And somehow, despite everything she had learned, despite the lies and secrets and betrayal…Wren believed him. But she still wouldn’t allow herself to fully tear down the wall between them. To fall headfirst without thinking.
As if hearing Wren’s thoughts, August lowered his hands and took a rigid step backward. “I should go.”
Wren swallowed and willed her body to settle. “That’s probably a good idea.”
August hesitated, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other as he flexed his hand by his side. For a moment, Wren thought he might reach out again…that he might even close the distance between them. But then he was turning away from her, striding back to the entrance of the tent.
He paused at the threshold, his voice echoing out once more. “One more thing.”
August kept his back to her. Around him, the shadows seemed to bend and warp,hisshadows and the shadows of the room twisting together, until it was impossible to know where August began and the shadows ended.
“If we find a way out of here, but it’s too late…” He paused, as if attempting to find the right words. “What I mean to say is…if I lose myself to the shadows before we can make it out of here…I need you to promise me that you’ll run. That you’ll leave me behind and save yourself.”
Wren let out a soft breath. “August…”
He glanced over his shoulder. Agonizing desperation creased his face.
“Please.”
Wren sucked in a sharp breath. She knew there was no point in fighting him on it.
“Okay.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I promise.”
A sad smile lifted onto August’s lips, and then he was striding out of the tent without a glance back. As the darkness of the tent swallowed Wren once more, August’s words echoed in her head, following her into sleep.
I made a promise. And I keep my promises.
August was right. Hewasa boy who kept his promises.
But that doesn’t mean I have to be a girl who does.
11
MASIKA
Masika was thinking about her father when the first bell rang out. She wasn’t fixated on a particular memory, though she had plenty of those to reminisce on. It was simplyhim. The deep rumble of his laughter. The scent that clung to him—warm amber cologne mixed with cigarette smoke. The rough texture of his callused hands, hardened from years of manual labor. She rarely let herself think of the past anymore; she’d closed the door to that life long ago. But as she waited, standing at the entrance to the Southern Wing, the familiar traces of panic building inside her, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander, to indulge in the memory of him, no matter how painful.
Anxiety is a trickster. It’ll convince you that you’re not the one in charge…that you don’t have control over your mind, he’d whisper to her.You gotta look it in the eyes and prove it wrong. Because you are the one in charge, my darling girl. And you are far stronger than you realize.
Masika wrapped her arms across her chest, if just to still her trembling hands, and groaned in frustration. It had been her idea, after all. She had been the first one to speak out, to volunteer to be a part of the expedition crew. And she wanted to. It beckoned her—the hunger for adventure, the call demanding to be answered. Butthat didn’t stop the anxiety from rising inside her, sneaking into the darkest parts of her mind, planting seeds of doubt.You’ll fail, it seemed to whisper.You’ll disappoint them all.
Masika shut her eyes, willing the thoughts to stop, to leave her alone. Somewhere behind her, footsteps echoed, growing louder and louder. Two familiar voices rose, cutting through the panic, drowning out the doubt filling her skull. And then Masika opened her eyes and Olivier and Emilio were there, standing next to her. The moment she saw their faces, it was like she could breathe again. All the panic, all the doubt—gone.
The boys were both dressed in their training uniform: black shirt with black pants, a leather armored vest over the torso and a backpack slung over the shoulders—though Emilio, of course, had also slipped his wool sweater over the top. He was holding the little creature from before, Benji; he was tucked snugly in Emilio’s arms. The mutant puppy began to wag his tail the moment he spotted Masika.
“You guys came,” she said.
“Of course.” Emilio scrunched his face in confusion. “Did you think we wouldn’t?”
Masika shook her head. She hadn’t known what to think. Perhaps she simply wasn’t used to having friends who followed through with their promises, who told her they’d be there for her and actually meant it.
“You’re stuck with us,” said Olivier with a smirk. He wrapped his arm around Masika’s shoulders. “For better or for worse.”
Masika smiled and looked between the two of them. “Thankyou.”
The trio turned to face the large double doors of the Battle Room. Muffled voices echoed just beyond. A collective realizationseemed to wash over the trio, an understanding that if they walked through those doors, if they truly decided to do this, there would be no going back.
“Are we ready?” whispered Olivier. His usual bravado had faded, replaced by a tentative look of apprehension that made Masika’s chest tighten. If Olivier, of all people, was frightened, then perhaps they all should be.
