“Take a minute, but you need to go soon,” Zavy says when she reads the fear on my face. They both leave the clearing and I watch Zavy climb high into a tree just over the bunker lid.
I reach into my bag and pull out my mother’s journal. I lift its worn cover and turn to the page where I left off. Again the words appear to form down the parchment as if my mother is writing them now.
The next step you need to take is getting to freedom. I have seen so many wonderful things happen for you, but I’m afraid if I let you know it might interfere with how they eventually turn out. I want to let you know that you were very right in going to Libertas. There you will find freedom and so much more. Just like any other adventure, you will run into more obstacles that will challenge you, and force you to use your gift.
Adaline, you need to be careful about how often you use your gift. As you have just witnessed if you overuse your gift you will freeze up and be incapable of moving. The biggest risk you face is that there is a large chance that you can't regain movement. Also, I’m sure you know now that you can transport people to places you want them to go. However, this only works if you know what the place looks like. I could explain everything you need to know about your gift, but I’m afraid it’ll overwhelm you. Make sure Alexander gets this information as well. Pace yourself, Adaline. It’ll all be okay.
The words end and my mother cuts me off again. I close the journal and place it back in my bag. Reading it always seems to leave an empty hole inside. I know it’s because I would much rather have my mother actually here with me to help me through this. I still can’t get myself to be okay with her or my brother’s death. I know I need to move into the bunker, so slowly I pull myself to my feet. As I walk across the clearing I take in as much fresh air as I can. When I descend into the hole I pull the lid closed and lock it. I stand on the ladder for a bit and have to convince myself that I’m not truly locked in. I can still get out. When I’m convinced I continue down the ladder and scan the bunker.
Alexander is lying in his bed. I can catch the light of the candle reflecting on his eyes. I don’t say anything to him though, and he says nothing to me. I go over to my bed and crawl under the covers, feeling dirty in the clean linens. I bring my knees to my chest and hold myself there in a tight ball. My heart feels like it’s been smashed to pieces. I’ve not only lost all of my family but possibly even my best friend.
I lay here for around an hour and nothing has changed. I roll onto my back and I stare up at the ceiling of the bunker. The stone has small sparkles in it, dusted across its surface. The glowing candles make the shinny flakes dance, and it’s as if we have our own sky of stars above us. But even the fake shining stars can’t make me feel better. I don’t know what to do. My life feels like it’s crumbling apart again. The ceiling begins to blur as more tears begin to stream down my face. I don’t hold them back this time. I just keep letting them come.
I hear Alexander shuffling and the next thing I know he’s by my side. He takes his arm and wraps it around my shoulders.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” he asks as we look up at the sparking ceiling stars together.
“Incredible, and breathtaking,” I say through the tears.
“Just like you,” he whispers. I turn my head and look at him, our eyes meeting just inches from each other. He takes his thumb and gently wipes away the tears on my cheek.
Suddenly Alexander leans in kisses me lightly on the forehead, and I’m overcome by a swelling in the pit of my stomach.
He pulls away and says, “Thank you for saving me.”
“You’re not mad?” I ask, wondering what changed his mind.
“No, I can’t believe I was just about to hand myself over to Paylon. I’ve done a lot of stupid things, but that would have topped them all.” I feel his arms wrap around me as he holds me tighter. “Adaline, promise me you’ll never leave me. I can’t lose you again,” Alexander whispers.
“I promise.”
I don’t know what time it is when I wake up, but I do know that it is as painful as it was when I woke up on the forest floor. Slowly I roll to my side and come inches from Alexander’s face. This is the first time in a while that I’ve gotten a good look at him.
He’s relit the candles and it’s easy to see the dried tear stains on his cheeks. His face is completely washed of color and his brilliant green eyes are like none I’ve ever seen. In the blacks of his pupils, I can see my own reflection and I don’t look much better.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” he mumbles as he drops his eyes from mine. He starts to move away, but I place my hand on his shoulder and pull him back toward me.
“No, you didn’t,” I choke out, and I’m surprised at how my broken voice sounds.
“So, you didn’t come back to camp until late last night. Where’d you go?”
