Page 147 of The Order

“I think there are others out there, but there's a reason they haven't come this way in a long time.”

“And the intercom systems blaring that crazy voice?” she adds. “You think that was really just a prank?”

That voice. That damned voice was clear as day in Forest’s mind. How had he gotten in?

“Does it matter?” I question. “The ward was created to keep us in and keep everything else out.” My hands fidget with my bag. She shakes her head at me.

“Why would they keep us away from other people out there?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I say, glancing at the time on my watch.

“We’d better get going-”

“Do you trust her?” Valerie asks, cutting me off before I can finish. “Do you trust Forest?” she pushes, my hand dropping to my side.

I expect more from her. Maybe another snide remark. Instead, she stands still, waiting for me to respond.

“Do I trust Forest?”

She nods, leaving me with no way to avoid answering her this time.

I pause, thinking of every interaction we’ve ever shared. Every time she’s come to me, she’s gained nothing from it. All she’s ever wanted is to explore a connection between us that even I barely understand.

“I do,” I admit. Valerie's body pushes away from the wall.

“I’m glad someone does,” she mutters, pulling her bag close. “Don't forget what happened the last time you trusted a Blackburn… some of us can’t forget,” she whispers, moving away from us and towards the front entrance of the school.

I don’t fault Valerie for how much she hates the Blackburn name. Andrew’s face haunts my mind at night. The things he did changed my life forever and left behind emotional scars that I don’t think will ever heal. His daughter, though, has somehow helped me find some meaning again.

It's ironic how such a great evil could create such a bright light.

Chapter forty-seven

Forest

“Isawit.Isawthem get pushed beyond the ward,” I mutter, forcing my knees to my chest as I stay seated on one of the many mats in the conditioning center.

Fallan pauses, stopping himself from taking another swing toward the bags.

A whole day of school had droned by, ending with me going to the Unfortunate sector the minute I caught wind of my parents staying at work later than expected. The night of the Solstice dinner Xavier apparently offered to take Kai to see the observatory that housed all of the organic matter our scientists had been experimenting with. Given everything that’s been going on the last few days, leaving school early to do something he enjoys was warranted.

My bag was filled with more training gear these days than schoolbooks. To my surprise, I’d instinctively headed to the Unfortunate sector after class, not expecting my legs to carry me here after the draining hours of the school day. With a few kind looks and a lot of concentration, swaying the Officials standing guard to let me in with their IDs had been nothing short of a cakewalk.

My abilities are growing stronger, making me less fatigued after expelling large bursts of energy.

I had nearly made it to my first turn when I saw Officials dragging several Unfortunates to their knees. They wore gray robes and were elderly in the face. Their wrists were bound together as they were pushed around like animals in a slaughterhouse. They were taken all the way to the edge of the broken ward, the Officials taunting them with promises of what was about to happen to them.

“We won’t make it out there,” the man cries, grabbing the Official's pants, begging for support.

All the woman next to him could do was cry, consumed by her fears.

I stood back and watched in horror asmypeople forced the hooded pair past the tear in the ward, threatening to slam their prods deep within their chests if they dared to try and come back into the sector. At a certain point, the prods were replaced with the barrel of a pistol, leaving nothing but the ever-expanding land of ash as the last viable option for escape. Several family members of the two Unfortunates pleaded with the Officials, whaling out their grief as they watched them cross over the ward.

As I finished telling Fallan what happened, I couldn’t help the tears I shed. The cruelty of this place never got any easier. But I felt like a coward right now, believing I could have...shouldhave... done more.

“You couldn’t interfere, Forest,” Fallan says, addressing my solemn expression.

Given his cold attitude these past few days, the last thing I expected was kindness.

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