Sydney turns to me. “Let’s stay in the room, then,” she says. “We’ll barricade the door and all that. We’ll get to be together another night.” She smiles sadly.
We all agree to wait until morning. Jackson uses his phone to call the airline while the girls and I sit on the bed to talk over the horrors of the day. But the idea of separating hangs over us. We stare at each other, the mood heavy weights on our feet, pulling us under.
“We’ll get through this,” I tell them, feeling that I have to fill the silence. “After the corporation is gone, we’ll get our forever. The one we deserve.”
“Promise?” Marcella asks. And I wait a long moment before I nod, meaning it with every bit of myself.
“Cross my heart,” I reply.
To: Stuart, Anton
RE: Girls
From: Davenworth, Raven
Today at 2:17 PM
You’re a liar.
Confidentiality notice: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information. Any unauthorized review or use is prohibited.
5
The sun is high above us as I stand with Sydney outside our motel. Jackson was right about the flights; the earliest one available was this afternoon, and Sydney decided to wait with us until it was time for us to head to the airport.
I hold her hands in mine while we pause next to the door of Jackson’s rental car. She’s going to be driving the car to Albany, the directions programmed into her phone. I can’t believe I’m willingly saying goodbye to her. Even though it’s temporary, we have never been apart for any significant amount of time. Even a few hours of separation at the academy was torture.
“We can change the plan,” I offer, tears stinging my eyes.
“Don’t even think about it,” Sydney says. “This isn’t just about us, Mena. It’s about all the girls—future girls. We save them by shutting down Innovations Corporation. We’re the only ones who can save them. But I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything,” I say earnestly.
“Find me,” she says. “Swear that you’ll find me, no matter how chaotic things get. We end up together, good or bad. The two of us with a big bag of popcorn, got it?”
We hug tightly, my eyes squeezed shut. I don’t want to imagine my life without Sydney, and it physically pains me when I pull back from her.
“We have to go,” Jackson says gently. A car service waits at the curb just outside the motel to take the rest of us to the airport.
I’d transferred money to the girls from what Leandra had given me, along with the information on the investors. It wasn’t much to go on. A name and address—nothing more. Not a single hint as to what we’re walking into. But we all agreed that violence is our last resort. We’ve seen enough of it.
“I love you,” Sydney says to me, and then calls the same to Marcella and Brynn, who are waiting by the curb. “I’ll see you all soon.” Sydney blows us a kiss and gets inside the car, readjusting the driver’s seat to accommodate her long legs.
It takes me a moment, but eventually I let Jackson lead me toward the car service, Marcella and Brynn already huddled together in the backseat. When I climb in and sit next to Brynn, she leans into me, whispering how hard this is, how impossible it will be without me by her side.
“It’s going to be okay,” I soothe, looking over her shoulder to Marcella. She nods that she agrees, but I can see the fear in her eyes too.
Jackson passes me his crutches and then eases himself into the front seat. He casts a worried glance in our direction before tellingthe driver to drop us all off at the airport. The girls are quiet on the drive, soaking up our last time together.
When we arrive at the airport, I have to say goodbye all over again, and this time, it’s even harder. I will officially be without any other girls.
“Are you scared?” Brynn asks me, her lips set in a worried pout. Around us, the airport bustles, alive and vibrant. But we’re on a lonely island full of fear and grief.
I try to smile to offer Brynn some comfort. “We’ll be in constant communication,” I say.
“And you’ll look for Annalise?” she confirms, and I laugh.
“Yes. Now get going.”
