The Sowing

The light is blinding now, and I shield my eyes against its intensity. Then it’s gone, and I have to rub my eyes to make sure I’m not hallucinating. The entire chamber’s been replaced by an outdoor landscape. The guards, the control room—everything’s gone.

And standing right in the center of the room are Cage, Drusilla, Boaz, Crowley, and Preshea.

“Cage!” Tristin cries, rushing toward her brother.

Around me, Mrs. Grimstone, Jorgen, Mr. Ryland, and Corin also bolt to embrace their loves ones. But as soon as the Incentives converge on the Recruits, it all makes sense. As they wrap their arms around their loved ones, they find that their embraces cut right through them.

Of course. The Recruits are holograms. This whole chamber is a giant holographic projector broadcasting a live feed.

We’re going to experience the horrors of this Trial right alongside the Recruits themselves.

Just like Cole must have.

Welcome Recruits! The Trials are about to begin.

The familiar voice blaring from the speaker system chills my blood. Last time, it was Slade’s voice that guided us through the Trials. This time it’s Cassius’s.

The expressions on the faces of the Recruits’ five family members turns from elated to crestfallen in the blink of an eye. Mrs. Grimstone sags into Mr. Ryland’s shoulder, pointing at Preshea. “She can’t see me. My baby can’t see me.” Then she’s sobbing, and I can’t help but be touched as the gruff man holds her up, patting her back, even as his own eyes well at the sight of his daughter, Drusilla. “Dru…” His words choke off.

Jorgen, on the other hand, stares at Crowley in silence. Is that admiration on his face? Pride? They don’t really look related, and I don’t detect any romantic longing in that expression, so I can only assume they’re friends or fellow rebels, both prepared for this eventuality, like Digory and his husband Rafé were. They’re resigned to the fact that they’re both probably not going to make it out of this.

After her initial enthusiasm at the sight of her brother, Tristin is the only one to seem calm now as she gazes at him. It’s like she actually believes he’s going to be all right and there’s nothing to worry about. In some bizarre way, I envy her. Ignorance or divine enlightenment—it gives her an incredible edge in dealing with what’s to come.

Poor Corin seems confused. His body is trembling as he stares wordlessly at the image of Boaz, directly in front of him but failing to acknowledge his presence. At one point he tries to tug Boaz’s arm, his fingers slipping through to nothingness.

“Boaz raised him after his folks were killed,” Tristin says to me.

Now I see just how devastating it can be to those standing by, watching their loved ones struggle. Knowing there’s nothing they can do to help, nothing they can do but stand idly by and watch, hoping not to die.

I walk over and take hold of Corin’s arm. “Don’t worry. He can’t see you, but he’s definitely thinking about you. I was a Recruit just like Boaz is. And my little brother waited for me, just like you’re waiting for him now.”

He wrenches his arm away. “Stay the hell away from me or I’ll kill you!”

Recruits, take your places.

I look up from Corin to see Cage coming right toward me, his face stern and menacing. Before I can move out of the way, he steps right through me. Cage takes his place at the starting line beside the images of Boaz, Crowley, Preshea, and Drusilla. Their expressions are like slivers of a broken mirror, cutting through their images with shards of fear, sadness, determination, and anger.

Arrah breaks off from the other trainees and walks over to Drusilla’s image. The hologram casts a subtle glow, bathing Arrah’s features in a shimmer of warmth like a shaft of starlight. She leans in and whispers a few words that I can’t make out. The way her eyes study Drusilla’s holo, it’s like she’s in awe of the most beautiful canvas she’s ever seen. Her fingers lightly trace the air around Drusilla’s hand and then cover it, giving the illusion that she’s clasping her hand.

Leander, Rodrigo, and Dahlia stare at her, and I can tell they’re confused. They had no clue about Arrah and Drusilla’s relationship, obviously. I guess there’s no need for Arrah to hide it anymore.

For this first Trial, Cassius’s voice continues, each Recruit will be asked to traverse the obstacle course ahead until they reach the other side.

Obstacle course? Wonder what horrors they’ve conjured up this time.