with Aras, the girl was as good as dead to him; he had made a private vow to try not to speak to or even think of her again. Yet she continued to haunt his fantasies, no matter how hard he tried to banish her from his thoughts.
    But something else had startled him awake.
    Eli blinked. A figure was standing on the threshold of his room, its features indistinguishable in the early morning light. As he struggled up on one elbow, Eli saw to his surprise that it was Gideon.
    Although Eli acted as Gideon’s assistant of sorts, this was the boy’s first visit. Still, Eli admired him deeply. He often watched him when he thought no one was looking and even tried to imitate his nonchalant way of standing, his cool bearing. From the start, the Insurgent had seemed his total opposite. Nothing ever seemed to rattle Gideon; unlike Eli, he never wavered or doubted or appeared to feel any pain. He had certainly never been made a fool by the love of a girl like Esther, of that much Eli was certain.
    Eli scrambled to get up and offer his guest a seat.
    â€œIt okay,” said Gideon. He didn’t sit in the chair, but leaned against the counter, his expression unreadable.
    Eli nodded. Without being aware of it, he too settled his weight against the wooden barrier that ran halfway across the side of the store; like Gideon, he hooked his thumb in the loop of his jeans and affected a careless look. After a few moments of silence, however, he began to feel self-conscious: He knew his hair was rumpled and that he was still wearing the T-shirt he’d slept in. He cleared his throat and glanced around, wondering why the boy was there and what Eli could do for him.
    â€œWhat you know about Aras?”
    The question was abrupt and took Eli by surprise. “Aras?”
    â€œYou know him awhile, right?”
    â€œYeah.” His reply seemed more like a question than astatement, and he winced at how uncertain he sounded.
    â€œSo? What you think?”
    â€œWell . . .” Eli licked his lips. He sensed that Gideon wanted something from him, and although he wasn’t quite sure what it was yet, he wanted to provide it. “When we were on the road, coming to Mundreel . . . I guess I didn’t like him much. Not at first, anyway.”
    Gideon nodded. “Why not?”
    â€œHe was—well, he pushed people around. Told us what to do. Like he was better than everybody.”
    â€œYou say ‘at first.’ What about after?”
    â€œWell . . .” Eli kept glancing at Gideon to gauge the effect of his words. “After that, I saw he knew what he was doing. He was a good guide.”
    Gideon snorted. “He blind.”
    â€œI know. But still—”
    Gideon shook his head as if dissatisfied and Eli felt unnerved; although he had only spoken the truth, he had failed. Yet what exactly did Gideon want