I look out at the river and can see the heat rising from the water. Now that the sun has fully risen, the temperature on the island has seemed to double. I forgot how hot it gets after being in the cell for so long. I know the temperature rises and falls so drastically as an effect from the asteroid shower, but we don’t experience these temperature differences deep underground in the prison. I know it’s uncontrollable and almost unpredictable when these heat waves will hit. Zavy doesn’t seem too fazed by the sudden wave of hot thick air. I’m sure she’s lived through hotter days than this.
She and I stand and walk out from under our shade canopy and into the hot summer sun. Toby has become very interested in James and Bren and has been shadowing them ever since they came back with that deer. When the group begins to move again he falls in step with them and Zavy and I take up the rear again.
Once we start walking out in the sun I realize how truly scorching hot it is. This must be why we are walking, there’s no way we could run in this heat. Mio was smart to want to walk near the river. It doesn’t conceal us as well. If Paylon or Chadian were waiting in the woods up ahead we’d be easy targets. However, in this heat, the constant source of water will save our lives. Granted the once cool stream is now as warm as bathwater, but water is water. Not only that, but we will have a constant supply of food, whether that be fish or other animals using the river as a drinking source.
As hard as I try to keep my mind occupied with history, the science of the heat waves, nature, and resources it immediately starts to move back to Alexander. He should have reached us by now. We must have been sitting there for a couple of hours while they were hunting. Hours of sitting and having a smoke signal and still he never showed. I can’t help but start thinking of what Paylon might have done if he’d gotten to him. If he knows we killed Codian I don’t think Paylon would have thought twice about returning the favor to Alexander.
“You know it’s only going to drive you crazier to think about him,” Zavy says.
“I know. I just can’t help it,” I say bluntly after I’ve imagined the tenth way Paylon could have killed Alexander if he found him.
Toby runs up and interrupts us and asks, “Zavy are we staying with these people forever?”
Zavy lets out a small laugh and says, “Well, we are both going to the same place. So, for now, we’ll be staying with them. Why?”
“Well, James and Bren said I could help them hunt since I’m an Aeros,” Toby says, his words running together.
“Toby, you told them?” Zavy says shocked, fear coursing through her.
“It’s okay Zavy,” I say gently. “They know we all have gifts. We can trust them.”
Zavy seems to be hesitant, but eventually says, “Okay, just be careful.”
“I will,” Toby responds, and he goes back to walking with James and Bren.
“Are you sure it’s okay to trust them?” she asks.
“I’m positive, Zavy. All of these people gave up their chance to live a normal life. They are taking us to a place where only people with gifts can live,” I say and every time I think of these people risking their lives to go to a place they may be turned away from my stomach sinks deeper. “They may have a chance that they get to live there, but maybe not. I trust them with my life because, honestly, they’re the only reason we’re even going to make it to Libertas.”
“Yeah, I suppose. So, Cooper’s really your brother?” she asks, finally bringing up the subject I’ve been avoiding.
“Yeah, he really is,” I respond simply.
“And you didn’t remember him until now?” Zavy gawks.
“It’s complicated. I need to tell you something, Zavy,” I say as I glance up at her.
“Should I be worried?” Zavy asks, concerned about how serious my tone is.
“Well, I don’t think you’re going to be very happy,” I admit.
“Well, go ahead and tell me,” she says.
“All right,” I hesitate and take in a deep breath before continuing, “My mother had to block my memories of Cooper so that I wouldn’t risk exposing my father’s plan to the guards,” I say finishing the easy factual part of the problem.
“I can understand that. Continue,” Zavy says, knowing there must be more to the story.
“She didn’t exactly block out my memories though. Instead, she put Alexander in place of Cooper in all my memories, and she did the same thing to you. And now that I think about it there are a lot of other people that had to have known Cooper. My mother must have done this to everyone that ever came in contact with him,” I say trying to understand the logistics behind this elaborate plan we are mixed up in.
“Explain?” Zavy asks, trying not to let herself jump to conclusions. I’m surprised she hasn’t completely overreacted to the whole situation.
“Every memory you have with Alexander is actually Cooper. We don’t truly know Alexander. At least, I don’t think I did before this whole mess started. It’s fuzzy, everything before I was in prison. I can’t recall any memories because
