Page 75 of The Last Love Story

Nova steps up this time. “Ladies and gentlemen! We’regetting word that the storm has been upgraded. We’re going to need to move to the inner ballroom and prepare for enclosure. When the captain gives the word, we’ll be ready! Mr. President, would you like to lead the way?”

Nova gives President Graves a performative bow, which he playfully returns. It’s strange to see him in this world, in this role. President Graves plays it. Callum plays it. I guess I’m playing it, too, just by being here.

I’ve found myself surprised by how Callum reminds me of his father. For the first time, I’m seeing the president remind me of his son. It’s the same mask.

Just then, a piece of driftwood as big as a car slams into the glass, bouncing off of it with a loud crack. People jump back; one woman drops her glass with a crash.

Something shifts then. Everyone seems to realize that safety, like so many other things, is theater, and the wrath of an angry planet is larger than polymers and even megayachts. Fear roils in my gut as Callum pulls me closer to him.

“Callum,” I whisper. “Are you sure this is safe?”

His eyes scan the deck, the green storm-glow of the clouds. “I’d say we should go, but I don’t know if there’s a quick, safe way off this ship,” Callum whispers into my ear. “We’ll have to stay. Hunker down.”

I nod, and Callum runs his hands on the sides of my head, smoothing my hair back before clasping his hands around the back of my neck. “It’ll have to go through me, yeah?”

I nod, forcing a smile, hearing those familiar words from him again. Callum leans in and brushes his lips against mine. “We’re almost there, Ripley. I can feel it.” He puts his lips to my ear and I shiver, unsure if it’s from the way he makes me feel, or the fear his words spark. “I talked to my father about the vote last night. About how it would be bad. How it might be fine for him to lead, but what precedent does it set? What comes next? And Ripley... I think he agreed. I think he’slistening.”

I bristle. Listening isn’t enough, not when the Machs’ deadline is tomorrow night. I can feel Hux’s stare boring into me like laser sights.

“What about the other thing?” I whisper back. “The information that could maybe stop all of it?”

Callum pulls back, his expression darkening. “Please, Ripley. There are cameras everywhere.”

I glance up, surprised to find that the observation deck has emptied. I’m alone with Callum by the rail, and Hux’s shadow hulks in the doorway like a bad dream.

“Mr. Graves. Ms. Hart,” he calls, all business. “You should get inside.” A siren wrenches through the air. “That’s the dome.”

Callum and I start walking, and I throw one more look over my shoulder as the dome begins to rise, a bubble forming over our heads. I freeze when something on the coastline catches my eye—

A person.

I pull my hand from Callum’s and pivot, cupping my hand against the glass to get a better look.

“Callum,” I breathe.

A woman climbs out of one of the ruined houses, scrambling to get on top of the roof. Behind her, a boy follows. They’re both thin, their clothes filthy and soaking.

“Shit,” I mutter, shoving off the glass and turning to run back inside. Someone has to help—wehave to help.

“Ripley?” Callum yells after me, confused. But I’m already gone.

As I pass Hux, I call out, “There are people out there.” He doesn’t say a word as I race by him, but mutters something into his earpiece.

I don’t know exactly where I’m going—this place is massive—but I run. To my surprise, Hux pulls on my elbow, yanking me down a hall. When I glance behind, Callum has followed too.

We spill out into the ballroom. My eyes rove for Mona, and I make a beeline for her, not bothering to apologize as I push my way through the crowd.

“We have to stop the boat,” I breathe, startling Mona out of a conversation she’s having with a tall, handsome man I recognize from DopaMine.

“What?” She looks around like she’s waiting for the punchline.

Frustration roars within me. “There are people out there.Alive. They survived Yelene, but they won’t survive Zelda. We’re their only hope.”

Mona’s mouth opens and closes, and she searches the crowd for—

President Graves. The crowd parts for him as he makes his way to us.

“What’s all this?” he asks with a twinkle in his eye, like he’s waiting to be let in on the joke.