Page 184 of Storm Caller

“Let’s go,” my father says.

We turn around and head for the exit.

Justin is still busy with the control panel while he confers with Edward over his headpiece. I can hear Edward giving him instructions on how to disconnect the system.

Justin fiddles with some buttons and knobs, but nothing seems to be working.

Shots ring out in the distance, and we can’t be sure which side they’re coming from. We need to move.

“This is taking too long!” Rook growls. “Shut this down.”

He walks over, grips a bunch of wires in his large hand, and pulls.

A moment later, the humming in the room cuts off, and New Manhattan is plunged into complete and total darkness.

64

Everything goes silent. Without the ambient noise of the droning generators, it’s so quiet that my ears hurt. Everything feels muffled, like we’ve been draped in thick wool blankets. I shake my head, holding my hand in front of my face, but I can’t make out a single thing.

A click, and a pool of light expands around us. I blink, adjusting to the sudden change. Henry is holding a flashlight, and a moment later, Navy and Justin power theirs on, too.

Rook tugs me against him, kissing the top of my head. “Are you okay?” he asks softly.

He’s still soaking wet, and I can feel him shivering. I rub my hands up his arms, which are covered in gooseflesh, trying to warm him up. “Am I okay? Are you?”

“I’m fine, Trouble. Super weirded out, though.”

I huff out a laugh.

“We should get out of here,” Henry says. “The others will find their way back.”

I strain to listen for the sounds of fighting in the distance, but I hear nothing. They must’ve also been thrown into shock when the lights went out.

Except that isn’t completely true, because I do hear something.

“What is that?” I ask before everyone pauses, also straining to listen.

“Water?” Rook asks.

“The pumps,” my father says. “They’ve switched off.”

“Pumps?” Calliope asks.

“The city maintains a network of industrial pumps that keeps the water surrounding us from flooding the underground.”

“Oh, shit,” Fisher says. “You mean . . .”

“This will all be underwater soon,” my father says, just as I notice a puddle seeping across the floor.

Henry glances back the way we came. We need to warn the others, but we can’t risk going back down. Hopefully, they’re already headed up.

“Let’s go,” Fisher says. “This is about to become a tomb.”

At first, no one moves, but then slowly, Henry nods. “Very well.”

The water is already rising, coming up past my ankles, flooding my boots. We splash down the tunnels as the level keeps climbing. I think of that room and all those Keepers. Raine and everyone else who gave their lives for New Manhattan.

Soon, this will all be underwater. This isn’t the ending I wanted for my brother. It isn’t the ending I wanted for anyone.