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Aria’s heart tightened and tightened, twisting, the pain unbearable

This couldn’t be happening

She was not an Outsider

It couldn’t be true

Luers to her lips as if she couldn’t believe what she’d said Then she brought her hands back down When she spoke again, her voice was hurried and raith e inferior in any way The Outsider half of you is the part I love most It’s your tenacity Your curiosity about my research and the Realms I know your fire comes from that part of you

"You’ll have a thousand questions, I’m sure What I haven’t shared is for your own protection" She paused, giving the camera a teary smile "And it’s always better, isn’t it, when you discover answers on your own?"

Lu Her pained expression filled the screen She hesitated and sat back, her s, like she couldn’t stop herself Seeing her that way, tears streabird? Sing the aria forit so beautifully Wherever I am, I know I’ll hear it Good-bye, Aria I love you"

The screen went dark

Aria had no lihts

Perry appeared in front of her, his eyes flashing with rage and hurt What had just happened? What had Lumina just said? She studied Outsider children?

Like Talon?

Perry picked up the suttural cry, he hurled the table at the wallscreen The vase broke first with a hollow pop at her feet Then the screen shattered with a terrible explosion of glass

Long after he’d left, shards still rained on the floor

She watched her e three more times in the upstairs co soft co sounds

She looked down at the handkerchief wadded in her hand Her heart ached, like it was ripping inside of her The pain only see 6," she said to Marron "This thing DLS" Aria relazed eyes as he’d stared at the fire How intent Bane and Echo had been How even Paisley had been afraid the trees ht fall on her "The only difference is that we shut off on purpose that night"

Aria pressed her eyes closed, fighting the irand scale A Pod-wide riot where heroff Smarteyes What chance did Lumina have, between the Aether and DLS?

Marron’s eyes were full of compassion He looked worn from the day, his hair mussed, his shirt wrinkled and damp from when he’d held her and let her cry "Your e She had to have been prepared for soht She would have She’s always prepared"

"Aria, we can try the S you into the Realht be able to reach her"

She nodded to Marron quickly, her eyes filling again She wanted to see her mother To know she was alive, but ould she say? Lu herself

She was half Outsider

Half

She felt that way Like half of her had just disappeared

Marron brought her the Smarteye Aria’s hands shook as she held it "What if there’s nothing? What if I can’t get her?"

"You can stay here as long as you like"

He said it so quickly, so readily Aria looked into his round, kind face "Thank you" She couldn’t speak the next question that came to her mind

What if I find out she took Talon?

She needed to know Aria placed the Sht on her skin She saw the two local files on her Se

She ran through theup the Real on the palette on his lap

WELCOME TO THE REALMS! flashed across her Smartscreen, followed by BETTER THAN REAL!

After a few e appeared

ACCESS DENIED

She took the Eye off quickly, not wanting to see those words "Marron, we failed I’ Talon back"

He squeezed her hand "It’s not the end of the road yet It didn’t work for you, but I have so else in mind"

Chapter 28