Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
I follow Clara’s gaze and find that she is staring at the balcony across the way.
Which is empty.
That’s where Finn should be. Well, that’s where Aldo should be if things were going to plan around here.
But things are not going to plan.
At least not for the Scott family.
And they might never go to plan again if the Rebellion has anything to say about it.
As soon as the clapping stops, the music starts again, signaling the second dance. This time, no partners. It’s just us. And now that I can put Donal fully out of my mind and concentrate on my moment, and my friends, and my good fortune—that’s what I do.
I dance, and I smile, and I laugh.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Little Sister solo dance goes on for another five minutes, but finally Finn appears on his balcony and announces the true start of the gala and everyone down on the floor, even the spectators in back, starts dancing.
This is our cue to descend the staircase like the proper Maidens we are and mingle, so that’s what we do. I spend the whole time looking for Finn. I need an update on Aldo.
But he’s missing again and without him, I’m adrift. I have no interest in this ball. I only had a vague interest in it before I learned about Aldo. More of a curiosity, really—wanting to get a glimpse of the next generation, I guess. But now, I just want to get the hell out of here.
I look around, trying to gauge how much negative attention it would draw if I slipped out and didn’t tell anyone.
I don’t know. If all nine of us Maidens were here, like it usually happens during these Choosing celebrations, no one would notice. But there are only three of us left and every time my gaze wanders around the crowd I find several sets of eyeballs trained right on me. People who raise their glasses of bubbly drink and give me a toast and a smile—for moral support, I suppose.
Still, I am determined to try. Because there is something really gross about being at this party while Aldo is in the health center, hurt. Possibly dying.
I walk quickly towards the nearest exit and slip outside before I can change my mind. When I come out into the cold night air, I pause to take a breath and get my bearings. I’m on the north side of the God’s Tower event center, so I go right, heading for the bridge that leads over to the Extraction District. That’s the health center Aldo would be at because that’s his district.
I’m just about to step onto the bridge when I see two men coming towards me. I don’t immediately recognize them because it’s dark and there are shadows dancing on their faces from the spark lampposts that line the bridge on either side, so I just watch for a few seconds until I realize it’s Jeyk and Mitchell, Finn’s best friends.
A sigh of relief rushes out of my mouth with my words. “Where’s Finn? I’ve been looking for him. Is he over there?” I nod my head in the direction of the Extraction District.
They don’t say anything. Just pause in the middle of the bridge and stare at me.
“No.” I start shaking my head. Because this silence is a sign of something bad coming. “No.” I say it again.
My eyes dart to their faces and I suddenly feel weak as a sick, sinking feeling builds in my gut. They start running towards me and both sets of hands catch me when I crumple to the ground. I don’t faint. I wish I did, because then I’d be unconscious and time would stop, and I would not have to face the truth. At least not yet.
But my weakness was not a precursor to some fade-to-black moment and the only way forward is with the truth. “What happened? Tell me.” I plead with my hands as both Jeyk and Mitchell continue to hold me up. “Tell me. Right now.”
They look at each other. Then down at me. Mitchell is the one who answers. “He’s… gone, Clara. And Finn—”
“No!” I yell this. “No! That’s not what’s happening. I just saw Aldo yesterday.”
Jeyk takes a step forward, putting his hand on my bare shoulder. “Finn wants you to go home. He sent us to escort you home.”
Time begins to slow and then, somehow, it just stops and the world around me suddenly ceases to exist. A sort of black tunnel forms in my field of vision as my mind spins with the truth. But I am unable to process it. Everything was fine this afternoon. Finn and I were trysting in his quarters. Aldo was fine. The world was fine. And now… it’s not.
And I don’t know what to do with this information.