He smiles, a slow, creeping smile that moves across his face like shadows. “As Milo said, the law is the law. However, I’m afraid that I cannot agree with his sentiments. Are we to change every law, every time it doesn’t suit one individual? I do not agree.”
Ollena steps forward. “Adam,” she pleads. “Please.”
He purses his lips. “My decision is final.”
Tristan’s dad looks at me one more time, before he closes his eyes. “The vote is not unanimous. Motion rejected.”
Motion rejected.
I am Denied.
My shoulders start to shake as I look up at my parents. “Mama? Dad?”
Ollena steps in front of me. “I request a closed Council session to debate the matter further.”
Justice Milo looks uncomfortable. “You know that we cannot do that, Ollena. I am truly sorry. But the vote must stand.”
“This isn’t right,” Ollena looks around wildly. “I will not stand for this!”
“Then it is lucky that you are not the one in charge of our laws, Ollena.” Councilor Erikkson stands up. His face is full of false sympathy as he takes a step towards me, my parents closing ranks as they move in front of me.
“You,” my father says, his voice shaking, “are not taking my daughter anywhere.”
Jessalyn leans down while they argue, her breath ghosting my ear. “Get ready, Si. We’re going to run. We’ll hide somewhere, make a plan.”
Her desperation makes my throat ache. I can’t run. I can barely even walk, thanks to the pain coursing through me.
“Enough of this,” Erikkson snaps. The doors open, a number of Justice officers spilling into the room. My body starts to shake as they move up the aisle, boots crunching over the petals.
“What the hell is this?” Councilor Cohen asks, aghast. “Erikkson!”
“I expected some resistance,” Erikkson says. “So I asked some of our Justice force to be on standby, in case they were needed.” He tilts his head. “It looks to me like they are.”
“Touch her, and I’ll kill you,” Jessalyn threatens. My hands touch her back as she moves in front of me, touching my mother, my father.
“Stop.” The numbness is stealing over the pain, giving me the strength to push to my feet. “Stop this.”
I force my eyes away from the doors. They’re not coming.
They chose to keep their secrets, to protect Gray and Logan, over me. And as my eyes brush over Alicia, I make my own choice.
“I’ll go.” My words are quiet, unheard over the shouting that’s erupted again.
“I said I’ll go!”
My shout finally gets their attention, my parents swinging around to look at me with matching expressions of horror.
“Sienna,” my dad says, his voice shaking. “I can fix this.”
I shake my head, looking around at the Justice officers. “No, you can’t, Dad. And that’s okay.”
My dad’s face crumples, tears spilling down his cheeks. “Sienna.”
I push myself forward, wrapping my arms around him. His tears wet my neck, and I wipe them away as I move back.
“A new start, Dad,” I whisper. “Don’t think of it as an ending.”
My mother lets out a single sob. “You’re not going anywhere, Sienna. Sit down.”
