by David Estes
Bren has a flashlight, which saves us from using ours. As he walks abreast with his still-silent brother and sister, he explains the situation as he knows it. “I have information from a reliable source that the sun dwellers launched a coordinated attack last night on every major moon dweller border. They started with heavy bombing, which was then followed by large contingents of soldiers moving in to take control of each subchapter. The moon dwellers had little chance of stopping them.”
I can’t breathe, the thick oxygen sticking in my throat like glue. I stop, wheezing, my elbows dropping to my knees.
“Adele, what’s the matter?” Tristan says. His hand gently touches my back.
“What subchapters?” I choke out.
“I do not know,” Bren says. “But I do know subchapter one was hit the hardest.”
My legs start shaking and my vision blurs. Unable to hold up my weight any longer, I roll to the side, my shoulder thudding off the unforgiving concrete. My cheek scrapes against the rough surface, but I don’t care. No mark on my face could be as bad as what I’ve just heard. “We’re too late,” I moan. “It’s over.”
Tristan’s face appears through my tears as he kneels over me. “There’s still hope,” he says. “If she survived there will be a trial. She’ll be sentenced to death, but we might be able to rescue her before that happens.”
“And if she didn’t survive?” I say, images of my mom’s battered face cycling through my mind in black and white.
“She did,” Tristan asserts, “but if she didn’t, you still have your sister to take care of. If we can finish our mission, it could still make a difference for anyone still alive, especially for the non-military.”
Elsey’s face appears, replacing my dead mother. She’s smiling as usual, despite the war and my dad dying and my mom maybe dying and me being on a potential suicide mission. Just seeing her face for a moment, even if only in my mind, lifts my spirits long enough for me to blink away the tears and allow Tristan to help me to my feet.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, unwilling to look any of my comrades in the face after my mini-meltdown. “I’m okay now.”
“Screw ’em,” Trevor says. “As long as we’re alive, they’ve got a fight on their hands.”
When I look up my friends are staring at me. Tristan’s brow is furrowed and worried. Tawni looks ready to throw her arms around me. Roc is, well, he’s Roc, solid and steady and reliable, his hand half-extended, as if ready to catch me if my legs fail again. And Trevor: his face is a scowl, an expression that represents the righteous anger inside him, an anger that will only help us finish this mission together. His face, more than any of the others, steels me the most. My knuckles tighten at my sides as a surge of fire runs through me.
“Let’s end this,” I say.
We continue our march through the sewer, and my legs feel the lightest they’ve felt since leaving the Moon Realm. I can almost feel my friends, my sister, my mother, even my father, holding me up, becoming a part of me, supporting me. We’re in this together, still alive, still whole, still hopeful.
What was a steely determination to kill the man who ordered the death of my father, the maiming of my baby sister, has turned into a fierce and burning desire for revenge. Not just for those who I know that have been harmed by the cruel dictator who sits on his throne deep in the capital, but for everyone whose lives have been negatively impacted by his evil ways. We can’t get to him fast enough for me. Every muscle and ligament and bone in my body is firing perfectly, working efficiently as a team, and I know that when we do meet him I’ll be unstoppable, the most powerful and deadly force that he’s ever seen.
And then I’ll kill him.
Unfortunately, another hour of tromping, head stooped, through the sewers, takes just a bit of the fight out of me. Mostly we’ve been silent, although every once and a while Trevor will say something to try to fire us up, but even he’s been quiet for the last ten minutes.
“How big is this city?” I finally ask, in frustration.
“Big,” Tristan says. “Bigger than you can possibly imagine. Think the biggest moon dweller city and then multiple that by a hundred.”
His explanation makes it even harder for me to imagine. How can one fathom the fathomless? Anyway, we’re not trying to get all the way across it, just to the center, so it can’t be that far, right?
Wrong.
Neck aching, legs burning, mouth dry, spirit shattered, I stop an hour later when Bren pulls up in front of us.
“We’ve got to be close,” Tristan says, making my head perk up a little. He knows the size of the city better than me.
“We are,” Bren says. “And this is where we must part ways. For our path takes us below, while I suspect yours takes you straight to your father.”
“Good to luck to you, Bren,” Tristan says, clasping the servant’s hand. “We are forever in your debt.”
“Succeed in whatever your mission is, and all debts shall be forgiven,” Bren returns. Then, turning to Roc, he says, “Brother, forgive me for not trusting in the purity of your heart sooner. I very much would have liked to stand beside you in this fight.”
“And you, my friend,” Roc says, once more embracing him. “Linus, Sinew—listen to your brother. He has good instincts.”
The silent siblings nod solemnly, before the threesome head in the other direction, beginning the long walk back to where they started, and then on a dangerous journey to the Moon Realm, or what’s left of it. Just before the head of Bren’s flashlight disappears in the dark, Tristan calls out, “Where do we go?”
“A hundred yards more and you’ll reach a ladder. That’ll get you close,” Bren shouts, his echoes fading into the distance along with him.
“When we get to the ladder we can rest and make plans,” Tristan says. No one can argue with that idea.
I’m still feeling the effects of our bent-over jaunt through the sewers, but somehow it doesn’t hurt so much now that I know the end is near. Evidently my companions feel the same way, as our pace is redoubled and we reach a dead end only a minute later.
“I’m ready for a nap,” Trevor says, sprawling out along the curving edge of the tube.
“You do that…while we kill the president,” Roc says.
It’s strange hearing Roc say something like that, especially when he now knows the President is his father.
“Ooh, I don’t want to miss that,” Trevor says. “I guess I can sleep later, maybe when I’m dead.”
“You’re not going to die,” I say, sitting down. “None of us are.” It’s the biggest lie I’ve told in my entire life, and, selfishly, I think I told it to comfort my own fears rather than anyone else’s.
“So what’s the plan?” Tawni asks, hugging her knees next to me.
“Bust in, kill anything that moves, shoot Tristan and Roc’s dad in the head,” Trevor says bluntly.
“Our father,” Tristan corrects.
“Yeah, him, too,” Trevor says.
“I think we might want to try a slightly stealthier approach,” I say. “That is, if we do want to live through this. And I do—I’ve got a sister to look after.” I glance at Tristan, who gives me a slight nod, which I return in thanks for the not-so-subtle reminder he gave me earlier. No matter how bad things get, there’s always someone who needs me as much as I need them.
“She’s right,” he says. “We need to split up.”
“No!” I say right away. “We said we would stick together. Apart we’ll be hanging bats. Dead meat.”
“Hear me out,” Tristan says. “Roc and I know the palace better than anyone, my father included. When we were kids we explored every nook and cranny. We know the best ways in, the fastest routes from point to point, and the safest ways out. If we each lead a team in a different direction with the goal of eventually reaching the same destination—in this case my father’s throne room—it doubles our chance of success.”
“If one group is captured, the other might still make it,” Roc
adds. Evidently they’ve already discussed this without us, although I have no idea when. “If we’re caught together, it’s all over.”
I shut my eyes. Argh! I’m mad, but not because of their plan, or that they came up with it without us, but because they’re right. It’s the best, and most logical, way to improve our chances for success.
“Who goes with who?” I say, giving up the argument without a fight.
“We wanted to leave that up to the group,” Tristan says.
“At least you left something up to the group,” I grumble under my breath.
“I want Tawni with me,” Roc says right away.
“Bad idea,” Trevor says. “We can’t let personal feelings get in the way of the mission as a whole.”
“I agree,” I say. “Tristan and I will split up, and so should Tawni and Roc.”
“Wait a minute. I’m not sure that makes the most sense,” Tristan says, frowning. “Strategically it might make the most sense to have you and me together.”
“It doesn’t,” I say, wanting more than anything to relent, to go with him, to seal our fates together with this decision. But I can’t. Trevor’s right, for once.
“Trevor and Adele are right,” Tawni says, glancing at Roc. “I’m sorry, I want to go with you, but…”
Roc chews on his lip, turns to Tristan, who’s doing much the same thing. “Three against two,” I say. “Couples must be separated.” Again. It’s the third time I’ll be separated from Tristan since first seeing him. If history repeats itself, we’ll both face great dangers before we ever see each other again.
“I don’t agree,” Tristan says, “but I’ll go along with the group’s decision.”
“Don’t make me beg,” Roc says to Tawni.
“Roc, I’m sorry.”
“Rrrr, fine. Okay. I’ll go with whoever we decide.”
“Me and Tawni,” I suggest, reverting naturally to the combo that’s gotten me this far.
“No way,” Tristan says. “Tawni’s not a fighter. You need at least two fighters.”
“She’ll fight if she has to,” I argue, which draws a smile from Tawni. “She even practiced with Roc, remember?” I add.
“That’s not helping your argument,” Tristan says. “Roc’s got spirit but he’s not exactly a professional warrior.”
“Hey! I’ve saved your skin more than once already,” Roc complains.
“I’m not contending that. I’m just saying that one training session with you won’t put Tawni on even ground with a palace guard.”
“But she’ll have me,” I say. “No one will touch her on my watch.”
“Unless you get killed,” Tristan says grimly. “You’re tough as hell, Adele, but you’re not invincible.” And that, my friends, is the problem. No matter how much righteous anger and lust for revenge courses through my veins, I can’t guarantee anything. “Just take Trevor with you. Please.”
And there it is. The compromise. If Tristan can’t be there to protect me (as if I need protecting), he wants the next best fighter to be with me. Which leaves him with Roc, who, although determined and loyal to a fault, is no warrior, as Tristan already pointed out. But wait a minute…
“I thought you said you and Roc have to be separated, so each squad has someone to help navigate through the palace,” I say.
“That’s correct,” Tristan confirms. Then that means…
“You’re going with Tawni?”
“That’s what I’m suggesting.”
I shake my head in wonder at the nerve of my boyfriend. If he thinks he can get away with the exact same thing that I just tried to get away with, he’s got another thing coming. “Not a chance. If that’s the way you want to play it, I’m going with Roc. You take Trevor and Tawni.”
“Perfect. Done,” Trevor says, clapping his hands together. “I’m ready.”
“Wait a sec,” Tristan says. “I disag—”
“All in favor,” I say, cutting him off.
“Aye,” Tawni and Trevor say in unison.
Roc shrugs. “Sorry, buddy, that’s three votes already. It’s probably for the best anyway.”
Tristan’s shaking his head, his eyes closed. I can tell his teeth are clamped tightly together beneath his pursed lips. He’s worried about me, which I feel bad about, but I know we’ve made the right decision. He and Tawni will be safe with Trevor, and Roc and I can look after each other. I know I was a bit cold to him, but that I can make up for.
I move in close, hug him around the chest, rest my cheek on his shoulder. “We’ll be fine,” I whisper.
He opens his fathomless blue eyes. Says, “I don’t want to lose you.” I lean into his honest lips, kissing him longer and deeper than I ever have before.
“You won’t,” I murmur when we pull away.
Chapter TwentyTristan
That didn’t go the way I planned. I thought I could convince Adele to go with me, or at least to go with Trevor. Instead she’s the only real fighter in her group, while I’ve got Trevor, who’s more than capable.
We’ve worked out the details of our plan—approximately how long it will take for each team to reach the throne room (twenty minutes), what to do if something goes wrong (keep going), whether to wait for the other team upon arrival at the throne room (wait five minutes, and then go in)—and I watch Adele climb the ladder first, her lithe form almost catlike in her sun dweller clothes. Everything about her is an enigma to me. The way she can be so tough and yet so gentle. The beauty she wears like a mask on her determined face. Her humble upbringing seeding a life destined to do such great things.
And now we’re parting without saying goodbye, with only a kiss to keep us going, because that’s the way she wants it. It’s probably better that way. Saying goodbye is like assuming failure, like we won’t see each other again. “Until we meet again!” I say instead. Adele fires a strange look down the ladder and keeps climbing.
“We’ll go through the gardens and around the government buildings,” Roc says.
I look at him. “Too dangerous. We’ll go that way and you take the safer route through the family quarters.”
“She’ll want to see the gardens,” Roc says.
“This isn’t a sightseeing trip, Roc. This is not debatable.”
“We’ll go through the gardens,” Adele cries from above.
I grit my teeth. It’s like the entire world has teamed up against me. Or maybe it’s just the four people I’m supposed to be teamed up with. With Adele three quarters of the way up the ladder, there’s no time to argue. “Fine,” I growl. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“So don’t do anything you would do then?” Roc says with a smirk.
“Just go,” I say, unwilling to take the bait.
Trevor’s shadow boxing the wall, while Tawni’s waiting for me patiently. Roc gives her a soft kiss on the cheek before following Adele.
“Shall we?” Tawni says, turning her head to hide the pink on her face.
“Let’s give them a minute to start their move. The fewer of us together to draw attention the better,” I say.
I sit down, close my eyes, take a few deep breaths. My mouth is dry, like it’s been coated in a layer of rock dust, my tongue as limp as a wet rag. Although I’m at rest, my heart beats faster than it should.
Tawni slides in beside me. “You’re worried about her,” she says.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Your foot’s moving a mile a minute,” she says, pointing to my leg. I didn’t even realize, but she’s right. My knee’s twitching up and down rapidly, my foot tapping out a wild beat on the concrete.
I put a hand on my leg, calming it. Even my body is out of my control. “Urrrr!” I growl, just as there’s the clink of the manhole cover being replaced above us. “I just didn’t picture our attack on the capital like this,” I say.
Trevor stands over me. “How did you picture it? You and Adele, holding hands, skipping through the palace gardens? Fighting hordes of guards—still holding h
ands, mind you—storming the throne room, each plunging a sword through your father’s chest in perfect synchronization?”
I glance up, frown at Trevor. “No, of course not. I just thought we’d fight together.”
“Ignore him,” Tawni says, bringing my gaze to hers. “You will fight together. And then you can skip through the gardens all you want.” Even in the sewer, her pale blue eyes are mirthful and wise. I can see why Adele is so close with her. I find myself smiling. “Did you really want to go with her to fight with her, or was it perhaps so you could keep an eye on her?”
“Yes—I mean, no—I mean, I don’t know, maybe. I just feel more comfortable when she’s near so I can help if she needs it.” My head is a muddle of thoughts, worries, and memories. All I know is she’s up there, and I’m down here.
“News flash. She doesn’t need your help. She doesn’t need anyone’s help. She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met.” Tawni’s expression is so serious I can tell she means what she says. But she’s wrong.
“She told me she needed your help. She told me she never would have escaped the Pen, never would have rescued her sister, never would have done any of the incredible things she’s done without you.”
“What? She said that?”
“Yes, Tawni. She thinks the world of you, and believe it or not, she needs you as much as you need her. We all need each other. Together is the only way we’re going to get through this. Together.”
Tawni’s eyebrows are raised and she’s staring off into space. “I never knew,” she says.
“Well now you do. You have a part to play in this as much as anyone else.” I don’t know if that’s right exactly, but the words feel right on my tongue, coming off my lips. In any case, Tawni will have to fight, just like the rest of us, before this is all over. That’s a certainty.
“I’ll do what I can,” she says, standing, her dress swirling around her legs and looking incredibly out of place amongst the sewer water and time-darkened concrete.