Page 107 of Storm Caller

She isn’t wrong. While the storms always pose a danger, their intensity varies wildly. Depending on the wind and temperature, they might range from a few bursts to a constant barrage hammering every part of the city for hours.

Is it the best time for us to be observing? Henry said we had to get up close to really understand what we’re being asked to do, so maybe a night like this is the best teacher of all. He’s standing just outside the control room, a few feet away. He peers up at the sky, a worried line forming between his brows before he glances over at the four of us. I get the distinct sense he wasn’t anticipating this.

A radio crackles on the control panel. “Attention Breakers,” says a voice over the speaker. “Forecast conditions have shifted, and we’re anticipating a level five tonight.”

“Isn’t that the biggest?” Journey asks, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“The very biggest,” I agree.

“Should we be out here?” Domino asks just as the radio crackles again.

“Backup Guard headed to all Storm Towers,” says the voice. “Tempestade on alert. Do not move from your positions. I repeat, do not move from your positions. Standby for backup. Hold the line, Breakers. The general is prepared.”

My gaze falls on the screen, where Sol stands in the center of the roof, her chin tipped toward the sky.

Flashes burst around her, illuminating the sharp angles of her face.

She seems so peaceful.

Free to embrace the storm without fear of retribution.

I envy her so much in this moment. Could this be my future?

The four of us huddle together as the clouds build, rolling over one another like violent waves. Itching climbs up my arms and legs and over my scalp. Rook squeezes my hand harder, a strained look crossing his face.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the clouds like this,” Domino says.

“We’ll be fine,” I tell her. “We’re in the safest position in the entire city.”

“Right,” Domino says. “Sure.”

I notice her gaze wander to the flats, where hundreds of cog homes sit clustered together. No doubt she’s thinking about her family and hoping they’re safe. They were so proud of her—we all were—when she was elected student Society leader at the beginning of the year, and I know how much they mean to her.

The clouds crash, thunder booming, and in the distance, an explosion lights up the sky directly over the Central Park Tree Farm. Jagged lines of Spark spread out, filling the horizon before they’re absorbed by the net protecting the trees. Another burst arcs toward the Citadel and General Sol.

I watch on the monitor as she stretches out her hands and Spark hits her palms, crackling across her arms and legs. She gathers the tiny points of light, just like she showed us. They coalesce into a small orb, and before they shift into that deadly magenta power, she quickly touches the nodes surrounding her. The Spark breaks apart, filtering electricity into the city’s generators, when another explosion lights up the sky.

Watching Sol makes me realize just how much she puts herself at risk of discovery every time she does this. What I mistook as freedom a moment ago takes on a different edge. She isn’t any freer than I am. She’s just knocking against the bars of a different type of cage.

Another burst spears across the sky, flying in arcs toward the Storm Towers surrounding the city. I watch as Henry braces himself with his wand held high. The shatterproof glass rod encases a glowing purple core designed to attract Spark.

A beam of jagged energy hits him with such force that he staggers back a few steps.

I hold my breath, terrified for him, but he’s obviously prepared. His wand crackles with energy, pulsing and shifting, while amethyst light contours his cheeks, lips, and nose.

He touches the wand to a thick grounding pole running down the side of the platform. Energy dissipates into it, crackling along its length and then out of view, where I know it’s now been neutralized into the earth.

I realize I’m holding my breath, and I let it out, noticing the others all doing the same. “Skies, that was so fucking cool,” Journey whispers, and we all start laughing, the tension between us easing.

More clouds explode, streaking across the sky. I watch in awe as the general and her Breakers gather and deflect with all the skill and years of their training.

But the bursts are growing larger and more frequent. They’re having trouble keeping up with the barrage.

I see the moment one breaks through.

Sometimes, a single bolt hits, and it’s a common enough occurrence. That’s how Bethany Fawkes died the night before we were all due to start at Amery.

But sometimes, the Breakers miss an entire burst, and that’s when things turn devastating.