Oasis (The Last Humans Book 1) by Dima Zales, Anna Zaires

frustrated. “To make light of Mason after—”
    “What are you talking about?” Grace’s expression abruptly softens with concern. “Are you feeling okay?”
    “I’m fine,” I say. “But I wish you’d asked Mason that yesterday. He was devastated.”
    “Theo, I don’t understand what’s going on.”
    My frustration boils over. “Of all the nasty shit I expected from you, I never thought you’d fuck with my head like this. I thought you were all about being proper. How did Liam even manage to get you to—”
    She jumps to her feet and runs toward the distant cube of the Administrative building.
    Realizing the blunder I just made, I chase after her. “Wait.” Catching up, I grab her shoulder. “Grace, I didn’t mean to use that language. I was just—”
    Her gaze flits from my hand to my face, and I see fear in her eyes.
    It’s like a slap in the face.
    I quickly remove my hand from her shoulder. “I’m sorry—”
    “I’m sorry too,” she says, backing away. “I have to report your language, and whatever else is going on with you.”
    “You’re going to admit you’re playing a prank?”
    Her expression changes from fear to worry. “Listen, Theo. Why don’t you go back to your room? I think you might need help…”
    The pity on her face scares me.
    “I have to go,” I say, backing away as well.
    “I’m sorry, but I still have to tell them,” Grace says, watching me. “I know you’ll hate me even more—”
    Not waiting for her to finish, I turn on my heels and all but run toward the Lectures Building.
    Mason will be in Calculus.
    He has to be.
----
    W hen I get to the Math Hall, the Lecture is about to start.
    I peek in and see other Youths, their faces in varying shades of boredom. Mason isn’t among them. Could he be skipping? Math is his least favorite subject.
    The sound of footsteps coming down the hall interrupts my thoughts, and I turn to see Instructor George, the Calculus teacher, approaching.
    He gives me a quizzical look. “Are you trying to be late, Theodore?”
    “I was just wondering… Did Mason give you an excuse for why he’s not at the Lecture today?” I ask, hoping I’m not about to get Mason into more trouble.
    “Who?” The Instructor’s forehead wrinkles in that uniquely Adult way. “I’m not sure I follow.”
    I realize I’m holding my breath. Exhaling, I say, “Mason, sir. You know… my friend. Your student.”
    “Is this a jest?” The expression on Instructor George’s face is the one he gets when someone mixes up an equation. A sort of ‘how can you be so wrong?’ type of glare. “I don’t have a student by that name.”
    As the meaning of his words registers, a deep terror seeps into me.
    Until this moment, I could tell myself that Liam and Grace were playing a prank on me. An Adult, however, would never partake in a prank—particularly if that Adult is Instructor George. His sense of humor was permanently replaced by the Pythagorean Theorem.
    Which means only one thing: something odd is going on.
    Did I jinx my mental wellbeing when I told Phoe I didn’t think she was imaginary? Is that what’s happening? Did I truly lose my mind? Or did I go crazy because Phoe made my mind tamper-free? Ancients went insane all the time, so this is a real possibility.
    Or could I simply be dreaming?
    “Phoe,” I scream mentally. “Phoe, where are you?”
    “Theo, what the fuck is going on?” Phoe’s reply is so loud my whole body tenses. I’ve been jumpy around loud noises ever since Owen startled the crap out of me by suddenly screaming in my ear in the middle of my morning meditation a few months ago.
    Instructor George gives me a questioning stare. He must’ve noticed me jump.
    “They don’t know who Mason is,” I whisper at Phoe. “And don’t speak so loudly again.”
    “Wait.” Phoe’s tone is pure incredulity. “You asked him about Mason?”
    “I—”
    “Never mind that now,” she says sharply. “Get yourself together. I