43
The following day is full of speculation. Everyone heard the sirens last night, but no one has any idea what they mean. I keep checking the news cycle to see if The Shield has issued a statement, but so far, they’re being quiet.
“He must have woken up by now,” Rook says, referring to Captain Dire as we eat breakfast in a secluded corner of the cafeteria with Domino and Journey, keeping our voices low.
“I doubt he remembers anything. He was in rough shape,” Journey says.
“We returned his keys,” I say. “He has no reason to think they were ever missing.”
“Someone will figure out his key was used,” Rook points out. “It’s only a matter of time.” He glances at the phone in my hand. “Still nothing?”
I refresh all the usual sites, but there’s still no mention of the break-in or Edward.
“They’ll have to say something,” I say. “Everyone heard the sirens.”
“Maybe,” Rook says, frowning. “But if they admit Edward is missing, that means admitting he was detained in the first place.”
“When can you talk to him?” Domino asks, and I shake my head.
“No idea. We’ll wait for Henry to reach out.”
I think about Mrs. Chu and wonder, not for the first time, what she’s been told about her son’s whereabouts. She must be beside herself with worry. Maybe I should go and visit her, but what would I say? I wish there was something I could do.
I look up to note several E-squad recruits entering the cafeteria.
Among them are Ruby, Brick, and Trinity.
They look mostly fine, though I notice Brick is sporting a black eye and Ruby has a bandage around her wrist. I wonder if they have any idea who attacked them last night.
It was dark, and they were caught by surprise.
The only giveaways might have been our height and the general shape of our bodies, but we could have been anyone.
Hopefully.
Trinity looks over, and her gaze meets mine. I’m not sure what I read there. They must know Edward was freed. Were they told why he was being kept under lock and key? I can’t believe she acted as his jailer. Does she have any conscience left at all?
A chime draws everyone’s attention to our phones as The Shield’s early-morning pledge begins. We all fall silent as we listen to the reminders of our duty to Society and the importance of our Houses. The sanctity of maintaining order and the importance of everyone in New Manhattan in our world.
I hear what they aren’t saying now.
The lies between their partial truths.
Their words are tainted, stained with toxic residue.
I imagine I can feel their promises peeling apart, dissolving into piles of jumbled letters that mean nothing anymore.
But today’s missive doesn’t stop with the usual messages.
Today, there’s something else.
“The Shield understands there is increasing unrest within our borders and that we are feeling the effects of numerous external pressures. Solitude attacks have been increasing around our perimeter. The sirens you heard last night were due to a concentrated assault that nearly resulted in an invasion of the Citadel.”
A worried chorus of whispers circles the room as Rook and I share a glance, and he shakes his head. More lies. More poison dripped into our ears.
“When tensions are high, everyone is quicker to react. We want to remind you that we are here for you. That your scions are here for you, and now more than ever, it is important to look to your leaders.
“We are working diligently to stamp out all threats, both external and internal. To help ensure our city’s safety, we are creating the Border Brigade, a new entity tasked with protecting us from outsiders. Additionally, we will be adding more Extinguishers to mitigate further Keeper attacks.
“To facilitate these new endeavors, every citizen in New Manhattan is invited to apply for either the E-squad or the Brigade, where you will undergo accelerated training at the Citadel to see you join the front lines as soon as possible.
“If you’ve ever worried for your safety or been affected by the threats that compromise the sanctity of our world, then it is your duty to pick up the gauntlet and help defend what is ours.”
Our phones fall silent, and I stare at my screen as it goes dark, unable to believe what I just heard. They’re allowing anyone to join? No more House lines? No more Society versus everyone else?
Slowly, conversations resume, and I can tell from the looks on everyone’s faces that they’re just as surprised as I am. No one understands what this means.
But I think I do.
They’re lying about Solitude threats to scare us—to make it seem like we’re always on the brink of attack.
The Shield will double or triple the number of Extinguishers, ensuring more manpower to capture innocent people.
The lines of our world were carefully drawn and established to benefit those holding the pencils.
But something is breaking down.
And it’s time to rewrite everything.
I look up at my friends, my gaze falling on Rook.
“What does this mean?” Journey asks. “This is strange, right?”
We all nod.
“It means they’re scared of something,” Rook says. “And we have to find out what.”