Page 123 of The Commons

“Why can’t I just turn them all off?”

“There are 7000 switches.”

Oh my God. “I have to. I have to do it. I have to save my sister. That’s why I came here. Whether death or bondage, at least I’ll die trying than live not knowing if I could have saved her.”

“Shantavia!” Levon cries out. “No! Both of us can’t die now. You’re too young! Do not do this. You’re heading to a death trap!”

I am silent, my thoughts running at a thousand miles.

“Shantavia!” Levon screams.

“What, Levon!? Are you saying that I’ve failed?”

“What?” she responds.

“Are you saying I’ve failed you as your little sister? You taught me to be brave and strong. And to never give up. I will not disappoint you. And if I perish, I perish.”

Silence.

“Shantavia, I love you.” Her voice breaks.

A tear drops from my eye. Instantly, I wipe it and take off my ear pods, then turn to Pesh to say goodbye.

“Those won’t work in The Obstruct because there’s no service there. But you’ll be able to hear me when you make it to the Switch Room, so keep them,” Pesh says, holding me tightly, his emotions breaking.

Then, he hands me two swords. One with his name imprinted, the other with Levon’s.

My eyes scan the iridescent blades, tracing the outline of their names.

“I meant to give you these in other circumstances, but⁠—”

“Thank you. How much time will I have before the ground caves in and blows up where Levon is?” I begin to put the ear pods back on as he hands me a special white combat suit.

“9 minutes now.” He closes his eyes in dread, scared for me.

“And once I get there and do it—?” I look down, exhaling, rubbing my shaking hands, trying to calm myself down as I set the suit aside.

“There’s a one-way door back to The Commons from the Switch Room. It only opens backwards like an invisible door, but it doesn’t go forward, unfortunately. I’ll be waiting for you right there.” Pesh holds my cheeks, looking intently into my eyes, struggling to let me go.

“Pesh, if I die⁠—”

“No. No. You’re not gonna die. Listen to me, Shantavia! I’ve been watching you. I’ve seen all your test results. No one dives in to be eaten by a shark. Normal people do not go headfirst against a metal door and think it will open. You’re not Common. And that’s why you’re going to pass this! No one has ever impressed me on the Cognitive Test. No one has ever made me stand up to kiss them in the Chemistry Hallway. No one has ever solved half of the unsolved math challenges known to our generation. No one has ever impressed Suzandrick in the Chemistry Diamond Test. But you did that! You do impossible things! Don’t you get it? No student or Patron before you could do what you’ve done… not even me. Knowing facts is not enough. You are enough. You are more than enough. This is your destiny. And that’s why you’re going to save your sister. And The Commoners. There’s no one else that can do this, but you, and as much as I don’t want you to, I know you can. If anyone can, it’s you. You’re the girl of impossibilities. Capiche?”

“Capesh.”

A smile rips through his lips, staring into my eyes. He looks down for a moment as though to control his emotions, then he looks at me. “Come here!” He takes me into his arms.

Our heads rest against each other as tears stream down our faces. He feels my warm cheeks with his palms.

I touch his with my shivering hands. “Remember, regardless of whether I win or not, love never fails.”

His fingers scroll over my shaking lips, and a tear begins to drop from my eyes. It lands on his lips as he begins to kiss me in a soft, slow thrust. This time around, our kiss is not merely one of passion or intimacy or delight, our kiss is more of pain. It is like a first and last kiss all in one.

Knowing full well that this might be the last time I might see his face, I gasp and pull myself back from him to stop my emotions from changing my mind. I have to go.

“300 years and a day, remember me.”

Tears cloud his eyes, and he tightens his fists.