Page 124 of Storm Caller

They’re lying about Solitude threats to scare us—to make it seem like we’re always on the brink of attack. The Shield will double or triple the number of Extinguishers, ensuring more manpower to capture innocent people. The lines of our world were carefully drawn and established to benefit those holding the pencils.

But something is breaking down.

And it’s time to rewrite everything.

I look up at my friends, my gaze falling on Rook.

“What does this mean?” Journey asks. “This is strange, right?”

We all nod.

“It means they’re scared of something,” Rook says. “And we have to find out what.”

44

A video surfaces about Edward. People have noticed his absence, but the most common theory is that he was infected and quietly apprehended. It’s a common enough occurrence that it’s easy to shrug off.

The video shows him on the night of the Blood Storm, threatening a group of citizens, before several Extinguishers chase him down. They claim he was about to kill a group of children, and they’re being lauded as heroes for subduing and transporting him to the Tempestade for “rehabilitation.”

I want to punch through a wall.

This is the work of The Shield.

Where did they get that phony footage?

Why are they lying about him?

We got him out, and technically, he’s safe—but for how much longer?

And if that video isn’t real, then what else have they been faking?

Finally, during training, Henry whispers to me that we can come and see Edward. Just Rook and me. We don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention. We share the news with Domino and Journey, then head to the city’s north end and the factory district as Henry instructed. Though he gave us directions to discreetly disable location tracking on our phones and other devices, he still warns us to leave everything behind whenever possible and never to use them to pass messages to the Fog.

We hop on the train and ride to the end of the line before we pull up our hoods and make our way through the towering factories, where everything is tinged with the gray haze of dust hanging in the air. I’ve never spent much time in this area, only passing through on my way to the outskirts, and it feels a bit like I’m being closed in by the blocky concrete structures, small windows, and narrow sidewalks.

It’s a place designed for function over form.

We pass numerous Hollows making their way home or just starting their shifts. I think about the Fog and their goals. About how they want to break down this system, offering equality to all. I have no idea if any of their aspirations are even possible, but change has to start with a single spark.

We reach a building situated at the end of a quiet street. It’s nondescript, blending into its surroundings. We enter through a back alley, checking for cameras, but they’re all pointing away, facing the wall, revealing nothing but looped footage the Fog has replaced their feeds with.

We knock on the door, using the secret code Henry gave us, and wait.

It’s a cool afternoon, and the wind kicks through the narrow alley, snaking down my back. The sky is starting to tumble with lavender clouds.

“We’re almost at our rock wall,” I say. “Maybe we should head to the outskirts when we’re finished here.”

Rook nods, pulling his collar up as the breeze tosses his hair.

That’s when the door pops open, revealing Danica.

“Hi,” she says, gesturing for us to come in, then closing and locking the door. “This way.”

We follow her up a metal staircase, winding several floors up, until we reach a landing and another door. At the end of a plain white hallway, we enter what looks like an apartment.

It isn’t luxurious, but it is comfortable, with plenty of furniture, a stocked kitchen, windows overlooking the city, and amenities such as a television and a stereo.

“What is this?” Rook asks, clearly impressed.