“I thought they all went to live under the city?” I questioned.
“The lucky ones,” replied Domino. “The ones they don't think they can trust still get exiled to Earth.”
I gulped at her words. Exiled to Earth. I imagined it's what would happen to us if we were caught.
Braven turned on his heel, and we all followed him at a fast pace down the hallway while Maya thanked all of her rescuers in turn.
“So you coming with us?” she asked Fletcher.
“I've decided I'm going to stay on Utopia,” he replied.
My heart clenched all over again at his words. I would've been lying if I said I wasn't devastated he was staying. I couldn't remember a time when I didn't have Fletcher to lean on. There was so much I wanted to talk to him about. So many questions I needed him to help me understand. But soon he'd be disappearing from my life forever, and I wouldn't get to say a real goodbye.
“You know I can't leave Mum and Dad like this. It'll kill them,” he said.
“And that would be a bad thing?” she whispered. Fletcher gave her an elbow to the ribs. “Okay, fair enough, it's your choice. But I'm going to miss you, little bro.” She rubbed her knuckles into the top of his head. He fought her off and pushed her away, poking out his tongue.
My stomach twisted in pain, and I wrapped my arms around it. I was going to be alone. Dammit, Fletcher. But there was no way I could ask him to give up his life as an Elite for me. I wouldn't do it. Sadness crept into my throat, making it tighten all over again, as I watched Fletcher joke around with his sister. If he'd chosen to come, they could've had the brother-sister relationship they'd always wanted. Now he'd never see her again. I'd never see him again.
It wasn't long before we reached the door to the airship dock. I'd managed to swallow down most of my sadness. Keeping my glare straight in front of me helped me try to push aside any of the thoughts trying to creep up in my mind. Escaping was my first priority. I'd have plenty of time to break down and be a cry baby when I got to Eden. If I got to Eden.
Braven swiped his card and led us all through the doorway. Stepping into the airship dock left me in awe. To imagine an area so large below Utopia was mind-blowing. The dock itself stretched as far as the Undercity had, and the ceilings were as high. Four large airships sat docked, each at their own giant metal door.
The ships themselves were magnificent. My dad's explanations of them hadn't begun to describe how strange they looked. They were long and oblong shaped with large balloon-like pillows floating above them. Round windows spread out evenly along the lower side of them and the tail of the ships pointed towards us.
“Cool, aren't they?” Fletcher raised his eyebrows.
“Very cool,” I replied.
“Which one's ours?” asked Maya.
“The smaller one over there, the one with UC12 written on the side.” Braven pointed to the right at an aircraft the same shape as the others but only a third of their size. “I'm afraid this is where we leave you…” trailed off Braven.
“Mark, my name is Mark,” replied the old man. “Thank you all for your kindness. I should be able to find my way to Molly from here.”
Braven pulled him aside and gave him directions to escape. When he was finished, Mark shot me a kind smile and took off along the wall and down a corridor. I hoped he made it to his wife safe and the Utopian Guard would leave them be.
“You did the right thing freeing him, Aurora,” said Domino, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I shook it away, still angry she hadn't told me the truth about my father. She looked hurt at my rejection, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Braven clapped his hands together. “Okay. Let's do this. The place looks quiet, mustn't be any flights scheduled.”
As we strode across the wide room Alber stepped out from behind the ship, his arms spread wide as though embracing us all. “I thought you were never coming,” he called out. He must've been confident we were alone. Soon we'd be safe.
“There were times we thought the same. Lark got zapped,” Braven began.
“Do we have to keep bringing it up? What about this one's prisoner?” Lark said, pointing his finger my way.
“Prisoner? Alan? What on Utopia?” said Alber.
Alan looked at his shoes, and Vega gave him a nudge forward.
“It's a long story, Alber. Let's get out of here,” said Lark.
I turned to find Fletcher wrapped tight in Maya's arms, tears running down her cheeks. This was it. This was the last time I was going to be able to speak to my best friend.
I waited for them to have their moment before walking over to him. Maya put her hand on my shoulder as she passed me on her way towards the others.
“So, this is it,” he said as he strode over to me.
I swallowed hard. “Looks that way. Who are you going to have your ass kicked by now?” I asked, trying to make light of the situation.
“You? Kick my ass? Never,” he replied. I punched him in the shoulder. “Not going to miss you bashing me.”
“You keep telling yourself that. Utopia's not going to be the same without Aurora Adams.”
“You're right, girls won't be too scared to talk to me without you around.”
“Looks like you'll have to fight Sasha off all on your own.”
His eyes widened in mock fear. “Oh, Elite, I didn't think about her. Maybe I will come.” His smile faltered. “I'm going to miss you, Rora.”
My lip quivered and I swallowed hard, unable to answer as he pulled me in for a hug. For two friends who'd never touched each other, other than the casual punch over the last eleven years, we were doing a lot of it lately.
“Look after her, Maya,” Fletcher called out as he stepped away from me.
“Of course, little bro,” Maya replied, wiping at her eyes.
“You look after yourself,” I told him.
“Me? Always. I think you forgot I'm-“
“Fletcher Saxby!” a bellowing voice thundered through the cavernous room, freezing us in place.
Chapter Fifteen
Fletcher's dad, Elite Leader David Saxby, stood at the other end of the airship dock, flanked by ten members of the Utopian Guard. Standing next to him was Officer Banks.
“Go,” Fletcher whispered to me, but my feet wouldn't move.
No one else's feet would either, and each of us stood still as statues.
“Son, come to me.” Mr. Saxby's voice wobbled with his plea, as though he was worried for his son's safety.
“Fletch,” I argued.
“It's okay, Rora. I'll distract him and you guys go.” He gave me his cheeky lopsided grin, the one I knew meant he wanted me to believe him when he wasn't sure if he could believe himself.
I watched as Fletcher jogged towards his father. When he arrived, Mr. Saxby wrapped him in a tight embrace and whispered in his ear.
A loud squealing sound and a rush of air made me jump and I turned to find the door of the airship dock opening in front of our small ship. Alber's friend had come through for us. Mr. Saxby's guard walked forward and, as they did, Alber instructed us all to get to the airship.
With one last glance at Fletcher, now safely with his dad, I turned to make my way towards the airship.
The pop of a gun shot rang through the building. The image of my mother's limp body flashed into my mind, making me stumble. Officer Banks.
“I wouldn't run if I were you, Aurora,” Officer Banks called out in his deep, disturbing voice. “We'll find you. We'll always find you.”
I turned to find Officer Banks holding Mr. Saxby back while a member of his guard stood behind Fletcher, a gun trained on the side of his head.
Fear clutched at my chest and I stood still, gulping hard. Another image of mum's limp body raced through my mind and I took a step towards Fletcher, who'd been pushed down onto his knees.
“No!” he called out. “Forget about me. Run, Aurora!”
The guard gave him a swift kick to the side for his outbu
rst, making me wince. I couldn't go. I couldn't leave him to be killed.
“If you and your friend Alan hand yourselves over without a fight, we'll let him go. Your friends too,” he said. “They won't get far in that small airship, and if they make it to Eden, the Eden Guard will be more than happy to welcome them to their city and escort them to their cells.” Fletcher shook his head. He'd want me to leave him behind. But I couldn't. He was my best friend. He'd sacrificed so much to save me, now it was my turn to return the favour. I turned to find Alan standing next to me and took another step forward.
“Please, Aurora. Go,” called out Fletcher, earning himself a hard smack to the head with the butt of a gun.
I winced again and Fletcher clutched at his wound, blood seeping through his fingers.
“It's okay, Fletch,” I promised him.
“It's okay, Aurora, I've got you. Keep them talking,” Alan whispered in my ear.
Unable to process what he was saying, I continued walking forward. “I want to know one thing.”
“And what is that, Miss Adams?” asked Officer Banks.
“Why? Why kill my mum? Why hunt me down when I wasn't hurting anybody?” I asked.
“Why? Because you're very existence threatens everything Utopia was built for. Your parents threatened everything Utopia was built for,” he replied. “You aren't who you think you are.”
I gulped, the revelation still painful. “I know I'm not the biological daughter of Benjamin and Jennifer Adams. But who cares? Why do you care so much?”
Vega and Braven gasped at the revelation.
“Because when your father died, we think he left information behind. Information with the power to destroy everything we've worked hard to build,” he said.
My hand found its way to the pendant at my throat, and I regretted it the moment Officer Banks' eyes found it too. Dropping my hands to my sides, I noticed Alan was rounding his way towards Fletcher while I was distracting the Guard. I needed to keep talking.
“You want the locket? All of this for a crummy locket no one can open?” I asked.
An evil smirk spread across his lips. “You mean, that you and your friends cannot open, Miss Adams. We don't desire the information in the locket. We want to destroy it so anyone else who desires it can't have it.”
His words only make it clearer the secrets they were hiding were much worse than I could've imagined. Than any of the rebellion could've imagined. My father gave his life defending the locket and now I was expected to walk up and hand it over.
I glanced over at Fletcher, whose eyes continued to beg me to run. Mr. Saxby's pleas for them to release his son went ignored. We'd been led to believe he ran our floating city. But it was Officer Banks who was in control now.
“I'm sorry,” my words were meant for Fletcher, but as I spoke them I turned towards Vega, who stood closest to me near the aircraft. I wasn't sure I could trust her. She'd hated me from the moment she set eyes on me. But she was loyal to the rebels and to my father. She'd make sure it stayed safe. Reaching my hands around my neck I undid the clasp of the necklace and held it in my hand. I clutched it tight for a moment, drawing strength from its connection with my father before throwing it to Vega. She caught it with a wide stare.
“Shoot him,” were Officer Banks' words before a loud boom echoed through the dock.
Mr. Saxby cried out as though in physical pain and my mind paused for a moment. Mum's slumped body, the squealing sound in my ears. He'd shot Fletcher. My best friend. Finding the courage to look at what had unfolded, I turned to find Alan lying on the floor in a pool of blood. His own blood. Alan had taken the bullet for Fletcher. He'd saved my best friend.
“Run, Rora,” Fletcher was grabbing my arm, dragging me towards the airship.
How he'd gotten to me so quickly, I had no idea, but relief at him being alive and the grief that came with realising Alan had sacrificed himself swamped my body with every emotion imaginable, and I let him drag me behind him.
“Stop them!” bellowed Officer Banks, his armed man shooting at us as we ran towards the ship.
“He's not dead, Aurora, Benjamin's alive. Find him.” Mr. Saxby's voice sounded over the chaos, and I turned to find him being stunned by one of the guards.
Braven lifted me over his shoulder and carried me into the airship. Once inside he sat me down on the floor, propping me up against a soft cushion. My dad was alive.
Lark and Domino came crashing into the airship's cabin, followed by a spraying of gun fire.
“All accounted for, get us out of here Alber,” called out Lark.
The door rose to cover the doorway and the airship rumbled as Alber started it up.
“Can't you get this ship to move any faster?” stressed Vega.
“These airships aren't known for their speed. Here we go.” The ship rattled, moved forward, and lifted into the air.
My stomach lurched as we shot up and forward, a large crash sounding outside.
“What on Utopia was that?” called Braven.
“Controls are much touchier than I'd thought. Okay, hold on,” Alber said as the ship took off in a forward motion, rocking me off balance and onto Fletcher, who sat with his face between his knees.
“Fletch, Fletch.” Blood trickled from the wound on his head, and I worried he'd fallen unconscious.
He looked up. His eyes watery and bloodshot.
“Oh, Fletch,” I pulled him towards me and hugged him tight.
“What if they kill him, Rora?” he asked.
“They won't,” replied Domino. “They need him. He's the leader of Utopia.”
Fletcher nodded, but I don't think he believed her.
“I can't believe it,” said Maya. “All this time I thought he was the bad guy. Maybe he was being controlled like we were?” A tear spilled over her cheek.
“Here, let me check out your head. I've got some spray here somewhere. It'll stop the bleeding,” suggested Domino, rummaging through a bag. She pulled out some gauze and a spray and began tending to Fletcher's forehead.
“How are you?” Fletcher asked, wincing as Domino dabbed at his wound.
“I don't know,” I said. “An hour ago I thought I knew who my father was, and I was never going to see my best friend ever again. Are you okay now you're coming with us?”
“Seems like the universe had other plans for us. If it wasn't for your prisoner, I'd be dead,” he replied.
Alan. They'd shot Alan just as they'd shot my mother. We'd all imagined he was a traitor the short time he'd spent with us. But despite what we thought of him, he'd sacrificed himself so we could escape. Why I'd saved him, I wasn't sure. For answers about my dad. For information about the floating cities. Or because deep down I couldn't leave someone to the same fate as my mother or father. Despite my reasons, he'd died, and I'd led him to his death.
“What Dad said? Do you think it's true?” asked Fletcher.
“I don't know? I haven't had a chance to process any of it,” I replied.
“If he is alive, I have no idea where they'd be keeping him or why. It's been years,” said Maya.
“And I haven't heard a whisper of it,” said Lark.
“He told us to find him. He mustn't be on Utopia. Or maybe we misunderstood him?” I replied, giving them a half-hearted smile.
For a minute I'd believed him, believed it could've been true Benjamin Adams, the man who'd raised me and loved me unconditionally despite not being his real daughter, was alive. But people didn't come back from the dead, and there was no way he wouldn't have come to find me and Mum.
“You okay, brother?” Maya asked Fletcher.
Domino finished wrapping a bandage around his head and packed away her equipment.
“Yeah, in shock I think. I thought I was saying goodbye to you guys. Now look at me.” He pointed to his bandaged head.
Domino took a seat next to Lark, who was watching Alber drive the airship. It was hard to stay angry at her after what'd just happened, but I was still confuse
d as to why she didn't tell me the truth before.
Towards the back of the ship, Braven held Vega in his arms. Maybe there was a spark between them I hadn't seen? This wasn't the time to ask.
As though sensing I was thinking about her, Vega turned towards me and got to her feet. Instead of disdain in her eyes, there was sympathy. I wasn't sure which I hated more.
“This is yours,” Vega held out my father's pendant, not looking me in the eye.
“Thanks Vega, I knew if I didn't make it onto the ship, you'd make sure it stayed safe,” I confessed.
She didn't reply but gave me a nod before returning to her seat next to Braven.
“So you think it has information on it?” asked Fletcher.
I shrugged. “Not sure. But I'm going to keep it safe just in case.”
The ship shuddered, and I threw my hands out to grab a hold of a nearby bar before the ship dropped for a moment. My belly squished up into my throat, then down to my bladder. The ship jolted abruptly to the left, knocking us all off balance.
“What's going on, Alber?” yelled Vega.
“Guys, we have a small problem,” Alber called from the front of the airship, where he pushed and pulled on buttons and leavers.
“And what exactly would that be?” asked Vega as the ship veered further to the left.
“We've lost our engine. We aren't going to make it to Eden,” he said.
The growing volume of the rumbling was battling the ringing of an alarm after the third time we'd almost dropped out of the sky. Its shrill scream hurt my ears, but I couldn't cover them for fear I'd topple over. Instead, I clutched onto a railing fastened along the wall with my fellow rebels.
“I'm going to try to keep it up for as long as I can, but I don't know how far away from Utopia I can get,” cried Alber over the commotion.
The ship dropped again for a moment, thrusting me right into Fletcher then left into Maya.
“What do we do?” I called out.
“Hold on tight,” replied Alber as smoke billowed towards us from the back of the airship.
The thick grey cloud didn't take long to fill the area, making it hard to see the people around me. My chest heaved, trying to draw in oxygen as the smoke invaded.
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