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THE WARS THE WARS. THE WARS AREN’T SOMETHING YOU RECOVER FROM. THEY TAKE, THEY TAKE AND NEVER GIVE BACK. MY NAME IS KALEXIOS CROTA, AND I AM IN THIS WORLD AS NOTHING, BUT EVERYTHING. MY PARENTS KNOW I’M DIFFERENT, BUT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHO I AM. MOM, SHE THINKS SHE KNOWS WHO I AM, BUT SHE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING. DAD NEVER MET ME. HE LEFT WHEN I WAS BORN. MOM DOESN’T KNOW WHY. SOMETHING ABOUT “ANOTHER WOMAN” WHICH I DON’T BELIEVE. THERE IS SOMETHING IN ME THAT KNOWS THAT ISN’T TRUE. I WAS TOLD BY AUNTS AND UNCLES THAT HE WAS NEVER REALLY RIGHT IN THE HEAD, BUT THAT HE WOULDN’T JUST DESERT MY MOM FOR ANOTHER WOMAN. IF I EVER SEE MY DAD IN REAL LIFE, I WILL ASK HIM WHY HE DID WHAT HE DID. I KNOW THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, I’M IN CHICAGO IN 2047, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A SMALL WORLD. AND BEFORE YOU GO THINKING WE HAVE FLYING CARS AND ALL THAT CRAP, NO. AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC OF 2020, THE ECONOMY HAS CRASHED. I’M LUCKY TO BE A GIRL WITH A HOUSE AND A MOM. THERE ARE NO ALIENS EITHER. AGAIN, THE PANDEMIC LEFT US FAR MORE WORRIED ABOUT VACCINES AND MEDICINE THAN LITTLE GREEN MEN. SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT NOW. MORE OF THE TYPEY-TYPEY AND LESS OF THE CHATTY-CHATTY. WE ALL HAVE AN OLD-FASHIONED SCHOOL-ISSUED GOOGLE CHROMEBOOK, BUT MANY PREFER TO USE THEIR OWN MORE ADVANCED COMPUTERS OR PHONES. JOBS ARE HARD TO GET NOW. MANY 18 YEAR OLDS GO UNEMPLOYED UNTIL ABOUT 19 OR SO. SOME LONGER. THESE CHALLENGES AS AN 18 YEAR OLD, COME NEXT WEEK. MY BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 24TH. I CAN WAIT. I WILL HOLD ON TO MY CHILDHOOD. AFTER MY BIRTHDAY, I WILL NEED TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT MYSELF SOMEHOW. ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE A ONE-YEAR WAITING LIST. I NEED MONEY. SCHOOL WILL COME. ARIA AND MY GROUP WILL STAY IN TOUCH FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR LIVES. MY FRIENDS ARE FEW, BUT I TRUST THEM ALL WITH MY LIFE. ARIA, ZARIN, JAX, ADELAI, MY FRIENDS. ARIA AND I WERE FRIENDS VERY EARLY ON. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWO OR SO. HER PARENTS ARE GOOD FRIENDS WITH MY MOTHER. ZARIN AND JAX ARE TWINS. THEY ARE INSEPARABLE, AND VERY INDEPENDENT. ADELAI IS VERY SMART. HE REALIZES THIS TOO, BUT DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE NONE OF THESE. I AM AVERAGE ON THE IQ TESTS, AND MY FACE AND BODY HAVE NO SPECIAL FEATURES EXCEPT FOR MY EYES. I HAVE DEEP, DEEP BLUE EYES. THAT’S IT. MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT MY EYES AREN’T NATURAL, BUT IT’S WHO I AM, AND I DON’T LISTEN. THE SHIP THE MAN. HE IS EVERYWHERE. HE IS COMING FOR ME. HE KNOWS WHO I AM. HE IS THE KEY IN THE DOOR. HE IS THE ANSWER. CALUX. THAT IS HIS NAME. HE IS YOUNG. MY AGE, MAYBE A LITTLE OLDER. “KALEXIOS, SCHOOL!” MOM CALLS ME. I SLIP INTO CLOTHES AND HEAD DOWNSTAIRS. GRABBING A BAGEL, I BEGIN TO EAT IT AS IS. I AM TIRED AFTER BEING ON MY PHONE ALL NIGHT, SO I DON’T GIVE THIS MUCH THOUGHT. I HEAD TO SCHOOL, WALKING ALONG THE SIDEWALK, LOOKING AT THE GREY SKY WITH THE FALLING SNOW. AS I ARRIVE AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, I NOTICE A SMALL SHAPE IN THE CLOUDS. ARIA FINDS ME, AND COMES OVER. “DO YOU SEE THAT SMALL SHAPE IN THE CLOUDS?” I ASK, ”IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GETTING CLOSER.” “YEAH, IT DOES, THAT’S WEIRD.” SHE SAYS. ZARIN AND JAX COME OVER WITH ADELAI “YOU SEE THAT THING?” I NOW BARRAGE THEM WITH QUESTIONS ASKING WHAT IT COULD BE AND WHY IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GETTING CLOSER. “IT LOOKS TOO MISSHAPEN TO BE A BIRD” ZARIN NOW OBSERVES, AND WE ALL AGREE. AS IT GETS CLOSER, I REALIZE THAT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME FROM HERE, OR ANYWHERE THAT WE KNOW, REALLY. AS WE HEAD INSIDE, I LOOK UP AT THE SKY ONE LAST TIME. THE THING IS CLOSER, AND IT LOOKS TO BE OBLONG. I GO TO MY FIRST SUBJECT, MATH. I TAKE MY SEAT AND PULL OUT MY NEW IPHONE 26, AND LOG ONTO THE CLASS. AS I WORK, I HEAR A LOUD CRASH, AND THEN THE FIRE ALARM GOES OFF. ARIA, ZARIN, JAX, ADELAI AND I LOOK AT EACH OTHER, GRAB OUR THINGS AND RUN FOR THE NEAREST EXIT. THERE IS SMOKE, AND I HEAR PEOPLE YELLING TO GET OUT. TALL, SHADOWY FIGURES ARE OUTLINED IN THE THICK, DARK SMOKE. WE ALL RUSH OUTSIDE. THE CLEAR, CRISP AIR FILLS MY LUNGS IMMEDIATELY. MY SENSES ARE REVIVED. THERE IS A SHIP. A SPACESHIP, SOMEWHAT OBLONG. I LOOK UP. THE THING IS NO LONGER THERE. “WHAT’S HAPPENING?” I ASK ARIA. “I DON’T KNOW, BUT I DON’T THINK I WANT TO FIND OUT.” SHE RESPONDS. A HATCH OPENS ON THE SHIP. A TALL, DARK FIGURE WALKS OUT. HE LOOKS AT ME, THEN I FEEL LIKE I’VE JUST BEEN HIT BY A TRAIN. HE IS THE MAN FROM MY DREAMS. HE IS THE MAN THAT I KNOW TO BE CALUX. HE HAS COME FOR ME. AND I’M SCARED. RUN. TAKE THEM AND RUN. I CAN’T OUTRUN THEM, BUT I CAN TRY. GRABBING MY FRIENDS, I TURN AND SPRINT AWAY. HE HOLDS ME BACK. HE CONTROLS MY MIND, MANIPULATES ME AND MOLDS ME SO I FREEZE. HE BEGINS TO WALK, AND I TRY TO RUN. MY MIND RUNS. HE APPROACHES ME, AND I KNOW WHATEVER BONDAGE HE HAS ON MY MIND IS WEAKENING. HE SPEAKS, AND HIS VOICE IS LOW, RICH. “YOU. I’VE SEEN YOU. YOU’RE HIS DAUGHTER. YOU’RE THE DAUGHTER OF THE MAN WHO BETRAYED MY FATHER TO SPY FOR THE FATHER OF LAYVYN. THEN HE BETRAYED LAYVYN’S FATHER, THE PHOENIX LORD AND CAME BACK TO MY FATHER. JOSHUI WAS A DIFFICULT MAN. I KNOW YOU, AS YOU KNOW ME. WE KNOW BARELY ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EVERYTHING.” AND HE WAS RIGHT. ARIA AND THE OTHERS HAD FROZEN IN PLACE, NOT BECAUSE OF CALUX’S MIND CONTROL THING, BUT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. ARIA SPOKE, “OKAY, DUDE, LET LEX GO. LIKE, I GET THAT YOU TWO ARE LIKE SOME KIND OF PSYCHOTIC SET, BUT THIS IS WEIRD.” AND TO THIS CALUX RESPONDS “AND WHY IS SHE YOUR CONCERN?” “CALUX,” I BUTT IN, “SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND. AND CAN YOU PLEASE LET GO.” HE RELEASES ME. “COME ON. WE NEED TO TALK, LEX.” HE STATES. “AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN COME TOO, IF YOU WANT.” I FOLLOW HIM IN WONDER BACK TO HIS SHIP. “THIS IS XION. HE IS MY SUPREME COMMANDER AND CLOSE FRIEND.” CALUX INTRODUCES US TO XION. HE RESPONDS TO US WITH STIFF NODS. WE FOLLOW CALUX TO A ROOM WITH A TABLE AND SOME CHAIRS. HE MOTIONS FOR US TO SIT DOWN, AND WE DO. “WHAT IS GOING ON?” ADELAI SUDDENLY BURSTS OUT. “I CAME TO COLLECT KALEXIOS.” “BY SETTING FIRES? CALUX, DO YOU NOT REALIZE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE HERE?” I AM ANGRY AT THIS POINT. I WANT ANSWERS. I AM MET WITH A COLD GLARE FROM BRIGHT BLUE EYES, LIKE MINE. “YES, I DO REALIZE. I DID THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN SLIP AWAY IN THE CHAOS. TO JUST LAND A SHIP IN A COURTYARD FILLED WITH PEOPLE WOULD BE ASKING FOR TOO MUCH ATTENTION FOR YOU.” “SO, YOU ARE TRYING NOT TO DRAW ATTENTION BY SETTING A FIRE, DISRUPTING CLASSES, AND POTENTIALLY DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF NOT JUST PARENTS AND TEACHERS, BUT THE POLICE AND MEDIA ALSO? I DON’T THINK THAT THAT ISN’T GOING TO DRAW ATTENTION.” I FIRE BACK. “IT ISN’T DRAWING ATTENTION TO YOU.” HE SPEAKS SOFTLY. I HAVE NO RESPONSE TO THIS. ARIA THEN PROCEEDS TO INTERROGATE CALUX UNTIL SHE IS SATISFIED, WHICH TAKES ABOUT TEN MINUTES. AROUND THIS TIME, CALUX ASKS “WELL, SHOULD WE GO YET?” WHICH IS MET WITH A MIXTURE OF “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” “NO.” AND “ARE YOU CRAZY?” CALUX ANSWERS THESE WITH “WELL, I DIDN’T COME HERE FOR NOTHING.” I SILENTLY AGREE TO THIS. “SO, WHY ARE YOU ACTUALLY HERE?” I ASK. “THERE IS A WAR, AND WE NEED TO STOP IT.” HE RESPONDS. “WE MEANING YOU?” ZARIN HAS BEEN SILENT UP UNTIL THIS POINT. SHE IS QUICKLY ANSWERED WITH “NO, WE. LEX AND I ARE CONNECTED WITH THE INSTINCT. SHE KNOWS THIS.” AND I THEN REALIZE THAT I DO. WHY ELSE WOULD I BE HAVING THOSE DREAMS IF SOMEONE WASN’T TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING. “WHAT IS THIS INSTINCT?” JAX ASKS. I CAN TELL SHE IS NERVOUS, BUT SHE HIDES IT WELL, AND MOST PEOPLE SEE NOTHING. “THE INSTINCT IS ANCIENT, WITH ONLY A FEW PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT, USE IT. IT IS WHAT MANY HERE WOULD CALL ‘MIND-CONTROL’ BUT THE INSTINCT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THIS ‘MIND-CONTROL’. IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND WILL CHOOSE WHO IT COMES TO. NOW, UNLESS WE WANT TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICE FORCE, WE NEED TO GO.” PHOBLE CALIX SAYS SOMETHING TO XION, AND TELLS US TO SIT DOWN. “WE NEED TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF BAYBEH.” HE SAYS, WHICH SURPRISES ME. “WHO IS THIS ‘BAYBEH’?” JAX QUESTIONS. “BAYBEH IS AN EMPIRE. IT IS WHERE THE ANCIENT RULER BABEH MADE HIS FIRST ALLIANCE WITH THE KINGDOM STELLIR IN THE SECOND DYNASTY. THE STELLIR KINGDOM AND THE BAYBEH EMPIRE WERE GREAT ALLIES. THEY BECAME FRIENDS WITH MY REPUBLIC, THE LISYAN REPUBLIC A FEW YEARS AGO. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A CHILD WHEN THEY BECAME FRIENDS.” CALUX RESPONDS. “OK, BUT WHO RULES IT NOW? ARE THEY AT LEAST FRIENDLY?” ARIA ASKS. “OF COURSE THEY ARE! PHOBLE IS VERY FRIENDLY TO MOST PEOPLE. HE AND HIS TWIN SISTER, PEHTA, RULE, ALONG WITH THEIR VERY TRUSTED ADVISORS STELLAR, WHO IS THE QUEEN OF THE STELLIR KINGDOM.” ARIA LEANS OVER AND WHISPERS IN MY EAR, “TALK ABOUT SWEET HOME ALABAMA” CALUX LOOKS OVER, GLARES AT HER, THEN CONTINUES. “SHE HAS HAD RELATIONS WITH HIS ENEMY, LAYVIN. HE MANIPULATES, TRICKS PEOPLE. WHEN HE MET HER BEST FRIEND, BRILLE, HE TOLD HER NOT TO TRUST HER, AND SHE DIDN’T LISTEN. WHEN STELLAR WAS TOLD OF THIS, SHE CUT OFF ALL COMMUNICATION WITH LAYVYN AND DEVOTED HER LIFE FULLY TO PHOBLE. LUNDYN HAS BEEN FULLY DEVOTED TO PHOBLE AND PEHTA FOR ALL OF HER TIME AS THEIR FRIEND. I AM A WELCOME GUEST THERE AT ANY TIME. PHOBES AND I HAVE BEEN GOOD FRIENDS FOR MANY YEARS.” I ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WITH A NOD. I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ‘STELLAR’. I WALK OVER TO A WINDOW, AND ALMOST FAINT. WE ARE RUSHING THROUGH BLACK. “WHAT ARE WE DOING?” I ASK. “WE ARE GOING THROUGH QUANTUM SPEED.” CALUX SAYS, QUITE CALMLY. “WHAT? WHY ARE WE GOING THROUGH SPACE AT 10,000+ MILES PER SECOND?” ADELAI NOW REALIZES WHAT IS GOING ON. EVERYTHING NOW SEEMS TO SLOW DOWN. WE EMERGE OUT OF QUANTUM SPEED AND I CATCH A GLIMPSE OF A PLANET SOMEWHAT LIKE EARTH. AS WE APPROACH THE PLANET, I NOTICE SPECKS OF STEEL GRAY AROUND A MASS OF SILVER, AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS A MASSIVE CITY. WE LAND ON A PAD, AND I AM GIVEN SOME SORT OF HEAVY DRESS TO WEAR, BECAUSE “YOU CAN’T GO TO A EMPEROR AND A QUEEN IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.” MY FRIENDS ARE GIVEN SOMETHING TOO. I AM TOLD TO GO IN FRONT WITH CALUX. WE WALK OUT ONTO THE LANDING PAD AND ARE GREETED BY ARMED SOLDIERS. CALUX’S TROOPS AND PHOBLE’S STAND AT ATTENTION. A PURE GRAY FEMALE ALIEN, I WOULD ASSUME A GENERAL, SAYS “CALUX NAMSK, KING OF LISYAN. WELCOME. EMPEROR PHOBLE WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE YOU. I SEE YOU HAVE BROUGHT FRIENDS.” CALUX RESPONDS WITH “ARTEMIS. A PLEASURE. I AM SORRY FOR THE LATE NOTICE. WE HAVE COME HERE ON, RATHER STRESSFUL MEASURES.” ARTEMIS THEN LEADS US INSIDE THE GREAT STONE PALACE, AND TO A ROOM WITH A MAN. HE IS DRESSED IN FINE CLOTHES, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND HIM, ONE DRESSES AS A QUEEN. CALUX BOWS TO HIM, THEN MOTIONS FOR US TO DO THE SAME. AS SOON AS WE ARE DONE, PHOBLE RUSHES UP TO CALUX AND SAYS “CAY! HOW’S LIFE? AND YOU BROUGHT FRIENDS! WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND STELLAR, PEHTA, AND LUNDYN INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. STELLAR DRESSES IN SILVER, WITH A HEADPIECE OF REFLECTIVE SHARDS OF GLASS. PEHTA IN GOLD, A GOLD CROWN ON HER HEAD. LUNDYN IN WHITE, HER DRESS A LONG, FLOWING PIECE TO OFFSET HER DARK SKIN. HER HEAD IS GRACED IN A THICK, SILVER METAL HEADBAND. STELLAR WALKS OVER AND SAYS TO ME, “SO YOU ARE THE CONNECTED. THE OTHER HALF. YOU AND CALUX SHARE A MIND. PROTECT HIM, AND HE WILL PROTECT YOU.” HER VOICE IS RICH, AND SHE IS VERY TALL. LUNDYN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION WITH ARIA, AND ZARIN AND JAX ARE TALKING TO PEHTA AND PHOBLE. CALUX IS TALKING WITH ADELAI ABOUT SOMETHING.I WALK OVER TO PHOBLE AND PEHTA, AND ZARIN INTRODUCES ME TO THEM. PHOBLE IS A VERY NICE GUY, WHO HAS A VERY VIVID IMAGINATION. PEHTA IS VERY NICE ALSO, BUT YOU CAN TELL THAT PHOBLE IS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD LEAD. PHOBLE NOW SAYS “ALRIGHT! LET’S GET TO BUSINESS!” AND WE ALL SIT DOWN AT A TABLE AND PEHTA STARTS OFF WITH “CALUX, KALEXIOS. WHY DID YOU COME HERE?” CALUX RESPONDS WITH “THERE IS WAR. I GOT LEX AND CAME AS QUICKLY AS I COULD.” I ADD, “HE ALSO BLEW UP OUR SCHOOL IN THE PROCESS.” WE ALL SNICKER AT THIS, EXCEPT FOR CALUX WHO IS TRYING TO HIDE IT. “WHO ARE YOU AT WAR WITH?” STELLAR ASKS. SHE IS MET WITH “LAYVIN.” I SEE HER TENSE UP, HOLDING IN WHAT IS TO COME. “THEN HE MAY ALREADY KNOW YOU ARE HERE. WE MUST PREPARE FOR WAR.” “ARTEMIS. PREPARE THE HOUSE FOR AN ATTACK.” PEHTA SAYS. “RIGHT AWAY MA’AM.” ARTEMIS ANSWERS. “I NEED TO GET BRILLE. AND PROBABLY STYPHANI TOO.” STELLAR ANNOUNCES, UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE IS MET WITH NODS, THEN QUICKLY WALKS OUT. SHE RETURNS A FEW MINUTES LATER WITH A SHORT, BUT QUITE PRETTY WOMAN AND ANOTHER TALLER ALSO PRETTY WOMAN WHOM SHE INTRODUCES AS BRILLE AND STYPHANI. BRILLE SITS DOWN NEXT TO STYPHANI, AND BEGINS TO WHISPER QUIETLY TO HER AND STELLAR. SHE THEN SAYS “LAYVIN IS COMING. WE KNOW THAT HE WILL ATTACK IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. HE WILL TRY TO TAKE ONE OF US HOSTAGE, PROBABLY CALUX OR LEX. POSSIBLY ME.” AT THIS I FEEL CALUX GRAB MY HAND, AND I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT FOR HIS SAFETY, BUT FOR MINE. I HOLD HIS HAND TIGHTLY ALSO, LETTING HIM KNOW THAT I FEEL THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIM. ADELAI’S EYES FLASH TOWARDS US, THEN BACK AGAIN. PHOBES ORDERS DINNER, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A BETTER MEAL. COLD, LIGHT GREEN SOUP, FOLLOWED BY A SPICY CHICKEN DISH, AND SOMETHING LIKE A TIRAMISU WITH A DRY, SWEET WINE FOR DESSERT. AFTER, WE ARE SHOWN TO OUR ROOMS. EACH “ROOM” IS PRETTY MUCH AN APARTMENT. MINE IS RIGHT NEXT TO CALUX’S AND ZARIN’S. AS I LAY DOWN TO SLEEP, I PUT MY HAND WHERE I KNOW CALUX IS PLACING HIS RIGHT NOW. WE SEND THOUGHTS BACK AND FORTH TO EACH OTHER FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE AN ETERNITY, BUT IS PROBABLY ONLY A FEW MINUTES. WE THEN PULL BACK, AND FALL ASLEEP. THE ATTACK ON THE HOUSE I WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING FEELING REFRESHED. I FIND ANOTHER LONG, LOOSE DRESS IN THE WARDROBE. I SHOWER, BRAID MY HAIR, PULL THE DRESS ON AND HEAD DOWNSTAIRS. THERE I FIND BREAKFAST WAITING FOR ME. EGGS, TOAST, HASH BROWNS, AND BACON ON A PLATE WITH TIERS OF FRUIT AND A STEAMING CUP OF TEA. ARTEMIS WALKS IN. “EMPEROR PHOBLE REQUESTS A MEETING WITH YOU AT 10:00 A.M.” I LOOK AT THE CLOCK. 8:45. PLENTY OF TIME. I FINISH MY BREAKFAST AND GO FIND CALUX. HE IS SITTING IN A LIBRARY READING. I WALK IN. HE DOESN’T LOOK UP, BUT I SEND HIM THE MESSAGE I HEARD. HE FINALLY SAYS “YOU GOT UP TOO EARLY.” I RESPOND WITH “YOU GOT UP EARLIER.” HE IS SILENT TO THIS, BUT HE KNOWS I’M RIGHT. I SIT DOWN NEXT TO HIM. “YOU’RE SHUTTING ME OUT. WHY?” I ASK. “BECAUSE I CAN’T LET YOU KNOW.” HE RESPONDS. “KNOW WHAT? CAY, YOU CAN’T SHUT ME OUT FOREVER.” I SAY. I AM MET WITH A GLARE THAT I KNOW MEANS “YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW. STOP ASKING.” I NOW REMAIN SILENT, SHUTTING THE DOOR ON MY MIND. HE TAKES MY HAND. “LAYVIN WILL ATTACK TODAY.” I AM QUIET FOR A MOMENT, THEN RESPOND WITH “WILL THE PEOPLE BE OKAY?” SILENCE WASHES OVER LIKE A WAVE. I GET NO RESPONSE. WE REMAIN THERE IN SILENCE, UNTIL I THINK TO HIM THAT WE NEED TO MEET PHOBES FOR THE MEETING. WE GET UP AND WALK TO THE ROOM. WE THINK BACK AND FORTH FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE REACH THE ROOM WE GO INSIDE. PHOBES IS SITTING ALONG WITH PEHTA, STELLAR, DUNDYN, AND ARIA, ADELAI, ZARIN, AND JAX. WE SIT DOWN. STELLAR THEN SAYS “LAYVYN WILL ATTACK TODAY. WE MUST BE READY.” PEHTA ACKNOWLEDGES THIS, AND THEN SAYS “LAYVIN IS A DANGER TO THE CITY. WE NEED TO WARN THE PEOPLE.” ARTEMIS THEN SHOWS UP ASKING HOW WE SHOULD WARN THEM. ARIA’S GREEN EYES ARE SHINING WITH EXCITEMENT AS SHE TAKES THIS IN, HER BLACK HAIR FALLING IN A SHEET AROUND HER SHOULDERS. ZARIN IS WATCHING ALL THIS, HER DARK FACE SET LIKE STONE. CALUX IS TENSE, AS AM I. I HEAR A ROARING SOUND FROM ABOVE, AND CALUX GRABS ME, AND WE RUN. WE RUN FOR OUR LIVES AS BOMBS EXPLODE AND DEBRIS RAINS DOWN LIKE SOME UNEARTHLY THUNDERSTORM FROM HELL. WE RUN DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS, THEM ANOTHER ONE. SOON I AM TIRED. WE STOP, THE NOISES SEEM DISTANT NOW, ALTHOUGH I CAN HEAR THE FOOTSTEPS OF MANY PEOPLE. CALUX THINKS TO ME THAT THESE AREN’T PHOBLE’S MEN, AND WE PANIC, DUCKING INTO THE ROOM RIGHT NEXT TO US. WE HIDE IN A CLOSET, PULLING CLOAKS AND JUNK OVER US, AS DESTRUCTION REIGNS AROUND US. KIDNAPPINGS I WAKE UP A FEW HOURS LATER, APPARENTLY I HAD FALLEN ASLEEP AND WAS NOW LEANING AGAINST CALUX. HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME. “WE’RE SAFE IN HERE.” HE SAYS. “I KNOW.” I RESPOND. FINDING A PEEPHOLE, I LOOK OUTSIDE. DESTRUCTION HAS WREAKED HAVOC ON THE HOUSE. I NOW REALIZE THAT NOWHERE IS TRULY SAFE, AND RECOIL VIOLENTLY WHEN I SEE A MAN IN A DARK CLOAK WALK INTO THE ROOM. I SEND THIS TO CALUX, AND HE THOUGHTS TO ME THAT THIS IS LAYVIN. I HUDDLE UP RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, AND TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT. CALUX ALSO THOUGHTS TO ME THAT THERE IS A SECRET TUNNEL THAT LEADS TO A PORTAL TO A SAFE SPOT. I THOUGHT TO HIM TO GO. FIND THE PORTAL. I ALREADY KNOW THAT IT IS ONLY BUILT FOR ONE PERSON. HE LET THAT SLIP. “WE NEED TO GO TO THE PORTAL. YOU NEED TO GO, LEX.” HE THINKS. “NO. IF HE GETS YOU, HE WILL KILL YOU, CAY.” I RESPOND. HE COMES BACK WITH “HE WILL NOT HURT THE SON OF A KING.” “ALL THE MORE REASON.” I SHOOT BACK. HE HANDS ME A KNIFE, SAYING “IF HE CAPTURES YOU IN THE SAFE ZONE, USE THIS.” HE PULLS SOME SECRET LEVER AND A DOOR OPENS. WE GO THROUGH UNTIL I SEE A FAINT LIGHT UP AHEAD. I REALIZE THIS IS A PORTAL. “GO, CAY.” I SAY. “NO. LEX YOU NEED TO GO.” HE SAYS. WHEN I DON’T BUDGE, HE PICKS ME UP AND ATTEMPTS TO THROW ME INTO THE PORTAL, I HOLD ONTO HIM, AND USE HIS WEIGHT TO PUSH HIM INTO THE PORTAL. HE LOSES HIS BALANCE AND FALLS. HE IS SAFE NOW. I THINK TO HIM THAT HE IS SAFE NOW, AND HE SHUTS ME OUT AS THE PORTAL DISAPPEARS LEAVING NOTHING BUT BLACKNESS. I HEAR VOICES BEHIND ME. A MAN’S VOICE SAYS “SO, YOU ARE THIS AMAZING LEX I HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT.” I SLOWLY TURN AROUND AND AM MET WITH THE MAN I SAW IN THE HALL. COLD BLUE EYES STARE AT ME FROM A FACE THAT CAN’T BE ANY OLDER THAN 20. HE WALKS UP TO ME, AND FREEZES ME WITH WHATEVER CALUX USED. “YOU’RE LAYVIN. YOU. YOU KILLED MY FATHER!” THIS REALIZATION HITS ME LIKE A TRAIN. HE RESPONDS WITH “DO YOU REALIZE HOW LITTLE THAT NARROWS THINGS DOWN? I ONLY KNOW YOUR NAME, NOT YOUR LIFE STORY.” I REALIZE THAT IS JUST A KID IN A CLOAK, AND NOT AN ALL-POWERFUL WAR-LORD. I DECIDE TO RESIST HIS BONDAGE, AND FIND THAT I CAN’T. “I’M NOT JUST A KID IN A CLOAK.” HE SAYS. I REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING. PANIC TAKES OVER AS I BEGIN TO TWIST, KNOWING THAT I WON’T GET FREE. HE ISN’T A KID IN A CLOAK. HE IS THE SON OF THE PHOENIX EMPEROR. HE IS THE PERSON WHO WILL EITHER END IT ALL, OR SAVE IT ALL. AND IT WON’T BE THE LATTER. “OR MAYBE IT WILL, JUST NOT FOR YOU.” I START AT THIS. “YES, I CAN READ MINDS.” I CLEAR MY MIND AT THIS. LAYVIN TAKES ME TO A SHIP LIKE CALUX’S, BUT MORE STREAMLINED, LIKE AN ARROW INSTEAD OF AN OVAL. I AM TAKEN TO A PRISON CELL. I HEAR THE SHIP TAKE OFF. SITTING DOWN ON THE FLOOR, I CURL UP AND BEGIN TO CRY. TEARS, LIKE HOT KNIVES CUT THEIR WAY ACROSS MY CHEEKS. I SLEEP, RESTLESS WAVES OF EMOTION ROLLING THROUGH MY BODY. WHEN I COME TO, THERE IS A BOWL OF A GRAIN OF SOME SORT, SOMEWHAT LIKE BROWN RICE, BUT SLIGHTLY MUSHY, AND A BOTTLE OF WATER. I EAT IT. SILENCE PRESSES AGAINST MY EARS. HOURS PASS, EVERY MINUTE SEEMS TO DRAG ALONG LIKE A SLOW MOVING RIVER. KEEP LOOKING LEX, LEX, WHERE ARE YOU? COME ON, COME ON! KEEP LOOKING. CALUX, KEEP LOOKING. LAYVYN CAN’T KEEP HER FROM YOU FOREVER. AS SILENCE PRESSES AGAINST MY EARS, I LOOK AT THE SAFE PLACE LEX PUSHED ME INTO. IT WAS LIKE ONE OF PHOBE’S ROOMS, BUT THERE WAS NO DOOR. I WOULD SUPPOSE THE STONE REAPERS WOULD GET YOU OUT, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHEN THE ATTACK WILL BE OVER. I GO TO THE KITCHEN AREA. THERE IS WATER FROM A WELL, AND A PLANT FARM, ALONG WITH ENOUGH DRIED, CANNED, AND PROCESSED FOOD TO LAST YEARS. I THINK ABOUT LEX, AND TRY TO CONNECT WITH HER, BUT COME BACK EMPTY, ALTHOUGH I KNOW SHE HEARD ME. I WAS RIGHT, THE MEN I HEARD COMING WERE LAYVYN AND HIS TROOPS. HATING MYSELF, I WONDER IF PHOBES, PEHTA, DUNDYN, AND LEX’S FRIENDS MADE IT OUT ALIVE. I FALL ASLEEP ON THE BED. A FEW HOURS LATER I WAKE UP WITH A START. SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS TRYING TO REAP THEIR WAY IN. I GET UP, ALERT, AND AIM AT WHERE THE SOUND IS COMING FROM, A DEEP, LOW RUMBLING SOUND, GETTING LOUDER EVERY SECOND. AS THE ROOM STARTS TO SHAKE, I HEAR A CRACKING SOUND, AND A STONE REAPER COMES OUT OF A TUNNEL. “SIR, COME WITH ME,” HE SAYS. “THE ATTACK IS OVER, AND THE HOUSE IS SAFE FOR YOUR RETURN.” I JUMP ONTO THE SQUARE OF ROCK THAT HE PULLS FROM THE GROUND. AS WE RIDE ON THE PLATFORM, I ASK “IS EVERYONE ALRIGHT?” HE REPLIES, “WELL, YES AND NO, SIR. MISS KALEXIOS WAS KIDNAPPED, BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS ALRIGHT.” I DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS, AS THIS IS OLD NEWS. WE RIDE IN SILENCE FOR THE REST OF THE TUNNEL. IT MUST BE MILES UNDERGROUND. THE RIDE TAKES FIVE MINUTES, AND THE REAPER IS FAST. WHEN WE FINALLY EMERGE INTO SUNLIGHT, PHOBLE GREETS ME WITH A SAD SMILE. ARIA, ZARIN, JAX, AND ADELAI ARE HUDDLED IN A CORNER, TRYING TO COMFORT EACH OTHER. EVERYONE IS COVERED IN SOOT, DIRT, AND DUST. DUNDYN COMES OVER TO ME “ARTEMIS DIDN’T MAKE IT OUT.” SHE SAYS. I FREEZE AT THIS, ARTEMIS. ARTEMIS IS GONE. THE EMOTIONS FLICKER ACROSS MY FACE BEFORE SETTLING IN AN EXPRESSIONLESS MASK. “THAT IS,” CHOOSING MY WORDS CAREFULLY, “VERY UNFORTUNATE.” I END UP LOOKING LIKE I CARED NOTHING FOR HER, WHICH IS NOTHING LIKE I MEANT, BUT DUNDYN SEES HOW I REALLY FEEL. I TRY TO REACH OUT TO LEX AGAIN. LEX? LEX? LEX, ANSWER ME. PLEASE. THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU’RE ALIVE. AND SO DO I. I KEEP THAT LAST PART FROM HER. SHE CAN’T KNOW I EVER FELT THAT WAY ABOUT HER. SHE CAN’T KNOW I WORRY. WE GO INTO A GUEST HOUSE, WHICH IS MUCH SMALLER. STILL MASSIVE, BUT MUCH SMALLER. I AM SHOWN MY ROOM. I LAY DOWN ON THE BED. JUST LAYING THERE, I WATCH THE SUN TAKE IT’S TRACK ACROSS THE SKY. AS IT SLOWLY TURNS TO TWILIGHT, THEN DARKNESS, THE MOON COMES. TEARS STREAK DOWN MY FACE AS I CRY OUT TO LEX, AGAIN WITH NO RESPONSE. WHEN I FINALLY FALL ASLEEP, MY DREAMS ARE HAUNTED WITH IMAGES OF A GIRL CRYING, SCREAMING IN PAIN, AND I CAN DO NOTHING. VYRONIKA HE KEEPS TRYING. I NEED TO REACH HIM, BUT HE WILL FIND OUT. HE CAN’T FIND OUT. IF HE FINDS OUT, HE WILL HURT ME. I WAKE UP WITH A GASP. THE BENCH THAT I SLEEP ON GIVES NO WARMTH, AND MY CLOTHES ARE LIGHT. I GET UP AND MOVE AROUND. KNOWING THAT I WILL NOT SLEEP, I TRY TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR WHAT IS TO COME. CALUX HAS BEEN TRYING TO REACH ME. I CAN FEEL THAT HE NEEDS TO REACH ME. I WANT TO TELL HIM THAT I CAN’T HAVE LAYVI2N FINDING OUT THAT I AM TRYING TO REACH OUT TO HIM, BUT IT EXPLAINS ITSELF. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, ONE OF THE GUARDS COMES FOR ME. HER NAME IS VYRONIKA. SHE HAS BROUGHT MY FOOD AND WATER FOR HOWEVER LONG I’VE BEEN IN HERE. SHE AND I HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS, DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES. SHE WAS BORN ON THE PLANET DORINSH. SHE IS WHAT I WOULD CALL AN ELF. GOOD AT FIGHTING, SKILLED WITH A BOW, SHE HAS BRONZE SKIN, RAVEN-BLACK HAIR, BIG, POINTED EARS, AND LARGE, AMBER-COLORED EYES, FLECKED WITH BROWN, HAZEL, AND GOLD. WE TRUST EACH OTHER GREATLY, AND SHE KNOWS ME, AND I KNOW HER. SHE BRINGS MY FOOD. MORE MUSHY GRAIN. SHE HANDS IT TO ME. “I SNUCK SOME GIRA MEAT.” SHE SAYS. “THANK YOU. YOU HAVE HELPED ME VERY MUCH IN THIS PLACE.” I RESPOND. SHE LEAVES. I EAT. THE MEAT IS OVERCOOKED, BUT IT’S BETTER THAN NOTHING. I SLEEP. AFTER A WHILE, FOOD COMES. I EAT. SLEEP. THE CYCLE GOES ON. AFTER 30 CYCLES, VYRONIKA COMES. “THE COMMANDER WANTS TO SEE YOU.” SHE LOOKS WORRIED. I GO WITH HER. SHE PUTS HANDCUFFS ON ME. “I NEED TO PUT THESE ON YOU.” SHE SAYS. WE WALK DOWN WHITE CORRIDORS IN SILENCE. SHE TAKES ME INTO A ROOM. SHE SAYS, “I HAVE ORDERS TO LEAVE. THE COMMANDER WILL BE HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.” SHE LEAVES. I TRY NOT TO CRY. HERE I AM, ALONE, ON A SPACESHIP, MILLIONS OF MILES AWAY FROM MY FRIENDS, BILLIONS OF MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THE PLAN AS WE GO TO A MEETING ROOM, JAX WIPES TEARS AWAY. ARIA LOOKS TERRIBLE. HER BLACK HAIR HAS LOST IT’S SHINE, AND HER EYES ARE NOT THE SAME JEWEL GREEN. THEY ARE DULL, AND HAVE ENORMOUS SADNESS BEHIND THEM. ADELAI’S FACE IS SET LIKE STONE. HE IS HIDING FEAR BEHIND THEM, THOUGH. ZARIN LOOKS LIKE SHE JUST WENT THROUGH HELL. HER FACE IS COVERED IN SCRATCHES AND CUTS. I DON’T WANT TO KNOW HOW SHE GOT THEM. I ASSUME I PROBABLY LOOK THE SAME. WE WALK INTO THE ROOM. PEHTA, PHOBES, LUNDYN, AND STELLAR DON’T LOOK AS BAD, BUT THEY STILL LOOK LIKE THEIR HOME JUST GOT BOMBED. BRILLE AND STYPHNI ARE THERE TOO. THEY AND STELLAR ARE SITTING IN A CORNER. MUTTERING TO EACH OTHER, I CATCH A FEW WORDS. “LAYVIN… ATTACK… DEAD… LEX…” I GROW FEARFUL. I REMEMBER MY MOTHER. “GO. CAY, GO. BUT KNOW THAT EVERYTHING I’VE DONE, I’VE DONE FOR YOU” SCREAMING, CRYING, MOTHER. MOTHER! NO! “SH, SHHH, IT’LL BE ALRIGHT. I NEED TO GO.” EXPLOSION, SCREAMING, CRYING, GET DOWN! FLYING, MORE SCREAMING, FATHER! EXPLOSION, YOU ARE KING NOW. DEATH, PEOPLE, DEAD. DEAD PEOPLE. CROWN. GUARDS. ATTACK. LAYVIN. CORONATION. KING NOW. DREAMS. LEX. FIND HER. LEX WHERE ARE YOU? LEX? LEX! I BLINK BACK TEARS. WE SIT DOWN. PHOBLE SAYS “OK, WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. HOW DO WE GET HER BACK?” WE ALL LOOK AT EACH OTHER, THEN ADELAI SAYS, “THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESCUE MISSION. CALUX, I NEED YOU TO TELL HER THAT WE ARE COMING. TELL HER THAT WE NEED A BEACON. YOU CAN TRACK HER, RIGHT?” I RESPOND, “YES.” AND SEND HER A NOTE, TELLING HER THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A PLAN TO GET HER OUT OF THERE. SUDDENLY, SHE RESPONDS. I AM HERE. I AM ALIVE. LAYVIN IS COMING. I JOLT BACK. PEHTA LOOKS AT ME QUESTIONINGLY. “SHE’S ALIVE! SHE’S OK!” I EXCLAIM. THERE IS SOME CHEERING AT THIS. ADELAI CONTINUES, “WE NEED A TEAM TO INFILTRATE THE PRISON SHE’S IN. WE SHOULD HAVE A SMALL SHIP THAT CAN LINK ONTO THE PRISON FROM ANYWHERE. CALUX, WHERE IS SHE?” I SAY, “ON A SHIP IN THE SKRAELKA SYSTEM.” PHOBLE PULLS UP A STAR MAP. “WE ARE HERE,” HE POINTS TO WHERE WE ARE, THE PLANET EMARA, “THIS IS WHERE LEX IS.” HE POINTS AT ALMOST THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GALAXY. I HEAR ARIA SAY, “YEAH, THAT’S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.” I SILENTLY AGREE. NOT ONLY IS THE SKAELKA SYSTEM REALLY FAR AWAY, IT IS FILLED WITH LAYVIN SUPPORTERS. GETTING TO HER WILL BE A PROBLEM. WE WILL NEED HELP. JUST READ THE DES.