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The Hidden Hollow

Ch. 1 · The Girl Who Covers Up

Lara's bedroom before sunrise. She is asleep on her back with one arm folded over her stomach, hair fanned across the pillow; the curtains are half drawn and the apartment is silent. Nothing has happened yet.
  1. Caption: Monday, 5:52 AM
  2. Narration: This is Lara — nineteen, class 3, and the only girl in her year who has never been measured.
The same bed, seconds later. Lara is awake but has not moved; she lies still in the grey light, listening to the empty apartment.
  1. Lara (thinking): Nobody in the world can see me right now.
The same bedroom, a moment later. Lara beats her alarm and sits up on the edge of the bed, feet on the floor.
Lara's bathroom, a few minutes later. She stands at the basin with both hands flat on the counter, looking into the mirror cabinet. She has not lifted her shirt yet.
  1. Narration: Nobody at the academy has ever seen Lara's hollow. That is not an accident.
The same bathroom, a moment later. Lara has lifted the hem of the grey T-shirt and holds it at her ribs, looking at herself in the mirror cabinet. Her expression does not change.
  1. Narration: Two minutes, every morning. The mirror is the only one who gets to look.
The same bathroom, seconds later. Lara lets the shirt drop and leaves, turning her face away from the mirror.
  1. Caption: 6:40 AM
The academy corridor before first period. Students fill the walkway and the Hollow Board on the end wall is packed with ivory cards. Lara comes down the corridor with her cardigan buttoned to the collar, and a cluster of ranked girls in cro
  1. Caption: 8:10 AM — Academy corridor
  2. Narration: At this academy a girl's rank is the shape of her hollow. Every first-year is measured once, and the number goes up on the board for everyone to read.
Same corridor, moments later. The ranked girls pass Lara close enough to brush her; Lara keeps walking and closes the top button of her cardigan at her collar.
  1. The Ranked Girls: That's her. The cardigan one.
The crowd at the Hollow Board. Students press in with phones raised while Lara is somewhere behind them in the corridor.
  1. Narration: The board is the first thing anyone reads in the morning.
The corridor beside the Hollow Board. Lara passes the packed board close enough to touch it and does not turn her head.
  1. Narration: Two years of walking past it. She has never once stopped.
Further down the corridor. One of the ranked girls steps out of the cluster into Lara's path; Lara answers her and keeps walking; the girl gives up and rejoins the others.
  1. The Ranked Girls: Hey. Cardigan. You ever getting measured?
  2. Lara: Maybe next year.
  3. The Ranked Girls: That's what you said last year.
Class 3's classroom after the bell. Students settle at the desks; Lara sits by the window with her cardigan buttoned and Melis drops into the chair beside her.
  1. Melis: You buttoned it again.
  2. Lara: Morning, Melis.
The same desks, a moment later. Melis reaches for the cardigan hem; Lara slides away and answers her flatly; Melis drops back with an exaggerated pout.
  1. Melis: Come on. One button.
  2. Lara: No.
  3. Melis: You're no fun.
A few minutes into the lesson. Melis leans across the aisle talking about the ranking board; Lara answers her without turning her head.
  1. Melis: Did you see the board? Sena's third again. I'm nineteenth.
  2. Lara: Nineteenth is good.
  3. Melis: Nineteenth is the middle of nowhere.
Later in the lesson. Melis has stopped talking and is watching Lara's waist; Lara keeps her eyes on the board and pulls her hem down under the desk.
  1. Lara (thinking): She's staring at my waist again.
The courtyard after the last bell. Students cross toward the entrance steps; Melis and Lara sit on the middle bench by the planter, Melis turned toward Lara mid-sentence.
  1. Caption: 4:40 PM — courtyard
  2. Narration: Melis has been asking the same question since they were fifteen.
The same bench, a moment later. Melis makes her case with both hands; Lara answers her without unfolding her arms.
  1. Melis: Two years. Two years I've been asking.
  2. Lara: And two years I've been saying no.
Still on the bench. Melis tries the hem again; Lara takes her wrist and moves it away; Melis gives up loudly.
  1. Melis: Just the corner. Nobody's looking.
  2. Lara: Melis.
  3. Melis: Ugh. Fine.
The courtyard is emptying toward the gate. Melis stops joking for a beat and asks a real question; Lara answers off frame.
  1. Melis: Do you ever think about it? Being on the board?
  2. Lara: No.
The academy front gate at dusk. The drive is empty and the streetlights are on; Melis and Lara walk out under the iron arch side by side, the school behind them.
  1. Caption: 6:20 PM — front gate
  2. Narration: The crowd is gone by six. This is the part of the day Lara likes.
Under the arch, still walking. Melis asks about tomorrow; Lara gives her the usual answer.
  1. Melis: So. Tomorrow. Same campaign?
  2. Lara: Same answer.
They have stopped under the arch, half turned back toward the school. Lara glances sideways at Melis.
  1. Lara (thinking): She never gets tired of asking.
On the paving outside the gate. Melis skips two steps ahead and turns to face Lara; Lara stops and refuses before she has even heard the question.
  1. Melis: Okay. Different question.
  2. Lara: No.
  3. Melis: You don't even know what it is yet.
Under the gate lamps. Melis delivers her promise with a grin; Lara's face gives nothing away, but her right hand has closed on the hem of her cardigan without her noticing.
  1. Melis: One day I'm going to see it. I can wait.

End of Chapter 1

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Chapter 2 · written, not drawn yet

The List

Ranking day: the corridor fills, the Ledger opens, and Lara walks past the measuring table with her cardigan buttoned.

about 24 pages · drawn in about 10 minutes · free for everyone after

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