“I’m a sensor,” she says and nudges Alexander. “Just like you.” Alexander gives a small smile, but the comment, I’m sure, just reminds Alexander that Marin is not his real mother. He didn’t get this gift from her. Marin knows that, but I wonder if she knows that Alexander knows the truth. His father had told him the truth when they worked in the castle, but Marin was long gone before then. She must not know she doesn’t have to keep this secret from him anymore. I’m debating about catching Marin up when she says, “I’m so sorry we had to leave you. You can’t possibly think that it was something we did lightly.” Marin’s face tenses and I can see the regret in her eyes.
“I know. I just wish we could get that time back, you know?” he asks softly
“I know, Alexander. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” We are silent for a second until Marin suddenly asks, “Your memories? Are they fixed?” Alexander and I both shake our heads yes and Marin adds, “That’s good. How’s your mother Adaline?” I look up to her as if what she was asking was a joke, but I can see the sincere concern on her face. She must have no idea what has happened to her, just like Cooper hadn’t known.
“She’s dead,” I say weakly.
“What?” Marin asks, horror spreading across her face.
“We were thrown in prison after my father left us. Seven years passed and on Parting Day she was taken away to be executed. When they executed my mother Titus and I took the opportunity to try to escape, but when we tried Titus was killed. I broke out of the castle that night and ran into Alexander, and you know the story from there.”
“I had no idea, Adaline. Derith never told me that your mother and little brother would die,” Marin says in a weak voice.
“I don’t think he knew,” I say softly, trying to believe that my father wouldn’t send us all to prison knowing we were going to die. “But I think my mother knew,” I add. I pause and then ask, “What do you think happened to my father? You washed up here, but could he have survived?” The question makes my stomach turn in knots. I wish I would stop asking if he was alive, because I know deep down he’s not.
She’s quiet for a second before saying, “Adaline there’s no way he would have survived that. When the creatures attacked us we were completely knocked off course. I was washed up here, but simply by luck because we were so close to the island when the boat finally gave in. Libertas would be much too far away to drift to. I’ve had to accept that for a long time, Adaline.”
“I’ve had to accept he was dead a long time ago too, Marin. It just never seems real,” I add. We are all quiet for a moment longer until we come through the edge of the woods and our feet sink into the sandy beach as we walk into our camp. There’s so much more we need to discuss with Marin, but I see that what’s left of our travel group has started packing up. Mio must want to move soon.
“Man is it good to be back,” Marin yells out, and Mio turns to meet her eyes.
“Marin?” Mio exclaims, shocked to see her.
“I know, not exactly the place you thought you’d find me.” Marin approaches her old friend and adds, “I’ll explain everything, but first let’s get this boat together so we can get out of here.”
“About that,” Mio says and the happiness he had to see Marin washes away.
“What is it?” Cooper asks him. Mio takes in a short breath and before he can say anything I notice Molly crying by Bren’s side. We push past Mio and make our way to Bren, but Cinder steps in our path.
“Cinder, please tell me he’s okay,” Cooper says, and I watch as my brother starts breaking down.
“He’s gone,” Cinder says softly. Cooper lets out a muffled cry and pushes around her. He collapses in the sand by Bren’s side, and I watch as he shakes with sobs. I feel frozen in the sand, tied down in this spot. If I walk up there and see him then it’s real. If I stay here then it’s not.
Slowly Zavy, Mio, and Marin make their way to Bren’s side, but I stay put. Alexander puts a strong arm on my shoulder and helps me move forward. Through a pool of tears in my eyes, I make out the boy’s ghost of a body sitting in the shade of the tree where we left him.
Cooper continues to sob and my heart breaks for my brother. They must have been so close. You spend seven years living with someone that closely you’re bound to grow a strong relationship. Toby comes to Zavy’s side and he leans against her. All of us circle Bren and silently say our goodbyes to him. Most of us are quiet, but Cooper’s sobs have grown more powerful and he throws his fists into the sand and lets out a yell of rage.
“Cooper,” Cinder’s soft voice tries to calm him.
“This isn’t fair!” he yells defensively. “We can’t keep losing people. I don’t want to lose anyone else!” He pushes out of the group and makes his way to the edge of the water. I watch as he kneels into the shallow waters and I see him shift his anger back to sadness. I look to Bren one last time and whisper a small goodbye in my head. I add his name to the list of those who have died either at my hand or because of me indirectly.
“We’ll bury him before we leave?” Molly asks in her smallest voice.
“We’ll bury him
