“So am I,” he said, rising from his chair. “Come here.” He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “What if you go across through the vent and just look around? If it doesn’t seem like the guards are patrolling Phoenix, you can come back and let me know.” #51 | | |
Glass paused for a moment to scan Luke’s face, trying to make sure he meant what he said. That it wasn’t a ploy to get her to retreat to the safety of Phoenix and then shut the air vent for good, so she couldn’t come back. “And then you’ll go over with me?” #52 | | |
Luke nodded. “If there aren’t guards near where the vent lets out, we can try to make it back to your flat without being spotted. And then…” His voice trailed off. #53 | | |
Glass took his other hand and gave it a squeeze. They both knew sneaking onto Phoenix would only buy them a little more time. The Colony was breaking apart, and even Phoenix would lose oxygen eventually. #54 | | |
After a long moment, Luke broke the silence. “They might start sending people on the dropships.” #55 | | |
“What? Before they know whether or not it’s safe?” Glass shouldn’t have been surprised. The Colony had lost contact with the hundred Confined teens who’d been sent down to Earth to test the radiation levels. Ninety-nine teens, actually, since Glass was supposed to be one of them but had escaped the dropship and snuck back onto the Colony. Her heart ached as she thought about Wells, who’d also been on the mission. He had always dreamed of going to Earth—Glass remembered how he’d made them play gladiator in the gravity gym when he was going through his Roman phase, or how she’d pretended to be a man-eating gorilla when they’d played jungle explorer behind his father’s office. #56 | | |
She hoped he was still alive, that he wasn’t being attacked by man-eating gorillas—or worse, dying slowly from radiation. She hoped that they’d made it to the ground at all. #57 | | |
“They don’t have any other options,” Luke said flatly. His eyes searched hers. “You should’ve stayed on that dropship when you had the chance.” #58 | | |
“Yes, well, it turns out I’d left something pretty important behind.” #59 | | |
Luke reached out and ran his finger along the chain of the locket he’d given her on their anniversary. “Of course. You can’t go to Earth without your jewelry.” #60 | | |
Glass swatted him playfully on the shoulder. “You know what I’m talking about.” #61 | | |
Luke laughed. “I can’t wait to see you scowl at me on Earth.” #62 | | |
“Is that the only thing you’re looking forward to?” #63 | | |
“No.” Luke’s hand moved to the back of her head as he lowered his face toward hers and kissed her gently. “I’m looking forward to a lot more than that.” #64 | | |
