Page 117 of Storm Caller

“They’re keeping it from us,” I say dully. “It’s monstrous.”

Ada nods. “If there were a cure, then we wouldn’t need them anymore, and they know it.” Then she claps her hands, her tone shifting into action. “It seems the first thing we need to do is find out where they’re keeping Edward. If he discovered something that night, then he might be the key to finding out more.”

“If Captain Dire hinted at his capture, Edward is likely being held somewhere in the Tempestade’s holding cells,” Henry says. “There are plenty of places to ‘lose’ someone down there.”

“If you have any leads,” I say. “Please, I’m worried sick about him.”

Ada and the others launch into a discussion as they strategize how to find Edward and get him out safely. It’s obvious they’ve done this sort of thing before, and I already start to feel better.

Rook and I silently check in with each other.

It was foolish to think we could do any of this on our own.

Maybe I got so used to being alone that I forgot how to ask for help.

But as I watch the people in this room, a new feeling starts to take hold.

One that feels like hope and the beginning of a shift.

For the first time since we escaped to the Tiera Frais, it feels like we might be able to accomplish something important.

Me. Rook. All of us.

40

“As we suspected, we found him in a holding cell in the Tempestade,” Ada quietly tells me a week later during our next resistance training session. I’m lying in the same bed where we first met, shielded inside a small glass room. More people occupy the other beds, each here for their regular doses of electricity.

Her voice is low, and she doesn’t look directly at me as she adjusts some knobs and dials on her equipment.

“What?” I ask, concealing my alarm because, as usual, we have company. Captain Dire and another Extinguisher—Lieutenant Carter, according to his name tag—are patrolling the room. How many times do they need to watch us do this before they’re convinced we aren’t a threat?

“He’s in a secret holding cell,” Ada says. “Well, not entirely a secret. At least not to us. They’ve kept high-profile prisoners they want to ‘erase’ there before.”

“Okay,” I say. “What’s the plan?”

“We’ll need the right key card,” she says. “They update the lock every two weeks as a security measure. Henry and the others are working on it as we speak, and we’re trying to find someone with enough clearance to gain access.”

“We can’t just break in?”

Ada shakes her head. “We will if it comes to that, but their systems are sophisticated and would trip an alarm if we tried. A key card would mean a much better chance of entering and leaving undetected, at least for as long as it takes to get him out.”

“Won’t he be under guard?” I ask.

Ada nods. “Absolutely, but I have it on good authority that Extinguisher patrols are stretched thin. We’ll do some additional reconnaissance, but we hope his guard doesn’t include more than a handful of people.”

“I want to go,” I say. “When you rescue him.”

Dr. Eze presses her lips together. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Poet.”

“Please. I’m the reason he’s in there. I know Rook will want to as well.”

She glances at the Extinguishers and then back at me before she nods. “We can discuss it.”

“Do you think Captain Dire would have the right clearance?” I ask, dropping my voice even lower. Ada’s gaze pings to him and then back to me. Dire and Carter are busy chatting, their heads bent close together. I scan their uniforms, wondering where they might stash something like a top-secret key card. Maybe the front pocket of their vests.

“He would never cooperate with us. We have a few moles working in administrative positions who are loyal to our cause.”

“How long will that take?” I ask.