Page 112 of The Commons

Levon and I stare at each other, shock-stricken as Londe continues.

“She was getting closer to finding out about the Common Gene, amongst other things, so I personally sent her to The Seventh Zone and erased every vestige of the matter. That is… until you decided to gain an uncanny interest in the Lerogaski household and began playing tracker-chess with your old man. Only thing was, I just couldn’t get through the system you had engineered. But once you cracked my tracking code—the first layer anyway—I followed you right into your blasted hiding place. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Oh my God. I just now realize it—Pesh saved Levon knowing full well it would jeopardize every other life in The Commoners Secret Place. He was willing to save my sister’s life for me, even if it meant he would lose it all. My fists clench as De Londe’s ghostly words resume.

“We found the location of the tracker on Levon, but we could not figure out how to get to whatever secret nonsense you built because it was underground—or rather, underwater. So we just stationed bombs underwater to cover the radius of where we tracked her location. It seems to be close to Commonda Shore. Am I correct?” A sly smile plays on Londe’s lips. “Your underground creations, whether on the ground or underwater, will blow up in the next twenty minutes!”

Pesh grinds his jaws in dread.

“Oh my God!” Levon exclaims.

“We have to leave immediately before the bomb blows up our escape route!” Swin screams.

We begin to pack up instantly, but I can’t help but continue to watch Pesh on the screen.

Just as Pesh begins to walk away, he looks at Londe with darting eyes. Fearlessly, he articulates. “You disgust me.”

“Feeling is mutual. Trick question, why do you think I adopted you?” Londe comments, continuing his snake-like games.

Pesh scoffs. “So people would not question your repulsive, murderous intentions.”

“Exactly,” Londe states. “And since that has been achieved, I have the perfect opportunity to stage your suicide and leave a dandy note that breaks your father’s heart.”

Pesh stops at the entrance of the elevator and turns to him, puzzled but unafraid. “And how are you going to kill me?”

“I’m not—you are.”

Just as Pesh turns back, Beatrice comes out from the elevator, bumping into him. Before his gaze pivots, she strikes an injection filled with blue serum into his chest.

He falls. His skin begins to contract, and his veins bulge and turn blue.

“I know you too well. I know you made backup copies. Where are the copies?” Londe demands.

Pesh gasps for air, struggling to speak. “I would rather die than tell you that.”

“Your mother said the same thing when I asked her to hand you over. And look how that turned out.”

“Oh my God! Pesh is down!” Swin blurts out.

I gulp in shock, terrified. My teeth clench as my heart beats against my chest. My eyes cloud with tears, but I tighten my fists to stop myself from being altered. I need to be strong for Pesh.

Instantly, I turn to Levon and Swin and begin to speak. “Swin and Levon, you guys have to go through Doctor Val’s place into the mainland, then to The Lawtem now.”

“What about you?” Levon asks, zipping up the pockets of her black jumpsuit.

“I have to go save Pesh before Londe kills him!”

“How are you gonna save him?” Levon asks.

“I don’t know, but I can’t let him die. He would do the same for me! I’m gonna tell Londe that The Lawtem officers are on their way or something. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll fight with everything I am, like I always do.”

Levon opens her mouth to rebut, but resigns, realizing I’m not going to change my mind. To my surprise, she steps forward and touches my cheeks. “You always do. You always do.” She kisses the side of my forehead and tears cloud her eyes. “It should only take 15 minutes for us to get to the mainland if we run like crazy. It’s farther for you, so you should take the Motoron! It should get you there in 15 minutes if you drive like crazy before Londe’s bomb blows up!”

Just as the words leave Levon’s mouth, we all run toward the entrance, enter the password to open the ship’s door, slide down into the water, and swim out to the shore. We look around to see a vast island. I didn’t know Commonda Island was so big. Our eyes dart around. And then, we see it. A door beneath the sands. We slide it open and jump down.

And there it is, Pesh’s Motoron.

The wheels are partly transparent with gold particles all over its tires. Its curves as smooth as a screen. I don’t have time to look at how advanced it is when…