Page 132 of The Commons

But I am too late.

I hear fire sounds erupt through the pods.

Then, I hear it.

Levon.

Panting heavily.

And then she says, “Shantavia, you have not failed me. I love you.”

CHAPTER 30

The Commons

I don’t know which is worse—knowing my sister will die because of my inability to save her—or knowing that I have made it this far, just to fail.

“Oh God!” I hear Pesh exclaim just as I reach the second knob.

I turn it on. “Zero.”

Automated Voice: Water knob activated.

Suddenly, I hear water rushing out from beneath the ground, merging with the fire and colliding in a catastrophic conflict.

“I did it! I turned it on!” I exclaim.

The second Pesh hears my voice, he screams, “Levon, runnnnn!”

I hear wind sounds and feet crashing against the floor, and my heartbeat escalates, racing like a beating drum.

I hear Levon bang a door, and then… silence.

A second later, Pesh’s voice comes in. “There is a door at the end, it is above you, bang it open and lock it instantly!”

I release an intense sigh, gravely relieved, as Pesh continues to speak to Levon.

“Yes! Okay, now get out of there. Do you see roads?”

“Yes. And I still have The Begon,” Levon responds.

“Okay, good. The court is about a mile in front of you. Send it through their computers, then get back to us safe, please.”

“On it!” Levon says.

I take out my ear pods as she rushes to The Lawtem. I can’t believe I just did that.

I just saved my sister.

I look up to see a ladder leading to a door. I climb through it and find Pesh waiting for me.

I smile, surging past the sparks of light flying across the atmosphere.

He sprints, running past every obstacle, surging like a comet toward me.

And in an instant, he collides into me like a star, gripping me with the force of an avalanche, lifting me until I’m flying in his arms, emotion striking like embers through his face. I’ve never seen Pesh scared, but in this moment, I realize he is burning. He is burning, and it’s all because of me.

I grip his hair, eyes merging with his, and before I can exhale, he speaks, passion breaking through him like a flame.