The Sowing

I shove Cassius’s words from my mind. “This is all tied into that girl, the one I tackled—Drusilla.” The image of them embracing and kissing comes back to me clearer than ever.

She nods. “I couldn’t let you arrest her. We love each other. But no one in the Establishment must ever know or they’d use it against us. She’s up for Recruitment.”

The irony of the situation almost makes me burst out laughing, if it weren’t for the pain in her face and the seriousness of it all.

“Hate to break it to you, Arrah, but I never checked in with Valerian after our rounds. They’ll be looking for me.”

She shakes her head. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she looks ashamed. “After bringing you here, I slipped back into the Citadel and used your log-in password to check you in, as well as a set of your fingerprints, which I took the liberty of lifting while you were knocked out. Since we’re both off duty for the remainder of the day, no one will miss you until tomorrow morning.”

Now it all makes sense. The feeling that Arrah was hiding something from me. The fact that she’s so different from the other trainees. How she acted nervous earlier, like she was waiting for someone.

No wonder Arrah attacked me. I would have done the exact same thing.

“This place,” I say. “It’s a rebel safe house, isn’t it? You’re both part of the movement.”

She shakes her head. “I’ve already said enough. I’m sorry I can’t tell you any more.”

Someone’s approaching down the hall. Several people, from the sound of it.

Arrah’s palm presses against my cheek. “All I wanted was for them to treat your wound. I was going to try to make up a story. But you saw me with a gun. They think it’s too risky to let you go.”

“They? The resistance leaders?” I ask as the approaching footsteps get louder. They’re almost right outside the cell. “Arrah, listen. I wasn’t going to arrest Drusilla. I was going to knock you out and let her go. Believe me. I swear!”

“I want to believe you. I really do. But there’s too much at stake. The final decision’s not up to me.” She hesitates, her face a battlefield of conflicting emotions. “I’m so sorry, Spark. I think you’re okay. Even for a Fifth Tier.”

“Gee, thanks.”

She leans in so close, I can feel her hot breath on my ear. “I’m not sure what your relationship to Digory Tycho was, but I suggest you think very carefully before you answer their questions about him.”

The mention of Digory’s name triggers a geyser of adrenaline. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Before she can answer, the cell door bursts open and she moves away from me to join Drusilla in the corner. Four figures bustle in, all wearing black hoods over their heads. Three of these people keep their distance, while the one in the center approaches me. Male, by his shape and size. He pulls out a familiar object and dangles it in front of my face.

My ID tags. Mine and Digory’s, the only tangible remnant of him I have left.

“These were found in your possession after you were shot.” He speaks through an electronic modulator that disguises his voice.

“What does Digory have to do with any of this? He’s…” The word catches in my throat. “He’s dead.”

Hoodie stuffs the silver tags back into his pocket. “It doesn’t matter. Any bloke associated with Digory Tycho, especially during the Trials, is suspect.”

“Suspected of what?”

“Being a traitor to the cause. Conspiring with the enemy.”

“The enemy? You mean the Establishment, don’t you?”

Hoodie tilts his head as if he’s puzzled. “Strange words coming from an Imp trainee.”

I cock my head toward Arrah. “I don’t know about that. Maybe you can get our other trainee here to weigh in on the issue.”

Arrah doesn’t say a word. She just stares hard, as if willing my mouth to remain shut.

Hoodie ignores my sarcasm. “You were one of the four others recruited with Tycho. The only one who survived, to our knowledge. We need you to tell us how and why Tycho perished.”

It’s all starting to make sense now. The last time I saw him, Digory told me how he and his husband Rafé, a fellow resistance fighter, had married as part of their plan to be each other’s Incentives and not put anyone else’s lives at risk during the Trials. Digory had sacrificed Rafé’s life, and his own, so that Cole and I would have a chance. But at what cost to his reputation? His tortured words still ring in my mind: We knew what we were getting into, what the risks were… but Cole’s just an innocent child…

How would the resistance react if they knew Digory let one of their own die for personal reasons? Would they view Cole’s life as worth more than Rafé’s? Or would they view Digory’s decision as a betrayal of their cause, since Rafe’s survival as a rebel could be considered more important to the greater good?