by Lisa McMann
Aaron nodded to them and began walking to the amphitheater. They followed. When the high priest approached the podium, he didn’t smile or frown. He looked over the crowd. The Wanteds stood in the front as usual. Behind them were the Necessaries in their assigned spots, and beyond the Necessaries were a small group of tattered-looking Unwanteds who had come crying into Quill when Artimé disappeared. Aaron had quickly turned them into slaves. The high priest narrowed his eyes in their direction, seeing a boy who had been in his own class in school, Cole Wickett, standing there. He wondered how Cole was liking the little deal the high priest had made with the returning Unwanteds. Not that he cared.
As usual, Aaron’s eyes sought and found the spot where his parents always stood. The sun beat down on them now. The last time Aaron had seen his parents, his mother was very pregnant. Now his mother and father each held a baby girl with dark brown ringlets. One of the girls squirmed, while the other sat pacified, looking in Aaron’s direction. Aaron frowned and looked away. It was strange to know he had sisters. Identical twins once more.
When all was silent and the governors stood behind him, Aaron focused on a very different spot in the crowd and began his address.
“People of Quill, I come with news,” he began. “As your high priest, I must tell you that our neighbors in Artimé are plotting to attack us.” He let the words sink in and the murmurs die down.
“We don’t know how or when, but we do know that they have been plotting this for some time. They wish to take over Quill, get rid of us, and expand their hideous world. And”—he paused for effect—“they are using you to do it.”
Again Aaron waited in the thick silence.
“Those of you who have been visiting Artimé or accepting Unwanteds as visitors in your homes here in Quill—you are our weak link. I am asking you to cease these visits immediately without letting on to Artimé that we know about their plans. If we tip them off, they may change tactics and put us into more danger. As it stands now, there is nothing to fear in the near future. We are watching them very closely. But we can also use your help.”
Aaron flicked away a bead of sweat that dripped down his cheek. “In addition to ceasing your contact with to Artimé, I’m asking each of you to watch your neighbors to make sure they are not sneaking off to visit the Unwanteds or inviting them into Quill. If you suspect someone is making contact with the people of Artimé, please come to the palace with your information and you will be rewarded with Favored Farm food for your efforts to make Quill a safer place to live.
“In addition, I have appointed three new governors to help protect you and serve our land.” Aaron stepped aside to point them out. “Liam Healy, Gondoleery Rattrapp, and Septimus Strang.” The governors bowed when their names were called. Aaron continued. “They are your advocates, and together we are working tirelessly to eliminate the threat from outside our walls. We will not let the people of Artimé try to control us! We will not let the Unwanteds take over an inch of our world! People of Quill, we must come together for the sake of our land and our traditions. We need to act as one body in opposition to the enemy who is out to destroy us. And together we will become a stronger society, eliminating once and for all the enemy that has plagued us since they killed our beloved High Priest Justine.”
Aaron pressed his lips together and leaned forward. “People of Quill, vow with me now to work only for the best interests of our land.” He paused for effect, and then said with a flourish, “May Quill prevail with all we have in us!”
The people gathered there did not cheer, but if they looked deep within their hearts, almost everyone present could feel something strange welling up inside them—something that felt like anger and loyalty and courage. They used the courage to beat down the anger, saving it for another day and knowing instinctively that they would need a large supply when the time came.
Aaron stepped back, spent. The seeds were sown. The reaction was exactly as he had wished it to be. He sent the three new governors out into the crowd to greet the Wanteds. They would be the temporary face of the palace. For a short time, anyway. Long enough for Aaron to build and grow his secret weapons.
And then all manner of war would be released alongside the collected anger of the people of Quill, and the Unwanteds would be gone and Artimé would be his.
Just Keep Swimming
In the dark room on the lowest floor of Pirate Island, Sky, Samheed, and Crow were frantically tending to Henry, Lani, and Copper, who were covered in bruises and blood.
Sky looked up. Her breath caught. “Alex, thank goodness.” She waved her hand at the injured. “They weren’t strapped in when the island plunged,” she said. “They went flying.”
Samheed looked at Alex. “They’re all conscious now, at least. Henry was still out cold when we got here, and he’s bleeding pretty badly. We’ll have to sneak out in the middle of the night when we can go slowly.”
Alex looked on in alarm. “No, we can’t wait. They know we’re here. That tremor you felt wasn’t the island about to go up, it was Simber breaking through the cage glass. The eel got Octavia and, well, another creature, and we had to get them out or they’d die.” He wiped the drips from his face with his sodden shirtsleeve. “Seriously, guys—we have to go now.”
“I don’t think we should move them,” Samheed said, his stubbornness coming out.
“Sam. Listen. There’s total chaos out there,” Alex said. “Nobody will be paying attention to us. We can get out safely right now. I don’t have time to explain, but we have to go. We have to.” When Samheed hesitated and Sky didn’t say anything to help, Alex repeated in a stern voice. “Now.”
Samheed looked at Lani. She nodded and struggled to her elbows. “Alex is right. If they know we’re here,” she said weakly, “they’ll find us.”
Alex breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up Kitten and handed her to Crow. “Sam, take Lani. I’ve got Copper. Sky, you grab Henry. Let’s get out of here. Don’t stop for anything.”
The three able bodies picked up their battered friends, Alex quickly yet politely introducing himself to Copper before he picked her up, explaining to her what his plan was. They left the room and made their way down the empty hall, then crept up the spiral stairs to where the chaos was.
Samheed reached the top first and waited for the others. Lani, despite her injuries, strained over the railing at the top of the steps to look inside the glass case nearby, which had caught her eye earlier. She struggled in Samheed’s arms to see better as they waited for the others to reach them.
“Ouch. What are you doing?” Samheed whispered.
“Trying to see that drawing,” Lani said, digging a knee into his ribs. “Boost me up!”
“No!” Samheed said. “Stop wriggling or I’ll drop you.”
Lani frowned and wriggled more, finally getting a long look at what was inside the case.
Samheed looked down the stairs as Sky struggled with Henry to reach them. He shifted Lani and held out a hand to assist Sky as Alex climbed past them all to take the lead with Copper.
“Everybody,” Alex hissed, “keep your heads down and push on, no matter what. Do what you have to do to get out of here. Just stay close.” He set off, with Sky on his heels.
Lani settled back down in Samheed’s arms, spent from her efforts, and Samheed sped after Alex and Sky.
“My mother can’t swim,” Sky reminded Alex in a low voice as they dodged a wailing child who’d been separated from his parents in the confusion. “How will we get her all the way to the surface?”
Alex twisted left and right, moving through the crowd, his heart pounding. “I’m wondering the same thing about myself,” he said. After two lengthy dives already today and little recovery time, he didn’t have much energy left in him. And they couldn’t afford to rest.
“Put a helmet on Sky’s mother,” Lani said, her head resting on Samheed’s shoulder now. “I meant to tell you—there’s air inside. She’ll be able to breathe.”
“
Perfect,” Alex said, relieved. So that explained how the fishermen could stay out in the water so long. Copper looked slightly relieved too, but Alex could still feel her shaking with fear. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked her.
She nodded, unable to speak because of the thornament around her neck.
“Okay. We’re almost there.”
Finally they made it to the fishing hatch. Alex spied the suits and helmets. He grabbed a helmet and placed it over Copper’s head while Sky hit the button to the sliding door. As they made their way into the box, a shout rang out above the chaotic noise around them.
“Stop! Who are you?”
Alex looked up to find two men and a woman charging toward them.
“They’re stealing my slave!” one of the men yelled.
“Get in, quick,” Alex said. They scooted inside, having to squeeze to fit all seven of them. Alex pulled Samheed back so the door would close just as the pirate reached the first button and slapped it, holding it open.
“Grab them!” the pirate yelled.
Without a thought, both Samheed and Alex pointed and shouted, “Glass!”
Instantly not one but two panes of glass stopped the pirates in their tracks and walled the Artiméans in the chamber.
“Yikes,” Alex said, sweating profusely now. “That was close.” He ignored the pirates and looked at all his companions. “It’ll take us a few minutes to reach the surface. Can everyone handle that? Copper,” he said to Sky’s mother, “Lani says your helmet has air inside.”
“Right,” Lani said. “And it’ll seal up nice and snug around your jaw so no water can get in. You will be able to breathe normally.”
Alex flashed Lani a grateful smile. “Just don’t panic and we’ll be fine, Copper. I promise I won’t let you go.”
“You can trust them, Mother,” Crow said from Henry’s side. The bandage on Henry’s head had grown crimson with blood.
“Henry,” Alex said, “can you make it?”
Henry nodded through half-closed eyes. “I got this,” he said. His voice was weak.
“Lani?”
“Yes,” she replied. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Copper?”
The woman nodded her helmeted head. Alex could feel her hands shaking as she gripped his shoulders.
Alex breathed hard, trying to rebuild his depleted oxygen stores, though he wasn’t sure how much oxygen was left in this little box—they had to get out of there. “Let’s do this, then. Here we go. Everybody, gather your breath and stay close to me.” He pushed the button. The outer door opened slowly, letting water in. The pirates behind them pounded on the glass, but Alex knew there was no way they’d be able to break through.
“Where’s Kitten?” Henry asked, his eyes wide open in alarm now.
“I’ve got her,” Crow said. He patted his best friend’s arm as the water rose up around his chest. “Here we go.”
Soon the water had reached the top of the box, and the door slid all the way open. Everyone looked for Alex to lead them.
Alex wasted no time. He floated out and pushed off the glass door frame to give him momentum in the right direction. He began kicking, and soon he and Copper were rising slowly through the water. Crow swam with Alex, holding on to his mother’s hand. Samheed, with Lani wrapped in his arms, pushed upward on one side of Alex. Sky held Henry, who was clearly the most injured of the three. Alex urged Sky to go a little faster if she was able. Soon she took the lead.
Alex looked back through the murky water at the glass cage, which was nearly empty now. Only Simber and Florence remained. Florence was standing now, but Alex wasn’t sure if Simber had propped her up that way or if she’d gotten up on her own. After a few moments, he couldn’t see them any longer.
Soon the entire volcano island was out of sight and Alex could see a bright spot in the sky above. He couldn’t wait to get everybody safely on board the ship.
When something flashed, Alex almost smiled. Spike! he thought. He looked around for the whale, hope surging—maybe they could get a ride to the surface.
But it wasn’t Spike’s faux diamond–encrusted horn catching the light.
It was the electric spark of the slithery eel.
And it was coming their way.
Flashes of Light
Alex grabbed Crow’s arm and pointed at the eel, then up toward the surface. “Go!” he said in his garbled, watery voice. “Hurry!”
Crow’s eyes widened in fear, but he always listened to Alex. He shot up through the water, swimming as fast as his little feet could kick.
When Sam and Sky noticed Crow, they looked at Alex. Alex showed them the eel, which came in and out of sight. It began to circle them. Alex pointed up, urging his friends to go faster, which they did. Alex tried too, but his arms and legs burned. He had the heaviest load and had spent way too many minutes underwater today. It was exhausting, not to mention the fact that he hadn’t stopped to eat anything in forever. He didn’t know how much more strength he had in him.
Still, the presence of the eel was extremely motivating. Alex kicked through the pain and struggled onward. He could see the surface now. Everything was getting lighter. Alex pushed on, wanting to squeal in pain from the way Copper was gripping his arms. He kept telling himself that as long as she wasn’t panicking, he could handle the fingernails digging into his skin. He began to wish he’d grabbed a helmet for himself.
He watched from below with great relief as Crow made it to the surface. Soon the boy was pulled from the water, presumably by two squirrelicorns eager to finally do something. Sky and Henry were next. Henry’s legs disappeared first, and then Sky’s.
What a relief to know they were safe! Alex knew that Samheed and Lani would have to wait for the first pair of squirrelicorns to come back from dropping off Crow. Too bad Simber was still down in the aquarium with Florence.
Which made him wonder: Just how was Simber supposed to pull Florence up to the surface when he could barely propel himself there?
He closed his eyes briefly. One more obstacle. He kept kicking.
Copper’s grip grew even tighter on his arms, until he felt like she was cutting off his circulation. He opened his eyes to the sight of the slithering eel closing in at his feet. Copper had seen it.
Alex didn’t have time or energy to reassure her. His hope was that the eel wouldn’t want anything to do with humans—after all, it had thrown Carina out to sea after it had grabbed her off the ship. In fact, the eel seemed to be pretty strict about collecting only weird sea creatures. Well, and Florence. But here it was, surrounding them, and it didn’t look disinterested in the least. Alex kicked faster and watched Lani’s and Samheed’s legs disappear from the water. He was almost there.
The eel wouldn’t stop circling. Alex wouldn’t stop swimming. With a final burst of energy, he shot upward, pushing Copper above him until she reached the surface. He treaded water until he felt her weight being lifted from his arms, and then he broke through and gasped for air. He wiped the water from his eyes and looked for squirrelicorns, but they were all retreating, delivering Samheed, Lani, and now Copper to the ship. Alex flipped on his back, knowing he should go back under and watch the eel, but also knowing if he didn’t catch his breath for a second, he just might die anyway, without the eel having to do anything at all.
As he gasped and floated and waited for the first pair of squirrelicorns to return, his body spent and muscles trembling, he felt something wrap itself around his legs. Alex sprang to life, kicking and yelling. “Help!” he cried, hoping it would bring the squirrelicorns faster. He flailed about, just barely sliding out of the eel’s grasp again and again, shouting when he could get a breath, until finally the eel rose up out of the water and wrapped around Alex like kite string around a reel.
“Aah—!” Alex’s yell was cut short by the eel yanking him underwater.
Immediately he sucked in a breath of water and started to choke. The eel squeezed him and slithered around through the water, gainin
g momentum until it was moving at a maniacal speed. Alex’s vision grew hazy, and he couldn’t struggle anymore. He tried desperately to hold his breath, but the intake of water had messed up everything. Just before he blacked out, a flash of light caught his eye.
And this time, it wasn’t the eel.
Spike Furious
The shiny, blue-painted whale with a faux diamond–encrusted spike shooting out from her forehead came zipping toward Alex and the eel at top speed. Even though she’d been captured by this same eel once before, she was not afraid. She had learned the eel’s tricks. Compelled by a voice inside her, she swam at a furious pace, aiming her spike without fear at the enormous electric eel.
That voice inside—she’d heard it before, at the beginning of everything. But the voices of the sea had been louder back then, calling her to play. She hadn’t been able to resist them.
Today in the cage she heard that voice again, coming from the boy. From the Alex.
At the beginning, during the terrible time, the Alex was there, feeling terrible too. It reminded her of something. Of someone. Of a man, a very long time ago, who remained by her side until the end. And even though it hurt, she felt comfort knowing that the man was there, feeling terrible with her.
When she heard that voice, the voice of the Alex, and saw his eyes and understood his words, she believed in him. And when the Alex’s personal monster came to break the cage and set everyone free so they could breathe again, Spike Furious knew that she would want to stay near the Alex forever. The thought made her happy.
Now, with the Alex in grave danger, there was only one thing Spike could do to stop the bad eel from hurting him and everyone else.
She sped toward the giant eel and stabbed her spike into its side.
The creature recoiled. The Alex slipped out of its grasp. Spike Furious yanked her spike out of the eel’s side, slipped her tail under the boy as he fell lifeless through the water, and lifted his body above the surface to the air, because every creature of the sea knows that the Alexes can’t hold their breath as long as whales can.