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Then Brooke looked at Rune and said, “How do you play this game?”
“You want to play?” Rune challenged. Her eyes flicked to Aria. It was clear she knew this was Aria’s idea.
Brooke shook her head. “I don’t want to play; I want to win. But if you give me the rules, I’ll take it from there. ”
Her confidence stunned Rune, whose mouth went slack.
Soren sat up, scooting closer into their circle. “I need to see this. ”
A grin spread over Jupiter’s face. He dropped an arm around Rune’s shoulders. “Go on, Ru. Teach her. ”
Caleb glanced at Aria, smiling in giddy anticipation. She could almost read his thoughts. Rune and Brooke were either going to attack each other, or become fast friends before this was over.
Aria already knew the outcome.
She watched them play, trying her best to keep her thoughts here instead of on Perry and Cinder.
Some time later, Talon and Willow came running. “Aria! He’s out!”
She shot to her feet and hurried back to the main cave. Her friends followed her. Other Dwellers came too. With every step Aria took, her anxiety increased.
The Tides were somber and tense as they crowded around the stage. She searched every face standing around the stage twice but she didn’t see Perry.
Marron climbed up to the platform, smoothing the front of his shirt as he waited for people to give him their attention. His blue eyes found Aria. The look he sent her—sorry, worried—made her knees soften.
“Peregrine is with Cinder,” Marron said. “He’ll be along soon, but since time is of the essence, he asked me to make this announcement on his behalf. ”
He addressed the Tides calmly, without changing the tone or volume of his voice. Drawing a breath, he continued. “An agreement has been reached with the Horns. We’re leaving. We’re joining them on the journey to the Still Blue. ”
The crowd thrummed with surprise and cries of celebration. Amid the happy sounds were others, angry voices and harsh words.
“That can’t be right,” Roar said. “Perry would never join up with Sable. ”
“Not unless he’s lost his mind,” said Soren.
Reef’s and Twig’s reactions were less coherent. A stream of curses poured from their mouths.
Marron waited for quiet to return before he spoke again. “He did indeed reach an agreement with Sable. There is passage to the Still Blue for anyone who desires it. Certainly, though, none of you are forced to come. Let there be no mistake: the journey there will be far from safe, and the destination itself is something of a question. What we know is this: Here, your life is certain to be over shortly. Our food stores are down to days. We have no wood to warm this cave beyond the end of the week. . . . We have exhausted everything. Whether you decide to take a chance on something else, be it better or worse than this, is up to you. ”
A murmur moved through the crowd. Jokes about who was mad enough to stay. Aria heard them through a haze.
Marron continued to speak. He gave instructions on the preparations that were needed. Aria watched Bear and Molly and the Six leave to coordinate the groups. The logistics of their exodus.
Exodus.
The word fixed in her mind, grave-sounding. Unbelievable, despite how many months she’d anticipated this moment.
They were leaving.
The crowd thinned once again as people rushed off to gather their belongings.
Aria didn’t move. Roar and Soren had stayed behind with her. They were both watching her like they expected her to say something, so she did.
“Why is he still in there, Roar?”
“Because he knows what this means, and he doesn’t want to do it. ”
“Which he?” she asked. “Cinder or Perry?”
