Page 74 of Abducting Sarah

“Why did they go to Mother Portend’s house?” Sarah asked.

I hesitated a moment, knowing she wouldn’t like the reason. “Jac has been trying to find out why Predict attacked you. I guess his investigation led him there.”

A horrified look passed across Sarah’s features. “It’s me…they want me…don’t they?”

I swallowed hard and nodded, refusing to lie to her about the situation. “That’s what it sounds like.”

“Then, I have to go,” she insisted. “It’s my fault they were out there. This is the only way to save them—”

“Absolutely not!” I shouted.

“I have to!” she yelled right back. “What choice do we have?”

“We have choices,” I assured her. “We are not without friends on Halla, my consort.”

Sarah curled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, as tears flowed down her face.

I reached out and touched her arm, trying to comfort her. “We will save them. I promise you.”

She sniffed hard and nodded but did not respond.

I had no other words for her. Instead, I focused on getting us to my father’s home quickly and safely. But all I could think of was Jac and Sarah. How could I trade one for the other? I wasloyal to my best friend, but also to my consort. They both meant everything to me. There was no clear path forward.

Like the war, all over again.

When we landed next toSovereign, Wave ran out to the ship. She looked awful, angrily pounding on the window.

Sarah asked, “What is she doing?”

“I don’t know.” I knew what she was doing, but it was too much to explain to a civilian. We came out ofAllegiant, and Wave ran to us. Without a word, she slapped me across the face.

In my defense, Sarah jumped on Wave and threw her to the ground, surprising me.

I pulled her off of Wave, who wailed in the dirt, “You weren’t there!”

I crouched next to her and said, “I’m here now.”

I opened my arms and Wave sat up, letting me hold her as she sobbed in dismay. I had seen it in the war, this sort of hysteria brought on by true horror. It made me fear for what Kapok’s fate had been, which I did not want to think about.

Father and the others soon followed and eventually, we made it into his house. Wave croaked out what had happened, and something deep inside of me went numb, preparing for what was to come.

I can’t lose Jac like this.

Ode offered sedation for Wave, but she refused. “When I close my eyes, I see the knife protruding through Kapok’s chest. You think I will ever sleep again, Ode?”

I asked Father, “Who did you call?”

“Bell and Fan,” he said. “But they aren’t answering my call. Offhand has been silent for weeks, but I tried anyway. Mock answered, though. He’s on his way.”

“That’s it?” I asked incredulously, my hopes sinking. “That’s all we have coming to help defend us?”

“No one talks to me anymore,” my father said sadly. “It’s not like the old days, son. After my execution, your mother wasn’t the only one to turn her back on me.”

I growled and punched the wall, startling everyone. The surface didn’t move—instead it bloodied my knuckles and crunched some bones. I didn’t feel a thing.

Ode rushed to me. “Let me see that—”

“I’m fine,” I barked angrily, jerking my arm out of her reach.

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