Page 85 of The Commons

Interest? What is this woman talking about?

“What experiment? Abort it immediately.”

Suddenly, I look to see hands being grasped. I can almost see a tattoo on the hands, and it reads S x L. Oh my God. Shantavia x Levon. That’s my sister! I almost scream, but I hold my breath and tighten my clammy fists to stop myself. Levon is being restrained by that man and taken away, so I instantly pinch Pesh, petrified.

He turns to the direction of my gaze. “Levon?” he asks.

I tighten my fist to symbolize a “yes.”

He looks at the direction of my feet and looks up to see Levon. “Levon! That’s her!”

He walks toward her instantly. I follow suit as we walk out through the glass doors and toward where she is. I wish I could look, but I can’t. My head must stay bent at all times so as not to attract any undue attention.

“Sir, may I help you?” the Gihard guy says.

“I need that student immediately!”

“This useless one? I can give you any other student of greater worth who can do better work for you, your highness!”

“Did I ask for your opinion?”

“No, sir.”

Pesh takes a strong step toward the man. I can hear the man gulp as Pesh speaks under his breath in a commanding voice, “Patron. Pesh.”

“Of course! I apologize! Yes. Patron. Pesh.”

“What are you waiting for? Get out,” Pesh says.

Reluctant for a moment, he begins to leave. I notice his feet hesitate upon departure as though in doubt. Levon steps forward beside Pesh.

“Don’t touch. Don’t talk,” Pesh whispers.

Stopping myself from holding her feels like fighting the ocean or holding back the weight of a hurricane, yet I do. For Levon, however, it’s much easier I assume. She says nothing, and we all walk out toward the elevators again, zooming down.

I shouldn’t look. I shouldn’t look.

I can’t help it. I sneak in a look.

Wisps of her golden hair stream down her face. Her hands are full of blood, her uniform full of mud, her eyes full of scorn. I’m staring at my sun, but all I see is darkness. My heart shuts down immediately. I cannot even begin to fathom what she has experienced. A flush of fear sprints inside my chest, and I look away instantly. I cannot bear to look anymore.

I now realize why Pesh told me not to look.

CHAPTER 19

Suicide Mission

We are outside. Overlooking the ocean.

“Levon, we’re heading to the sea. On my command, hold my hand, and we will all jump into the water⁠—”

“Wha—” Levon’s voice cracks, confused.

“Please don’t ask questions. It’ll make sense when we are under. Just hold onto my hands,” Pesh says.

She sighs, worried, as we walk past security guards on the shore. I notice grey circles all over the buildings, one with every step we take.

With each step, my heart is pounding, dying for the moment when my feet will touch the water. Pesh said there would be an underground submarine that we could board from underwater. It made no sense to me. But I gave up reason a long time ago. It is either this or death.