Cassius laughed. “Right. Like a son.”
The town rumbled behind the window.
Cassius cocked his head. “What was that?”
Theo smiled.
Avery rose to a seated position. “This town’s been quiet for days.”
The rumbling strengthened. Cassius stood and turned, crouching to stare through the open slits of the window. He could just make out the obstructed horizon, clogged with rows of buildings. Patches of spotless blue sky.
Then shadows.
Something descended on the town. Several somethings.
Ratty flags whipped in the air on the tops of buildings as a fierce wind kicked up. Sharp, black shapes fell to the earth. They reminded him of detached shark fins. Impenetrable.
Unified Party Cruisers.
Cassius had piloted several as part of his training at the Lodge. They were sleek and menacing, designed for aerial fights. They were also excellent transports for troops.
He turned. “Madame’s blanketing the town.” Theo’s smile widened.
Cassius moved back to the window and watched the cruisers set down in the streets. Most disappeared behind buildings, but he could imagine the troops pouring out of each one, hiding in derelict structures, waiting to strike.
“An army,” he whispered. “She’s brought an army.”
“They’ll shoot Fringers on sight,” Theo said. “Clear the town before getting in position. Then reload.”
The outside door swung open and Madame marched into the room. She moved immediately to the window and gripped the boards. “Marvelous, isn’t it?”
Cassius backed away from her. “You never said anything about-”
“This is the best sort of town for hiding,” she continued. “A hundred men can disappear.”
“Why bring me here?” Cassius glared at her. “Why didn’t you let me stay at the Lodge?”
“I want you to see this,” she said, still gawking through the cracks. “You’ve forgotten. All those weeks in Canada and you’ve forgotten where you truly belong.”
“I don’t want-”
“I’ve always had big plans for you,” she cut him off. “You’re capable of such great things.”
“Like killing.”
“Look at the cruisers,” she ignored him. “Like beautiful black birds seeking prey. He’ll be here soon. Our little Pearlbreaker.”
A succession of beeps sounded from the side of the bed. Cassius turned, instantly recognizing the call. It was his communicator. Fisher was on the other line.
Madame bristled at the sound, then turned with a smug smile on her face. She nodded at Avery. “Go ahead.”
Cassius took a step forward, prepared to leap to the bed and grab the communicator away.
Stop. Madame’s voice echoed in his mind. Watch.
“No,” he forced the word out.
“Quiet, Cassius.” She turned back to Avery. “Please answer his call. I will be listening.”
Avery’s hand shook. For a moment Cassius thought she was going to drop the communicator. But she’d been harnessed by Madame far longer than he had-possibly months. She had her orders.
She pulled the communicator closer and stared at it. Madame nodded, egging her on. Lips trembling, Avery raised the device to her ear.
She hit the button. It was done.
18
I sit in the passenger seating of our shuttle, head bowed, communicator pressed firmly against my right ear. My shaking finger presses the contact button. It beeps several times before Cassius picks up.
Silence.
“Cassius?” I whisper at first. Then louder. “Cassius?” No answer.
He’s usually reliable, but there have been times he hasn’t picked up. He’d seemed worried the last time we spoke. “Cassius? Are you okay?”
I set the communicator on the seat beside me and give into panic. Static comes over the upside-down device, muffled by the cushion. Then a voice. “Jesse?”
It’s not Cassius.
But I recognize it immediately at a gut level, though it takes my brain a moment to catch up with my heart.
No way.
I reach for the communicator and flip it over. The voice pours from the speaker again, more clearly this time. Her voice. “Jesse?”
I dip low and hover over the speaker, refusing to believe it’s true. “A-Avery?” My voice trembles as I say her name. I haven’t said it out loud in weeks. “Is that you?”
Silence.
“Avery?”
“Thank god, Jesse,” she replies, and I can almost see her smile like she was in the room with me now. Her face begins to etch itself into my mind, every last piece. I see her standing outside my dorm at the Academy. I see her laying beside me in the Fringes of Washington State, in the old playground outside of Lenbrg.
“Avery,” I repeat her name like it’s the only word that exists. My brain can’t process it. It’s really her voice on the other line. “How are you…? How do you-”
“Shh. Don’t worry. I’m okay. I was hoping you’d call. Cassius said that you had the other communicator.”
“Cassius. Is he alright?”
“He’s on the run, Jesse. In the Fringes.”
“Wait… where are you?”
“I’m okay,” she repeats. “I’m in New York.”
“The city?”
“No.” She pauses. “Syracuse.”
She knows what this word means to me. It was the town where I first met Cassius. It was the place where we triggered our powers. The rooftop. The first time I felt Pearl energy.
“Are you-” I stop myself and try to slow my words. “I thought they had you, Avery. I thought the Unified Party captured you and took you away.”
“They did.” Her voice sounds tired. “But I escaped several weeks ago. I thought I’d make my way back to the Academy, but I didn’t know where you’d gone.”
“You won’t believe this.” I pause. “I hardly believe it myself.”
“Where are you?”
“Siberia,” I say.
“On the other side of the world?”
I swallow. “Afraid so. Look, you could-”
“I was working on getting a shuttle or a cruiser or something,” she interrupts, “but it’s dangerous. I didn’t want to go back into Unified Party territory again, so I’ve been hiding in the Fringes.”
I try to picture her in Syracuse somewhere, eking out a horrible existence in the wretched heat. “I should’ve come-”
“No,” she says. “No, it was too dangerous. You were smart for running away. Remember what I said last spring in Portland? I’d do anything for you, Jesse. Don’t worry about me.”
“I want you here.”
She pauses. For a moment I think I’ve lost her. “There are other things to worry about.”
“What do you mean?”
“Cassius needs your help,” she replies. “He’s in trouble. He doesn’t want to ask you, I can tell. He doesn’t even really want you involved. That’s why he passed the communicator onto me when we ran into each other.”
I shake my head. “You and Cassius…?”
“He found an old shuttle outside of Providence,” she says. “I think he came to Syracuse to investigate. You know, after what happened between the two of you. He was scared, Jesse. He tried to hide it, but I could tell. He says they’ve been after him for weeks. He doesn’t know where to go. He’s heading south, hoping that he can lose himself down there. I told him that it was a mistake. The Fringes are more dangerous than ever.” She pauses. “He gave me the communicator, told me to get in touch with you-”
“Why would he-”
“He said that we needed to talk. But I was worried. I decided not to call you. It’s just too dangerous. But when I heard the beep, I… ” She pauses. “I’m so stupid, Jesse. I should have never picked up.”
“You’re not stupid.”
“Now I’ve started something.”
“No. I’m glad to hear your voice. You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to-”
“Come,” she cuts me off. “Oh god, forget about it. Ignore me. I should hang up.”
“Avery, I need to see you.”
“I know. But it’s not safe.”
“I don’t care if it’s safe. It’s been almost four months. I’m not just gonna leave you there!”
“It’s dangerous, Jesse, even worse than it was when you left. The Unified Party is everywhere and-”