Chapter 58
It’s two weeks later when we find ourselves back in the Central Park Tree Farm for our year-end cadet training exam. Dressed in our tactical gear, we huddle together in the cool morning breeze.
My gaze catches Rook’s, who stands relaxed on the edge of the crowd.
While we’ve limited our public appearances, we’ve been spending a lot of time alone in our room together.
Sometimes, he reads to me from one of his books.
The series I’m loving best is about a girl who’s forced to compete in a government-sanctioned death match alongside a bunch of other kids, only to discover they’re all being manipulated.
I can’t get enough of her strength and resilience, and how she’d do anything for the people she loves.
Sometimes, we just sit quietly, staring at the fire, and more often than not, we do a lot of kissing and touching and yearning. I can’t stop blushing at random moments, thinking of his hands and mouth. We haven’t taken it any further yet, though I desperately hope we do.
Rook doesn’t talk much about his past in terms of other girls, except to tell me he’s had a few casual relationships and wants to take things slow between us.
I know there are things in his past holding him back, but I don’t want to pry where he doesn’t want me.
I hope I can earn his trust enough to share the stories he’s reluctant to reveal.
I’ve been fine with it, but I’m also crawling out of my skin.
I want to wipe every memory of Knox from my body, and something tells me Rook could do that in a single night.
“Good morning, cadets!” Henry’s voice booms over our heads.
He stands in his full Storm Guard gear along with about a dozen other fully trained Breakers, everyone wearing their tactical pants and tank tops, layered with shiny purple harnesses.
“I’m happy to see so many of the same faces we welcomed during our first week of training months ago.
You’ve all worked hard and been tested to your limits, and today, you’ll demonstrate where all that effort has paid off. ”
He gestures around us. “Central Park is approximately two and a half miles from end to end, and nestled within the trees, you’ll find an obstacle course that includes ropes, swings, bridges, and more.
The path is marked, so you’ll follow it through to the other side. Of course, it won’t be that easy.”
He looks up, and the same net I remember from my Society test winks into focus as the purple crisscrossing pattern buzzes overhead.
“You’ll also need to avoid this. The grid must discharge occasionally to release buildup.
That means it can strike at random intervals throughout the park.
So, keep your focus and your eyes and ears peeled.
You’ll receive only a second of warning. ”
Domino links her elbow with mine, leaning against me.
I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it as she joins everyone staring at the flickering net overhead.
I lay a hand on her arm, and she looks at me, almost as if she’s surprised I’m there.
I try to offer her a reassuring smile. We’ve made it this far. We’re so close.
“The cadets from each Society with the three fastest times will automatically be granted entry into the second-year program,” Henry says now, eliciting an excited chorus of chatter around the circle. “The rest of you will be evaluated based on your training and tests throughout the past year.
“You’ll begin with staggered starts in alphabetical order. The only rules are that you cannot touch anyone else or the trees. You must stick to the course and cannot deviate more than six feet beyond it.”
He scans our line. “Everything clear?” We all nod, and then his expression shifts. “Before we begin, we have one other item we must deal with.”
A rustle comes from behind us, and I nearly squeak at the sight of four Extinguishers emerging from the trees with Lieutenant Dire among them.
Behind them come several E-squad recruits, including Trinity.
I haven’t spoken to her in weeks, haven’t even seen her since that night I ran away from her in Sogno.
Our gazes meet, and guilt flashes over her expression.
“As many of you are aware,” Henry continues, “numerous deaths within New Manhattan have been attributed to the presence of the infected in the last few weeks.”
I shift on my feet, still clinging to Domino. In fact, there have been two more incidents since the night at Sogno, and we’ve been subjected to more Extinguisher presence than ever.
“House Aria has been developing a new tool to help root out infected Keepers, and we’ve been asked to let them test it on all of you today.”
Henry’s expression makes it clear what he thinks of this request.
The Extinguishers pass through our line and turn to face us, while the E-squad spreads around them.
Lieutenant Dire steps forward and holds up a small device with a screen.
“It’s very simple,” he says in a rough voice.
“We’ll be drawing a small sample of your blood to be scanned by the meter.
It tests for the presence of the infection.
We’ve performed some trials on several test groups, and the results have been nearly perfect so far. ”
He smiles, though there is no warmth in it. “Please form three lines, and we’ll get started.”
My heart was already racing, but now it’s pounding so hard that I feel like I’m underwater. What are Rook and I going to do?
But it’s already too late. An Extinguisher has approached Rook with the device. He grabs Rook’s wrist and presses a knob at the top to the tip of Rook’s finger. Rook winces, and my breath stops as I wait for impending disaster.
Everyone falls silent as we watch. They’re all horrified; I can tell by the tension in the air. And they don’t even know how much danger he’s in. The device whirs and beeps a few times, and then a green light flashes on the screen.
“Clear,” the Extinguisher announces, and I exhale the heavy breath lodged in my chest.
Rook’s gaze meets mine, and he blinks. I’m not sure what just happened, but I nearly collapse in relief.
The Extinguishers continue, while I wait in anticipation. Just because Rook passed doesn’t mean I’ll have the same result. I hold my breath as Lieutenant Dire gestures with a crooked finger for me to approach.
My knees have locked, but I force myself toward him and hold out my hand. He presses the device to my finger, and I feel the prick as the needle pierces my skin. I concentrate on breathing, trying not to faint. Thinking noninfected thoughts.
A few seconds pass as Dire looks at the screen, and then . . . it flashes green. I nearly laugh with relief.
I shuffle back, catching sight of Trinity, noticing a strange look pass over her face.
Our eyes meet, and she gives me a small, uncertain smile. I nod, then find my place next to Domino until everyone has been tested. Thankfully, everyone passes with a green light. I don’t think I could bear to watch another person taken away.
Henry stands before us again. “With that done, we can begin,” he says, eyeing up the Extinguishers with barely veiled distaste. I’m not sure if they notice. He pulls out the tablet tucked under his arm and taps the screen. “Rook Athira, you’re up first!”
We’re all arranged in a line, with Rook at the head. I wish I could tell him good luck. As Henry checks us all off, the other Storm Guards disperse into the trees to keep an eye on us during the exam.
I wait for the Extinguishers to leave, but instead, they follow the Breakers into the trees along with their student recruits.
I watch Trinity disappear into the bush, angry that they’re staying to observe.
They already tested us. This is just to assert their dominance and scare us. They’re nothing but a bunch of bullies.
I look up at the net of Spark buzzing overhead.
Now I’ll have to be extra careful out there.
I watch the back of Rook’s head from where I find myself about halfway down the line.
He looks over his shoulder and winks, giving me a cocky smile.
He must also be feeling the stress of the Extinguishers’ presence, but he’s hiding it well.
Or maybe he’s just that confident. I take comfort in it, allowing his self-assurance to seep into my watery nerves. If he can be brave, then so can I.
I put the rest out of my mind. Qualifying for second year is my first priority.
Next, I search for Domino closer to the end of the line. We nod to each other, firming up our resolve.
Henry sets a timer on his watch and signals to Rook.
“You’ll go every two minutes on the minute!” Henry shouts, and then he counts Rook into the course.
“Three, two, one . . .”
He’s off. Rook disappears into the trees at a full clip, the rustle of leaves signaling his flight until the forest goes silent except for our soft breaths and the sound of the wind.
“Next!” Henry shouts, and the line shuffles forward. “All good?” he asks when I reach the front.
I nod with a sharp dip of my chin. “I’m ready.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Raine would be so proud of you,” he says, and I wish that didn’t make me want to cry. “Ready!” he shouts. “Set! Go!”
And then I’m off.
I race through the trees, following the markers down a narrow, shaded path. My first stop is a tower a few handspans wide, adorned with metal rungs. I climb up, one hand over the other, to reach a rope attached to a beam running across a wide space.
I can’t help but think of my Society test, when two innocent people were nearly killed in these very trees. I wonder what ever became of them and hope they’re safe.
But I need to focus.
I empty my mind of all thoughts but me and the obstacles in my path.
I grab the rope and swing, kicking my feet out and landing on the far platform with plenty of room.
The act has the effect of clearing my mind and shifting me into focus.
I push the Extinguishers and my House test, and even Rook, from my thoughts.
Next, I reach a set of rings hanging from a rope dangling high above the ground.
I grab the first and then swing down and begin the arduous task of lurching across.
It’s hard work, but it’s also not as daunting as I thought.
It’s my first chance to marvel at how strong I’ve become over the past few months.
Still, as I reach the three-quarter mark, my shoulders scream and my arms ache.
If I fall, I probably wouldn’t die, but I would likely break an ankle, which I guess is kind of the point.
I notice someone lurking in the bushes under the trees: a woman with tanned skin and a long red braid, woven with plum-colored strands.
Her shiny purple harness tells me it’s one of the Breakers keeping an eye on us.
Again, I clear the next platform to reach another climbing pole.
When I reach the bottom, the route feeds me through a tight path, bordered by dense bushes, before I come upon a small corner of a lake with a balance beam stretching across it. The net above my head buzzes, and somewhere off to my right, the first burst of Spark strikes.
It spears down, and I listen for the sound of anything to suggest someone was hit. When nothing happens, I breathe out a sigh of relief, mostly worried about Domino, Journey, and Rook.
I hop onto the beam and, with my arms out, lightly step across, maintaining my balance. It’s surprisingly simple given everything, and I hop down, running to the next pole, which finds me at another ladder leading into the trees.
My confidence wanes when I spy the obstacle before me.
A long, narrow platform stretches ahead with less than a few feet of space between the planks and the electricity net hovering above it.
The goal is clearly to shimmy across without breaching the barrier.
I wonder if anyone has been blitzed, but I don’t notice any charred bodies nearby. Hopefully, that’s a good sign.
I drop down on my hands and knees and then realize my ponytail will cause an issue. I yank it out and quickly braid it tightly so it hangs down over my shoulder. Then I flatten myself to my stomach. There is only a hairbreadth of distance between me and the Spark waiting to expose my lies.
Fuck, this is going to be tight. Slowly, using my fingertips, I drag myself forward, focusing on keeping my stomach and hips pressed to the surface. I lay my head down as my cheek scrapes along the wooden plank.
With my hands stretched out in front of me, I scoot forward and then slowly inch my way across, using the toes of my boots for leverage.
The sun is rising over the park, burning through the morning clouds.
A bead of sweat slides down my temple as I stop to rest. The low drone of the net buzzes in my ears like a siren’s song luring me to jagged rocks.
The sound intensifies, the frequency pitching up. I whimper, sure it’s a sign that the net is about to discharge. What if it decides this would be a good spot? A strike hits in the distance, and someone screams. I yelp and twitch, trying not to jump and touch the net.
A moment later, everything goes silent, save the low drone of Spark.
I don’t dare lift my head to check my progress, but I gauge that I’m about halfway across. Another reach of my fingertips and I drag myself farther with a series of heavy grunts and pants.
I anchor my toe into the wood and wince as my palm snags on a splinter. Something else catches near my eye, and I resist the urge to brush it away, blinking rapidly through my watering vision.
Bit by bit, I inch my way across until I’m almost at the end.
When I have just a foot or two left, I collapse onto the wood to catch my breath, praying this is the hardest part of the course. Probably not.
When I’m ready, I lurch another few inches just as the buzzing intensifies again. I don’t know why, but some instinct tells me it’s coming for me.
With every ounce of strength I can summon, I drag myself through to the end, jumping up as I clear the net. A blast of energy strikes the very spot I was lying, catching my foot.
I don’t scream. Instead, I launch myself behind a tree and stamp out the sparks climbing up my leg, hitting and swatting myself until they’re doused.
That’s when I notice a movement in the bushes.
A dark shape shifting and then retreating.
A flash of red hair.
I think.
I hold still, hoping I just imagined it.
My muscles seize, my heart pounding up my throat.
Was someone there? An Extinguisher?
Or the Breaker I saw earlier?
Did they see?