As we head deeper into the ocean I look back and watch the island sink out of view. “It’s crazy, all those people who are buried there, one day no one will even know they’re out there,” I say to Alexander.
He takes my hand in his and squeezes it. “It’s an awful thing; to die and then be forgotten forever,” he says and looks back toward the island.
When the island has faded completely out of view I turn and see the sun starting to set in the other direction. “I never get tired of looking at the sunset,” I say to him. “I’ve spent seven years without them. Something so simple, and yet so beautiful.”
Alexander leans his forehead against the side of my head and says, “Just like you.” My heart flutters and I remember the night in the bunker after I had stopped him from turning himself into Paylon. He had used that same response when we were talking about the glittery ceiling. It’s comforting to hear him say things like that now that his memories are corrected.
“I’m far from simple,” I say and smile to him, and we both start laughing. The butterflies explode again as they always do when I’m with him. We might have told each other we couldn’t form a further relationship with the other for fear that we may not survive this mess, but we can’t stop the feelings from forming. It’s a dangerous path we’re trying to walk down, somewhere between friends and lovers.
“Alexander. Adaline,” Marin calls down from the perch and motions for us to join her.
I’m about to stand when Alexander tightens his grip around my wrist and whispers in my ear, “Don’t tell her I know she’s not my real mother.”
“What?” I ask, confused why he’d want to keep that a secret.
“I just got her back Adaline. I just want to keep things simple,” Alexander pleads with me. I know he just wants to keep denying that he’s related to King Renon, and I can’t blame him. I nod and we stand together.
“Mio tells me he showed you the markings,” Marin says as we join her on the balcony of the boat.
“Yes, he said that we are important to some rebellion. Can you tell us anymore about our markings?” I ask as we take a seat with her.
Marin begins to explain as the memory comes back to her. “Your father had been moving the gifted to Libertas, and they were searching for the ones who were marked with the key.” Marin motions down to our wrists before continuing, “When you were born your father had seen the marking and had taken you to get the mark disguised.”
“And you had done the same for me?” Alexander asks.
“Yes, I had helped Adaline’s father with a couple of journeys before that, and when he showed me the prophecy about the gifted planning a rebellion I realized how important you were.” Marin clears her throat, “I mean how important you would be to Libertas. Derith showed me where I could take you to get the mark disguised, and that’s when we promised each other that we would take care of one another to keep our kids safe. We had to make sure that the prophecy could be followed out.” I nod my head, better understanding where the tie between Alexander’s family and mine came from.
“Do you know what they expect from us once we get to Libertas?” Alexander asks his mother.
“Not entirely. As far as I know, the plan was for Derith and me to get there and help get things set up for when you would arrive.” Marin looks out over the side of the boat and I know she’s thinking about the wreck on her journey. “Now that we didn’t make it there, I hope they continued to move forward with the plan. Otherwise, we will be very behind schedule.”
“What’s the schedule?” I ask, trying to think about what they could have planned for us.
“Mio tells me that King Renon may be on to the fact that you both are the keys to the rebellion mentioned in his grandfather’s prophecy. If that’s true then he will already have his forces preparing for war. That doesn’t give us much time to make the first move before they come to us,” Marin says and I realize I’m not going to some safe haven island for the gifted. I’m walking into a trained army looking for a leader. My life is going to go from fleeing to attacking very quickly.
Molly comes over to the edge of the perch and stands on her tiptoes. “Adaline, will you play a game with me?” she asks over the edge.
Marin nods, giving me the sign that our conversation is over. “Sure, what kind of game?” I ask and climb down from the perch. We take a seat on the edge of the boat and Molly kicks her feet against its side while she considers what game she wants to play.
“A guessing game!” she finally squeals.
I laugh and ask, “Okay, how do we play?”
“I’ll find something we can see, and I’ll tell you what color it is. Then, you have to guess what it is,” Molly explains. I remember doing something similar with Titus and it was always his favorite game to play in the cell. It never lasted long with so few items to guess.
“You can go first,” I say.
“I see something blue!” Molly says.
“The sky?” I guess.
“Nope,” she says and shakes her head.
“The water?” I guess next.
“Nope, try again,” she laughs.
I let my eyes gaze around the boat searching for something blue when I look down and see that her shirt is a faded shade of
