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AMITY

Vale falls with a thud,his body sprawling against the black gravel of the roof. Buzzing fills my ears. I look around to see if there’s an aircraft somewhere, but there’s nothing. Only the Security Officer, Tessa, with her long blond braid, straightening with a satisfied look on her face. She nods to me.

“Good work, Bloome.”

Jeremy turns to me in surprise, recognizing the last name. His men shift back, clustering next to the stairs. Putting themselves on one side, leaving me with the CSOs, Vale’s body between us. I guess the Brotherhood was working with the PS, but why? And what has Vale done to make so many enemies?

I want to crouch down, to see if he’s okay, but their eyes are sharp on me. I count and count, I slow the intake of air to my lungs, but I’m gasping, my emotions falling out of my control. I suck in the cool air, more than I need, and a wave of dizziness overtakes me.

Tessa steps forward and reaches her hand out to my shoulder.

“Okay, Amity. Okay, it’s over now.” She gently folds me over, my head below my heart, first-aid for hyperventilation or a panic attack.

But now I’m closer to Vale’s body spread out on the ground. I waver, losing my balance as I sway. The Officer jerks me up and issues a soft command. Two women step forward, one at Vale’s head and one at his feet. They bend and heft his body up, and the militia men cringe back further.

Tessa turns to them.

“We’ll take him to the elevator, and you’ll lead us to the back door. Our van is waiting.”

Jeremy nods, his eyes wide. The guys up here all talk about their rights and how the PS is ruining everything, but they don’t seem inclined to cross them, despite having guns. As the Officers disappear down the stairwell with Vale, my mind starts to clear and I stare daggers at Jeremy. Feeling my gaze, he stares back, not so cocky now.

“You sold him out?” I ask, keeping the question light. Pushing back the bitter edge I feel.

His men shift on their feet nervously. Jeremy clears his throat.

“Just ah—just cooperation between…”

“Between the Brotherhood and the PS?”

“Shut up, girlfriend, just go. He didn’t have to come here, you didn’t have to come with him.” He spits on the ground. “The Forge thinks they’re in charge of everything up here and we’ve had it. They’re not the government.”

Tessa nods. “Exactly.” Her eyes linger on him. “Our agreement holds. You’ve fulfilled your side.”

I follow as we take the steps to the fourth floor and the elevator and join the women holding Vale’s unconscious body.

One of the Brotherhood guards gets on, pressing into a corner to keep space between himself and the clutch of CSOs. He puts a key into the control panel, pressing a button for the delivery exit.

The ride is silent, and when the door opens he scoots out and leads us down the hall, away from the door I used earlier, to a back door.

Outside in the dim light there’s a white van that’s way too clean to be up here in Anchorage.

I don’t notice much else. I’m numb as I watch them load Vale’s body onto the floor of the van. Then I step forward to go after him and Tessa stops me, holding out her arm.

“Stay here with me. Now, give me your wrist.”

“Where are they taking him?” I ask quickly as I comply, holding out my right arm.

She pulls a SafeGuard from her pocket and a fastener and the device clicks to lock onto my wrist. I watch her dispassionately, waiting for an answer.

Instead of answering, she asks me, “Do you know what was on that laptop, Amity?”

“Um, my mom said it was plans that could allow the Forge to attack Greater Maryland.”

She smiles gently.

“There was nothing. But they thought they were gettingplans for our communications systems, electric grid, and water supply.”