Page 122 of The Divide that Binds Us

Chapter 26

Second Thoughts

Elite: Alice

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We leave the foreston separate paths.Rio says he’ll carefully bolt himself to the station while Fae decides to ride on Poppy.Whatever it takes to make this believable and keep us safe.I run to the station, but of course, I don’t make it in time.Ten minutes of waiting won’t hurt me.

No...I think it will, I need this train to come back, NOW.

This isn’t the closest station from Central Square, so fewer people gather and murmur amongst themselves with tear streaked cheeks.The whole island is bloodied beyond oblivion, it’s like we all got off a horror movie set.

My chest is heaving, my calves are burning, and my throat is scorching from all the miles of running.As I’m waiting, Guards arrive and patrol the station perimeter.I casually maneuver behind a tall man and keep my head down.The Guards must know I’m free, so I need to get out of here.Fae and Rio are nowhere to be seen, but no way did they beat me here (well maybe Rio).

The train finally returns, so I take the chance instead of waiting.As I board through one of the doors, from the corner of my eye, Fae—who’s wearing a ski hat, and Rio wearing silly goggles enter the train through separate doors.We keep our heads down as we step on simultaneously.They wear smirks as they glance from their side view.We did it.

The trains are tight, yet people always manage to cram themselves in for a quick five minutes to get to another island.Every time though, my organs are ready to rupture.The train conductor passes out wet towels for people boarding to help wipe the blood off.

We sit alone to keep attention away from us, plus no one is safe.It’s evident that Mildred has eyes everywhere, but everyone seems distracted from the massacre we’re leaving behind.I scratch my palm to ease my twitching hand and screaming urge to burst from this train and somehow fly myself to Sapphire, because five minutes is taking forever.Whimpers and sobs scatter throughout the train.An event no one will ever forget.

I look at the pale shell of what’s left of Rio Shackler five seats away from me.When the train stops, Fae rushes out with everyone else.I hop a few seats over and smack Rio’s head since he’s still dazed and won’t move.

“Get up,” I hiss.“What’s the matter with you?”

“Can you blame me if I’ve never seen dead bodies before?!”Rio barks, shooting up to his feet.His eyes dart around the disembarking passengers, but no one is paying attention.I roll my eyes and shove by him to step out into the empty, hazy, warzone—I mean train platform.Gray, cloudy skies loom over Sapphire as tall buildings disappear into the fog.

The streets are timeless and quiet with the citizens carrying on a dirt path since there aren’t sidewalks to the station.People chat amongst each other by idling taxis, carriages, or walk.I meet up with Fae who’s waiting a few feet by a vacant gift shop with plush dragons on the display window that have lost their colors and have several layers of dust resting on top.

Rio saunters behind me, as if already poisoned by the mood Sapphire is emitting.I finally take in Fae’s appearance.That strange sapphire necklace is still around her neck, but she looks healthy and whole.

“Wait what happened to that dragon?”I gasp.

Fae holds up her hands.“She’ll be landing any minute now.Her name is Poppy, by the way.She’s so fast now!”

Right on cue, Poppy plops herself next to Fae, shaking the ground despite her tiny size as a baby dragon.Fae scratches Poppy’s neck, much to both their delight before Rio clears his throat with a tight, tensed look of paranoia beaming from his eyes.

“I don’t feel good, and we need to hide somewhere.I can call a taxi,” he offers, staring at me.I shrug but the motion feels like my energy is slipping.Fae nods, prompting Poppy to nod with her.I look back at Rio and he’s still staring at me.He’s losing color on his blood smeared face.

I scowl at him.“What?Are you tapped out?”

“Just a bit, the dragon death didn’t help either,” he says.

“We can stop at a tavern for tea,” Fae says.“The warehouse may be on high alert and expecting one of us right now.”

I shake my head.“Public settings will expose us together.We need tea AND rest.”

The adrenaline dies down, leaving soreness and exhaustion in its wake.My body doesn’t know peace.My goodness, if I fight any more today, I’ll keel over.

“A hotel for the night?”Fae suggests.

“They have hotels here?”I mutter.

She giggles, her green eyes twinkling in the colorless town.“Of course, this place is just like any other island.”

I sigh, looking around and wrinkling my nose.“You sure about that?”

“But will Mildred let loose and kill the dragons?”Rio asks.

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