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It’s happening

"Ash, no," she sobs

"It’s okay," I say

Ba-boom ba-boom ba-boom

"Stay with me," she says

Ba-boos remain hollow

"I love you, Ash"

Ice fills my heart

Ba-boom

46

NATALIE

I KNOW he’s dead His heart’s stopped beating inside uards to douse the flarin on his lips He got what he wanted Ash is dead The people in the crowd turn to face the stage onceremoved from the cross I stare directly at the nearest television cae for Purian Rose I’ve realized soainst each other, s, and why? Because without fear, you have no power," I say "Well, I’m not afraid of you anymore I will not live my life in fear From this day on, you have no power over me or the people of this city"

Beetle stands up and pu, "No fear, no power No fear, no power!"

His protest call is picked up by the rest of Hu across the whole city like rolling thunder, thousands of voices chanting in unison, "NO FEAR, NO POWER! NO FEAR, NO POWER!"

I face the cross again Ash is now lying on the ground, his arhly peels the silver chains off Ash’s wrists and ankles; the metal has seared into his skin, and I cover my ur join me We all watch in silence as Minister Fisher cradles his son’s body and lovingly strokes Ash’s hair I expect it to stir and coil around his father’s fingers like it nor about Ash is so still

Day and Beetle hug et hiur says softly

Ash’s dad shakes his head "He’s having a huue

Sebastian hovers nearby A wooden cart has been brought over to take Ash’s body away

"I want to say good-bye first," I say

Minister Fisher gently lays the body back on the ground, and I kneel beside Ash I move a strand of hair away from his closed eyes He looks so peaceful, you’d alins our life, everlasting," I whisper

I press ainst his

A powerful jolt of electricity passes between us It zings through asp

A second, faint heartbeat joins er

Please, please, please

His eyes flicker open

EPILOGUE

ASH

NATALIE SLINGS MY BANDAGED ARM around her shoulder and supports me as we leave the hospital The burns will never fully heal, even with enerative abilities; I will always bear the scars of my execution It’s been a few days sinceit Of course, Natalie and I know the truth When ered the doren circulating in my body to stop brain death Then when Natalie kissed me, it reactivated my heart andwell, here I am

Obviously, the truth isn’t anywhere near as i ame The boy who rose fro the poster boy for Hu it alone After her televised outburst at my execution, Humans for Unity asked Natalie to be their aion Liberation Front to defend the city, as we all know a reprisal is co after the whole city cried out, "No fear, no power!"

I orried Natalie would be arrested after ad to everyone that she loved overnment must be afraid of ill happen if they arrest either of us; it could be the spark that ignites civil war

We walk down City End towardthe line of the Boundary Wall I don’t feel any desire to be on the other side Everything I have, everything I need, is right beside me now

Of course, I’d like to see the wall come down one day There’s still a division between the citizens about whether or not we should reintegrate the Darklings into society Maybe in ti We can’t go back to the way things were before the ith Darklings feeding on hu them with Haze We have to cos won’t happen overnight, as Roach keeps re to spend as et a second chance at life, and a second chance to be with the girl you love

She s

"I love you," I say to her

"I love you too," she says, then kisses me We enter the Rise and find iants as always, except I know i The church looks like it’s been shaken by an earthquake--pews are upturned, holy books are scattered across the floor, s are s on?" I say

Dad looks anxiously at the Sentry guards surrounding him

"You have a visitor, in your roouards has a dagger poised at Dad’s neck He shakes his head ever so slightly I try to act casual, but panic is setting in Natalie takes my hand, and we head to the bell tower

"Who do you think it is?" she whispers

I shrug "Only one way to find out"

I push open the door

Purian Rose stands by the arched , sinking his teeth into a bloodred, heart-shaped apple from the trees in the cemetery Golden juice drips down his bottoray eyes toward us

"I hope you don’t mind, but I helped myself to an apple froht voice

"That’s fine They’re all filled with ives us a waxy smile Up close, his skin has a very unpleasant, stretched look about it, and his hair is unnaturally black He places the half-eaten apple carefully on theledge

"What do you want?" I ask

He sighs wearily "I feel like I’ve been neglectinga little more attention totabs onto hurtsmile "Well, that all depends on you now, doesn’t it?"

"How so?"

"I ious man, I was quite surprised to see you rise frohty" He narrows his eyes at me "I, of course, know better Your resurrection was no miracle You can die as easily as anyone else"

"What’s your point? Other than you need to find a more effective way to execute me next time?" I say

"My point, Mr Fisher, is I don’t like false prophets Especially ones that threaten to unbalance the society I have spent the past fifteen years so carefully building"

"Then why don’t you just arrest ht here Now’s your chance"

"There is nothing I would love more than to slice your throat, but all that will do is ive Huainstyou will just arouse anger The people of this city seem to have taken you into their hearts I hear they call you Black Phoenix? The ‘boy who rose frole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>