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He snagshe fears spills out of him He’s afraid of death, of what he’s done, and that he won’t be able to fix it "You can’t go out there," he says "You were supposed to stay in the hospital, but I guess you’ll just have to stay here for a little while"
I turn gles "It’s what Monarch wanted--needed you to do today You need to stay out of the Highers watch for a little while"
"It’s too late for that," I e face twists with confusion "What do you mean? What did you do?
I try to pull o "You can’t go out there right now It’s too dangerous--you’re too unstable"
The next few minutes of ain, but because all I can see is red But so unconscious on the floor
My hands are as steady as a rock as I leave Taggart and the infir behind in that roohers quarters--et there, but I’et to find out because the sirens go off
It’s ti
Chapter 8
People flurry down the hall like robots, rushing for the Corridor I barely rees of Bellators getting taken I asked Monarch about it once, why I couldn’t remember it All he would say is that it’s a part of life and that when people leave sometimes their memories leave with them
Watchers, dressed in their black jumpsuits and army boots, herd the Colonyto blend in, as I weaveinto bodies
"Kayla" Someone touches my arm and I whirl, ready to attack But it’s just Nina
Her eyes widen at the sight of ? You look …" She peeks around, terrified that a Watcher will overhear us
Slipping my arm froh the bodies of people Inside the tight space of the Corridor, bodies are se The air is dank and shers like it I stand at the back, trying to stay inconspicuous People are talking, not about the Gathering, but about the Bellator who attacked a Higher in the hall
"She’s probably dead by now," a stubby, rounded lady with a bob cut whispers to her husband, who nods in agree for it to all be over
"She deserves to die," someone else says
I turn to see who it is, but a soft voice shivers against my ear "Not yet"
I’ve heard this voice before But glancing over uely familiar faces of Colony members none in particular stand out But I sense sohers enter, rows and rows of white in a sea of black I stand back, lowering h hooded eyes They’re almost identical, only the tiniest variations htly paler eyes, shorter hair, sharper cheekbones
For a split second, I think I recognize Monarch walking ast them only he’s dressed in a robe and looks just like theone
They file onto the stage, standing shortest to tallest Gabrielle’s in thea black box He advances to the center of the stage and drops the black box on the floor
"Welco, everyone" His cold voice slithers the room "It’s a pleasure for you to all come"
Like we have a choice
Gabrielle keeps talking, but I’uard the exit, their hands suspended above their Tasers, itching to use theroup of theh their masks Then, suddenly, all of their eyes land on me
My time’s up Either it’s now or never I know I don’t stand a chance I’ll be caught in seconds and probably executed on the spot But I don’t care Through the throng of people, I catch Tristan’s eye
Bye, I aze away I glide my knife out of my pocket, not afraid, but not hollow In fact, I’m more alive than I’ve ever been
Chapter 9
My eyes shoot open It’s dark and grogginess plasters my mind andthe plastic until I feel the teeth of a zipper I realize right ahat this is A body bag I’ the track, I find the zipper handle and battle to unzip it But I realize it’s going nowhere and I give up and tear at the plastic, digging h to the outside I don’t knohat to expect, but I’ht me Always expect the worst, that way you’ll be prepared for anything
Monarch Thinking of him makes me choke
I decide not to think about hiether I collectI’ed, and fiery red rocks The land is rolling hills of sand and the sky is dark with clouds and smoke, but less hazy than in the city, like the sun can al for the city The last thing I can re to kill Gabrielle
"Help!" Someone screa in the sand, is another body bag And it’sI reach for my knife, surprised to find it’s still in entle tap "Who’s in there?"
A pause "Kayla?"
"Yeah?"
"Kayla! Kayla!" He yells "It’s Bernard!"
"I thought you were dead" I pause, scratching my forehead with the silver handle of my knife "How do I know it’s really you?"