The Sowing

Once the clapping storm blows over, Talon continues. “Without further ado, I call upon the first cadet to graduate from First Tier trainee to Imposer level.” She pauses to study the hovering teleprompter. “Dahlia Bledsoe!”

Cheers rumble like thunder.

Dahlia squeezes her way past me and trots up the stairs to the dais. Her face is unreadable.

Cassius steps forward and shakes her hand. Then he’s removing her pin and replacing it with a brand-new insignia.

It’s official. She’s an Imposer now.

Leander and Rodrigo follow Dahlia in rapid succession, until only Arrah and I remain.

Talon fixes her sights on us. “The next trainee, who is being promoted to Third Tier cadet, is Arrah Creed!”

Arrah shoots me a nervous glance before heading up the stairs.

I glance casually toward the crowd, and see that at the fountain, Cage is engaged in a heated exchange with two Imposers. He reaches into his pocket—

The Imposers raise their weapons—

My breath freezes in my throat. All I can hear is my heart hammering away at my ears.

But instead of the triggering device, Cage hands them a document. ID by the looks of it. One of the Imposers snatches it from him to study.

The other Imposer is on her radio. Is she calling for backup?

“I now call the final trainee we are honoring today: Cadet Lucian Spark!”

It takes me a moment to realize that Talon has just called me up onto the stage. Everything—her voice, the crowd—it all sounds muffled, as if someone has a pillow over my head and is suffocating me in my sleep. I force my limbs to move, but it feels like I’m slogging through a bog.

The bitter taste of blood oozes into my mouth from the teeth digging into my lower lip. It seeps down the desert of my throat.

I move toward Cassius. He takes my hand in his, but I can barely feel it. He leans forward, his breath against my ear. “I have a little surprise for you,” he whispers.

I look up. Behind him, Prior Delvecchio and another one of the Anchorites move apart, revealing the figure standing between them.

Cole.

TWELVE

He smiles at me and waves.

The shock tears through the shroud of numbness enveloping me. Instead of everything moving in slow-motion, it’s as if things are speeding up. This can’t be happening what have I done he’s going to die right here in front of everyone and it’s all my fault oh mother forgive me I failed you both I fucked things up murdered my own brother all my struggles to save him were for nothing I’m nothing but a dumb stupid shit oh sheesh oh no cole I’m so sorry I’m so—

Cassius reaches in and plucks the BMP pin from my uniform. He may as well be ripping my still-beating heart from my chest.

I clutch at his hand. “No! You can’t take that—give it back!”

He gapes at me as if I’m crazy. Maybe I am. “What’s going on with you?” He squeezes the whisper out through a gritted smile.

I risk a glance at the fountain. Cage’s backing away from the Imposers. His hand’s reaching into his pocket. The same pocket that holds the triggering device…

On the stage, Cole’s looking at me, his eyes brimming with confusion and fear. He mouths the words what’s wrong? The other trainees are fidgeting in their stances. Arrah’s shaking her head at me.

Cassius tries to pull his hand away. His mild annoyance has turned to anger. “Let go of me, Lucian.”

But I don’t. I can’t.

My eyes lock with Cassius’s. I hear Prime Minister Talon’s voice. “Is there a problem, Prefect?”

The wave of fury in her voice drowns out the hubbub of the crowd. Her bodyguards move in on me…

The Imposers at the fountain draw their weapons at Cage’s team. Cage is nothing but a blur as he shoves one Imposer against the other and whips out the gleaming black remote.

“Stop him! He’s got a bomb!” someone yells.

Screams and shouts penetrate the crowd.

“Give it to me!” I shriek at Cassius, even as my fist connects with his jaw and I rip the BMP free from his grasp. He tumbles backwards.

Cage’s jaw drops. He stares at me in horror for a moment, then aims the remote at the stage. The guards lunge for me. But before they can tackle me, I hurl the BMP toward the only place I’m sure will prevent it from being triggered.

Right at the fountain. Right at Cage and his team.

They didn’t take the blocker. If Cage triggers it, they’ll die.

A heavy weight slams into my back. I collapse onto the stage floor, my head hanging over the edge, my body pinned in place.