Flawed

At the next stop, an old Flawed man steps on the bus, but he remains standing because the Flawed seats are occupied by two non-Flawed ladies. When he starts coughing, everyone on the bus ignores him. Celestine is surprised. She thinks that, logically, one of the ladies should change seats so the older man can sit. Despite Art’s protests, Celestine stands up and politely approaches the ladies. They refuse to move and the people on the bus start paying attention to the commotion. When the old man stumbles, out of breath, Celestine helps him to a non-Flawed seat. In the distance, a siren rings out.

Celestine believes the Whistleblowers are here to help the old man, but they take her instead.

Celestine is led to a holding cell at Highland Castle, where she anxiously waits for her parents. She is in shock and believes that the Whistleblowers have made a mistake, as she has been told her entire life that she was perfect. The guards lead another boy to the next cell, and Celestine unsuccessfully tries to catch his eye. When her parents finally arrive, she is hurt that they seem to blame her. Her mother, who is uncharacteristically upset, urges her to tell Judge Crevan that she knows what she did was wrong; it is the only way she will be given a chance not to be branded as Flawed.