Page 11 of The Divide that Binds Us

It takes a few hours to inspect the whole cave twice, but all I find are dead animals to throw out.I walk twenty minutes to the closest deli for a break before returning.I don’t need to go for a third time but decide to anyway.

Halfway through the inspection, tiny rocks crumbling bounce off the walls.I pause and wait.Nothing.I move and hear it again.

I walk faster.The crumbling of rocks is louder.Light flickers from outside the cave, partially giving shape to the stranger.I push through the burning in my calves and run faster, reaching out to catch some clothing.The stranger trips and launches headfirst into the gravel.I drag them by the arm to the entrance of the cave and into the remaining daylight.

She sits up and gets to her feet.She’s a little shorter than me but taller than Sophie.Her eyes are painfully lime green, popping from her shiny hazel skin, and she’s rocking an indigo mohawk.Her forehead is bleeding from the fall.

“Who are you?And what are you doing in this cave?”I ask, catching my breath.

Her right forearm flashes white through her tattered clothes, showing the intricate designs that form her Trace Mark.

“Ever heard of a homeless person?Or are you as stuck up as you look?”she asks, rolling her eyes.“I thought the Elites were nicer people.”

Hot, rippling irritation courses through me.“You’re lucky it was me and not Ultima!I’ll ask you again: who are you, and what were you doing in this cave?”

She frowns and sits back on the ground with her arms crossed.

“It’s either me or you can answer to the Guards,” I warn, holding up my pager.

The girl’s eyes widen as a stream of blood trickles down the bridge of her nose.She holds up her hands.

“Okay, okay!I’ll talk.Just ...please don’t call the Guards,” she says.“PLEASE.”

Her eyes flicker with urgency, spreading into rigid desperation from the tightness in her mouth.

“Fine.”I kneel in front of her, hovering my hand over her face.She wrinkles her nose and tries to cringe away.“Relax.”

The white magic pools from my hand, flowing in small waves toward the girl’s wound until it closes and leaves no trace.When I move away, she slowly brings her hand to her head and gasps.

“Th-thanks,” she mumbles, giving me the side-eye.“What’re you gonna do to this cave?”

I look at the sun making pink streaks in the orange sky before turning back to the stranger.

And then, I see a girl with mud smeared on her face—her clothes dirty from ash and dirt.Her hair is black and matted together with leaves and sticks.The apparition sits beside the cave squatter, but I blink and she disappears.

“Answer my question first,” I demand.“Who are you?”

“Fae,” she replies.Her emerald eyes are shifty as she plays with a piece of fabric from her sleeve.

“I’m Alice Reid.Special Agent of the Elite Organization.What were you doing in the cave?Are you in need of assistance with shelter?I can escort you to the nearest one.”

“No, I was just hanging.I should go.”

Fae stands upright when I step in her path, crossing my arms.

I raise an eyebrow.“Why’d you ask about the cave if you were ‘just hanging?’”

Her shoulders sag as she steps back, still tugging on loose fabric.I notice something glinting on her chest and stare at the rhombus-shaped, sapphire gem hanging from a black string.

“Is that your necklace?”I ask.She nods.“Is thatreallyyours?”

“You ask too many questions,” she grumbles, but she straightens up when I grimace.“It’s mine.When I woke up from being Traced, this was around my neck.All I know is how to activate it when I really need it, but I don’t know which Superior Traced me.”

I tap my foot, tightening my crossed arms.“And the cave?”

“It’s just a cave.”A wobbly laugh slips through Fae’s chapped lips.Her eyes dart in every direction but at me.

I pull out the pager to call for a carriage.Fae finally looks at me, mouth opening with a kaleidoscope of expressions.The one I capture the most from her trembling stare is fear.

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