Page 117 of The Divide that Binds Us

“Still haven’t found anything that could help him?”I ask.

“No, we’ve prayed to the Superiors countless times with no answers.It’s refreshing when the real him comes through,” she explains, waving her hand dismissively.“Not making excuses, but whatever.Going to Wave Riding Season today?”

“Yeah, but Azul doesn’t know.It’s supposed to be you and her keeping watching of the area,” I explain.Rachel tilts her head.“I’m only going because I’m suspicious Mildred may be up to something while she’s there.”

“Gotcha.Well, I’ll look the other way if I see you and keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”Her eyes glow vibrantly in sync with the spiky swirls that form into her Trace Mark against her silky skin.“A little danger never scared me.”

Mildred should be expectingus, all part of the plan.As long as we act the part.

Rachel left to meet up with Azul and texted us when they were at Central Square, so Billie and I can get a move on it.

The forty-minute bus ride to even stop within two miles of Central Square is exhausting because traffic is choked, pedestrians are everywhere, and detours are wild because of the streets I destroyed.The dirty looks the whole ride is a nice warm reminder of my recklessness, along with thiscuteankle bracelet.

Despite the world dying, the sun has managed to roast us one last time before summer ends.Sweat drips down my back crack as we shuffle through the wading crowd all herding toward Central Square.The swelling around my ankle pushes against the monitor until I trip into a limp the rest of the way.

“Almost there,” Billie murmurs, popping in a stick of gum.

“Why the hell is it so hot?”I grunt.

Billie scoffs but chokes on her gum.She spits it out and tries to recover with a sassy imaginary hair flip since hers is currently knotted in a bun.“This kinda heat is nothing!Totally fine!”

I hold onto Billie as someone pops off confetti while we’re moving in this massive group, stopping every so often at an intersection to cross.Horns are honking all down the street for various reasons: a taxi driver signaling someone that they’ve arrived.An angry driver with massive road rage blaring their horn when a kid abruptly runs on the crosswalk.Someone honks when the light turns green but the car in front of them doesn’t move—it’s such a mess; I hate the island during this time of year.Can’t believe despite the world dying, people still aren’t taking it easy and conserving.We don’t deserve Zeala.

The rest of the walk is a long stretch that usually functions as a bike path, but it’s flooded with walkers who parked five blocks away to get a spot and see the opening with Water Superior Wyatt there.We reach the arch bridge which brings Central Square into full view.

Rachel is waiting by the bridge, arms crossed and grinning.

“H-Hey!”Billie says.“Where’s Azul?”

“Further up ahead; I told her I wanted to watch the traffic here to see if I notice anything strange.”Rachel jerks her head toward the bridge.She joins us on the walk over the canal, but already looks uneasy, scratching her arm.“Huh, now something doesn’t feel right.”

We step off the bridge and continue melting into the herds of people as bright-red banners of Garnet Island flags line up across the whole venue.

“That’s why we’re here,” I reply.Billie links her arm with mine as we’re weaving through everyone.It’s hot, crowded, and smells of must mixed with tea no matter where I turn.“Let’s spread out and see if we can find anyone with A’s carved on their hands.”

Even with the heat, Rachel’s arms are littered with goosebumps as she tries to rub them away.She bites her lip and nods.

“Sounds...good,” she says.“Central Square reeks of danger.”

I look up the large podium and that guy from Remington’s estate, Roon is in the middle of a speech we walked into.Most people are looking up, nodding, praying, whispering, or shouting in agreement with his statements as he calls for the riders to mount their dragons.Some have started passing around cups of tea to each other with slight bows of gratitude.I spot Azul from afar, but duck away and try to hide behind people in case she looks in my direction.The damage is done, but I don’t want to be spotted just yet.

Water Superior Wyatt is here, but I have no interest in meeting him.I’m sure the Superiors hate me.

The group is scattered far now, each at different sections of Central Square, inspecting their surroundings for anything unusual.I notice someone wearing a hat and keeping their head down by the fruit stand, but by the time I reach them, they hastily move onto another area.I stay positioned at the stand since no one is trying to buy anything.My heart pulsates in my chest, ready for impending doom to surface through the cracks of these people’s found happiness.A few purposely bang into my shoulder as they pass by.Other citizens scowl at me and call me obscene names under their breaths.One child has been frowning at me since I got here.

My reputation is ruined, so I have to roll with the punches.

One odd thing is...where’s King Remington?Where’s Mildred?

Rachel is rushing through the bodies with eyes glowing so red that when she waves her arms in the air, her Trace Mark glows the same.Her goosebumps look like hives now, all over her arms, her neck, even her face.She’s having a major breakout.

“Alice!”

I tear my eyes away from Rachel to find the voice.Was that Rio?

Gunshots echo sharply before an ill-timed reaction of screams and people moving in a cluster.The lady who was overseeing the fruit stand knocked all her fruit bowls over and booked it toward the bridge.

I push through citizens to heal the ones fallen over and bleeding with my shield surrounding us, so people bounce off somewhere else instead of trying to run us over.Cups of tea explode everywhere in scalding steam as people scream from burns and hysteria.I skip through the crowd and find an elderly man with a gash in his head slumped against the fountain.He barely looks conscious, but I still heal the wound and shout for someone to help him off the bridge.I look up and make eye contact with Azul, her face shows nothing but worry, but we nod in acknowledgement at each other as she continues ushering people onto the bridge.I make it through a few more people before that familiar anxious creep wiggles up my spine.

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