Page 127 of Storm Caller

“I know,” Ada says. “That’s why we’ll need a plan smarter than The Shield and more devious than all of their lies.”

45

We decide to take a moment to collect our thoughts. I move to the seat next to Edward as Rook sits on the floor in front of us. “How are you doing?” I ask him. “Really?”

Edward shakes his head and blows out a breath. “I’m confused,” he says. “When I was in there, I was prepared to die. Now that I’m out, I don’t know where I go from here. They’ll never let me return to my normal life.”

“We got you into this mess, and I’m so sorry. I should never have asked you to break into The Shield’s computers for me.”

Edward stares out the window, his jaw working before he turns back to me.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think. This wasn’t your fault. I agreed to help you. I knew the risks and understood why you were asking for this information.”

His gaze grows distant before he begins speaking again. “Maybe a part of me wanted to break some rules, too. I’ve always hated Fiama and what it stands for. I never wanted to join the Patrol. I wanted to create things, not destroy them, but I had no choice but to remain loyal to my family and my mom. I was worried about what might happen if I left her.” He stops, swallows. “The irony being that I had no choice but to leave her anyway.”

“I’m so sorry we left you behind.”

“If you hadn’t, you’d be dead,” he says. “At least I’m still here. Maybe I was meant to see those things, and maybe now . . . I can fuck some shit up.”

I nod, though I’m still not fully convinced. I think he’s being very generous right now.

“Have you seen my mom?” he asks. “I need to know she’s okay. She has a sister. They’ve never been super close, but I’m hoping my aunt’s family is looking after her.”

“I haven’t,” I say. “I’ve only seen my parents once, and that didn’t go so well.”

“They’re still mad about the whole House-defection thing, I take it?”

“My mom, not so much, but my dad . . .” I shrug. “Well, you know how he is.”

Edward laughs. “I sure do.”

“What is their plan for you?” Rook asks, gesturing to Ada, Henry, and the others who are talking on the other side of the room. “How will they keep you safe?”

“I have no idea. They said I’d probably have to leave New Manhattan.” He says it casually, and I wonder if he’s way more scared than he’s letting on. “I don’t even know what that means, though.”

“Edward,” I say, glancing at Rook. “You could build a life outside this place.”

He frowns. “But there’s nothing out there. I’ll probably die from starvation, assuming a storm doesn’t blitz me first.”

I shake my head. “They’ve been lying about that, too. There’s an entire world out there. One you could become a part of.”

Edward’s gaze shifts to Rook before he scans him from head to toe.

“Really?” he asks.

“Really,” Rook says. “Poet saw everything.”

I describe my time in the Veil. I tell him about the station camps and Neo-Cities, but it’s obvious he’s having trouble absorbing it all. Edward barks out a laugh that borders on hysterical as he points at Rook. “Of course. Now everything about you makes so much more sense.”

Rook offers him a small smile, just as the others break apart and resume their positions around the room.

We wait anxiously as Ada lays out the first step of their plan. Namely, to find this facility, locate Dr. Mowry, and figure out what he knows. “We need to show everyone what’s been kept from them. The chancellors could have been protecting all of us, but they’ve actively chosen not to. And we need proof. Our word won’t be good enough on its own.”

“What if Dr. Mowry won’t talk?” I ask. “Do you think the general knows he’s here? She told us she hasn’t seen him in years.”

Henry shakes his head. “Those are all very good questions, but I’m not sure we can ask them without risking the Fog’s security.”

“I think she wants what you want,” I say.