Page 71 of The Commons

She sighs. “Nothing...” Guilt drowns her gaze. “Shantavia, I don’t want to hurt you. Just try to fit in, or get the F out of my way. Just do what they want for gods sake! That’s how you fit in with the elites. I mean, it’s what I do anyways.” She shrugs, eyes dimming. “This is how The Commons works—you do what they say, and you’re fine. You act like you don’t want to be one of the elites, yet here you are, competing for everything I want.”

Realization dawns on me, anger brewing, and I can’t help but mutter, “I feel sorry for you.”

“What?” She exhales as I take a step forward, fear flaring through her steel blue gaze.

“I feel sorry for you. And I will never be anything like you.” I stride away.

“Wait, Shantavia!”

The blue smoke spreads through the area, blocking her path to me.

“Shantavia, what are you doing?” she screams as Zavish swoops in, gripping her shoulders, taking her out of the building before she hurts herself… or faces the dark dome.

But it may already be too late.

“Zavish!” she whimpers, but he turns away, joining the rest of his friends as her gaze drops to the floor.

I can’t believe I let myself get that bothered, that emotional to confront Zia.

I hear a sudden thud, and my head jolts to see a metal door crashing down on Pesh’s chest. The thump of my heartbeat escalates in my chest, and I zoom toward him instinctively.

The veins of his muscles contract and stretch as he pushes the metal door, but his elbows collapse as he tries to stop his hands from touching a giant log of wood that is burning beside him, almost catching onto his shirt as well. It seems he is unable to lift it himself without getting burnt in the process. Oh no! My hands tap, hoping the fire doesn’t consume him. I wait until Zia and Zavish go to the safe area, then I run toward Pesh impulsively.

I am not sure what is going on, but I know I can’t just leave him there. Just as I bend to help him, the flames from the fallen wood surge toward his ankle. Before it can scorch him, I grab a jacket off my backpack, slamming it to the flames repeatedly.

“Shantavia, you need to leave now.”

“Stating the obvious. I’m not leaving without you.” Just as I smother the raging fire, he lifts the metal door off his chest without getting burnt.

He sits up, staring at me for a second. It is in this moment that I realize that I love him. I love him enough to stop my journey for him. I love him enough to risk my life for him. I open my lips to speak, but I am interrupted by seven Fire Patrons dressed in red, militantly approaching us to stop the fire.

I rush away and hide behind the golden doors. I secretly glance to the side, and my gaze catches sight of a black cape.

Patron De Londe.

He finds Pesh and holds his arms, patting off dust from his jacket as though to make sure he’s okay. I move my back against the door to stay hidden. With my side eye, I look back at Pesh, and our eyes collide from a distance. For the first time, he looks down.

We all congregate in the safe area and a few minutes later, we are summoned into the auditorium through the intercom. Everyone enters, but I hide behind the auditorium door and peek to hear what is going on. I have to continue my plan of escape, especially now that everyone is in one place. But I first want to see if I will hear anything useful for my journey.

“A tragedy has occurred,” says Doctor Val. “We are deeply saddened by these events⁠—”

Doctor Val is suddenly interrupted. Patron Colo walks onto the stage, making a signal to speak to her. She leaves the podium and steps to the corner for a moment. Whispers emanate around the auditorium. Suddenly, another group of Fire Patrons begin to surge in from the Patron entrance. I duck before I am spotted. Thank God they did not come through the student entrance.

The students draw back as the Fire Patrons walk by. The floors light up, but the floor is not consumed and neither are the Fire Patrons. Their shoes seem to emit fire as they walk. Interesting.

They approach the Earth Patrons near the podium and bow before them in a greeting. I knew Earth Patrons like Pesh were the highest ranked of all Patrons, but I didn’t know that they bowed to each other. I notice them speaking with one another as the Fire Patrons hand the Earth Patrons folders.

Some students stay silent, obviously terrified, while others whisper to each other.

“Fire Patrons on school property,” Zavish says. “Good riddance. When does that happen?”

“What could have started a fire in The Commons?” a student whispers.

“I thought this place was untouchable,” another student adds, turning to Zavish.

“It is untouchable, moron!” Zavish says, turning away, eyes darting around.

“Who do you think did it?” Another student turns to Zavish.