Chapter 59
I stand still for several more seconds, focused on the same spot. Maybe waiting for the Extinguishers to burst through the trees.
When I see no other movement, I tell myself it was nothing. I hope.
I don’t have time to dwell on it.
I climb down the pole and then wind along another path, twisting and turning, before I happen upon another lake with a bridge running across.
A blast of Spark has already severed it about a third of the way down, where the planks smoke with embers.
I’ll have no option but to jump. Thanks to the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I barely feel a thing as I stomp across the bridge and then leap, landing on the other side before running again.
I become dimly aware of a telltale flicker overhead. It’s too far to hear the increased buzzing, but premonition tells me the net is preparing to release again. I pick up my pace just as a bright line peels off the net and strikes the bridge almost directly in front of me.
I scream, trying to dodge it. The only thing I accomplish is losing my balance, going over the edge, and plunging into the lake as icy water fills my mouth, my nose, my boots.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I kick and flail, bursting through the surface, grabbing onto a piece of debris. As I catch my breath, I start floating away. The bridge smolders and smokes, tiny flames licking at the edges.
It takes me a moment to remember that if I go off course, I’ll be disqualified. I don’t know where the boundary ends, but I’m not taking any chances. I kick against the water, my boots heavy and dragging, but I can’t take them off. I still need them to complete the exam.
The bridge continues to smolder where the energy hit, so I maneuver away. I consider floating to the far shore, but not only would that take longer, I don’t know if that’s against the rules. It’s too big a risk.
I grab on to the edge of the bridge, but with no handrails, there’s nothing to use for leverage but the slippery planks. I heave a waterlogged leg over the edge, followed by the other, eventually rolling onto my back.
The net above me flickers, almost like it’s laughing.
Or I really am losing my mind. Nevertheless, some part of me registers that if I remain still too long, I’m a sitting target.
With a groan, I roll over onto my hands and knees and then force myself up. The same ankle that I twisted a few months ago throbs as I take a step. I must have reinjured it. Pushing past the pain, I lope to the end of the bridge, then dive into the trees once again.
For a short while, the path continues, skirting around a fountain that’s been smashed apart. I quickly scurry past, reasoning that I’ll be safer from Spark within the trees.
Up ahead, the forest parts to reveal an open field. At the far end, I spot several people shouting and clapping, and I choke out a sob of relief.
But that relief is short-lived when I spot several Extinguishers waiting with the finishers.
I think back to the moment I was hit.
Did I see a person? Did they see me?
I can’t get that flash of someone out of my mind.
I slow down as everyone cheers. Rook is watching me with a line between his brows. He can tell something is wrong, but I can’t warn him.
I limp toward the finish line, focused solely on Rook’s worried face.
If I’m about to be taken, I want this to be the last thing I see.
I pass over the line to a chorus of cheers, holding my breath.
But nothing happens. The Extinguishers are talking among themselves while the E-squad is busy horsing around. Rook embraces me, and I squeeze him back, pressing my face to his chest.
I don’t care who sees us anymore.
“Are you okay?” he whispers, framing my face with his hands.
“I don’t know. I have to tell you something after.” He gives me a quizzical look, but I shake my head imperceptibly. “Later.”
Not only is there the question of whether someone saw me or not, but there’s the added puzzle of us both fooling the Extinguishers’ new contraption.
Something isn’t adding up.
We both face the finish line and wait for everyone else to arrive. When Domino and Journey both cross, we give each other hugs and high fives, and I even get some congratulations from my former Fiama and new House Aria colleagues.
Storm Guard over Society. That’s what Henry promised.
We are becoming a team, slowly but surely, and I try to muster excitement, but my stomach is churning. I notice the same Breaker I spotted during the course, her bright red hair glowing in the sunlight. I try to catch her eye, but she doesn’t look my way.
“Cadets!” Henry shouts after everyone finishes. “Well done! Every single one of you made it. It’s been years since the Storm Guard had a full class complete the course.”
Everyone else cheers at that, and he grins, giving us a moment to savor this victory.
When we’ve all quieted, he holds up his tablet. “And for our winners.”
Everyone shares nervous glances around the circle.
I have no idea how my time stacked up. I wasn’t the fastest, but it’s clear from everyone’s haggard state that I wasn’t the only one who struggled today.
One girl’s hair is still smoking, a few people are soaking wet, and others nurse bruised knees and elbows.
He goes on to name the top three rankings from Fiama, Asale, and Tera. There’s a lot of cheering and back slapping. Smiles and congratulations.
“And finally, Aria,” he says. “In third place with thirty-one minutes and forty-three seconds . . . we have Poet Graves!”
I’m so shocked that I don’t register my name at first, but Domino and Journey are both hugging me. Everyone else joins in as Henry gestures me up to the front. I approach, and he grins as he holds out his hand.
“I knew you had the Graves’ Storm Guard gene in you,” he says with a wink. Then he peers at me. “Are you okay?”
“Sure,” I say, still conscious of the Extinguishers intruding on our celebration.
“Okay, well done,” Henry says, gesturing for me to stand to the side as he consults his tablet again.
“In second place with a time of twenty-nine minutes and twelve seconds, we have . . . Domino Parsons!”
Domino shrieks, and I shriek, too, as she runs over and tosses her arms around my neck.
“Ahhh!” I shout, lifting her and spinning her in a circle while she screams. “You’re amazing.”
When I set her down, Henry shakes her hand and offers some praise before consulting his tablet again.
“And in first place, with an Amery record–breaking time of twenty-five minutes and fourteen seconds, we have Rook Athira!”
A chorus of cheers goes up, and Rook blinks, slowly unfolding his arms before he shakes his head and saunters over. His posture is casual and collected, but I can read his shock in the set of his shoulders. I think I’m learning to understand his body’s cues.
He cocks a half smile as Henry vigorously shakes his hand.
“Well done,” he says. “I’ve never seen someone run like that.” He slaps Rook on the shoulder and then the back, and Henry looks like he’s about to burst with pride. It’s not lost on me that three of Society’s outcasts were the fastest. I have no idea how I managed to do that.
But for now, everyone is happy for us.
“Not only have you all won yourself a place in second-year training,” Henry says, “but you’ll be honored at the graduation ball by The Shield themselves with a special token of your achievement.”
While everyone celebrates, I summon a smile for the others’ sakes and try to look happy about it.
After all, I just scored a spot in second-year training.
This is what I’ve always wanted.
As another round of congratulations ensues, I shift on my feet, uncomfortably aware that someone saw me. The longer I sit with the thought, the more I’m sure of it.
I scan our surroundings, searching for a clue.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and I jump, only to find Trinity smiling at me. Her red hair is pulled back into a high knot, and her gray eyes are searching.
“Well done,” she says. “And congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I say. “How have you been?”
“Good.” She pauses before she draws me into a long hug. “I’m proud of you.”
Then she pulls back, studies my face with a tight smile, turns around, and walks away.