What you carry will save them all. Let the burden fall to us.
His last words echoed in my memory.
A dip in the destroyed asphalt made me stumble. I grabbed Ravana, forcing my eyes open.
I wasn’t within Xan’s walls anymore, but I wasn’t alone.
My past was bad enough. What came next—the tests—made my chest tighten. I’d bolted before I could ask what they meant. I’d run with a stranger again.
Why did I keep doing this?
“What’s going to happen?” I asked, keeping the sudden panic out of my voice.
“No one knows. By tonight, you’ll have answers. Families’ll fight, Teivel’s full of shit, Alex won’t touch you. But they’ll still want proof you’re free. I want it too. Nothin’ personal.”
The knot of unease loosened. She wanted me to prove my free will, which, in essence, meant she hoped I still had it. It was a start.
I waved. “Don’t apologize. I get it. I meant what I said. I also accused Xan… er, the Architect of manipulating me multiple times. He’s too smart for his own good.”
Ravana grunted. “Too late to whine. We push through what’s in front of us.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
We walked past clusters of dilapidated buildings and mini tent cities. Trash and unidentifiable muck littered the ground. People didn’t stroll aimlessly; they walked with purpose or stood, clearly on some guard duty or lookout.
We approached another small alley. A trio of armed men with bright red bandanas tied around their arms momentarilystopped us before recognizing who Ravana was and allowing us to pass.
“Wouldn’t the last group have warned this one?” I asked.
Ravana grimaced. “How? When?” She raised an eyebrow. “The Architect’s communication devices are unique. And the man guarding the outer gate would kill all three of these we just passed to take their gate. If I killed them for him, he could take it with no effort. He’s had one of his guys trailing us to see if that exact thing would happen.”
I slowed. “I hadn’t even noticed.”
“I am aware.” Ravana sighed. “The past was soft. Weak. Earth burned the dead weight, like it should’ve.”
I kept my eyes on the ground, hesitant to argue because, in some way, I agreed. Not that I wanted to wipe out billions of people, but I had been a lower-middle-class white woman in a big city. We paid our bills, and in daily life, most of the violence I saw was on a screen. But it was still there. Just because it wasn’t happening to me didn’t mean the world was safe for everyone. Inequality, people trying to do what’s right for themselves while hurting others, and outright evil filled the news.
I reflected on the cop who picked me up before my surgery. He could have taken me home; instead, he stuck a barefoot, mentally unstable woman in her pajamas in a cell, because that’s what our system did.
“That’s some deep thinking.” Ravana slowed to synchronize her steps with mine. “I thought you’d argue.”
I shrugged. “With great power comes great responsibility.” Corny, sure, but true. “Our world wasn’t fixing it. I’m not sure if it was fixable. If I could go back in time and stop the apocalypse, I would, but I can’t change the past, like you just said, and idealizing it doesn’t help anyone.”
Ravan cocked her head to the side. “Didn’t think you had it in you, Quinn. Consider me surprised.”
The sound of horseshoes hitting asphalt came from behind me.
“She impresses everyone; don’t give her a bigger head,” Brit called out.
I turned just as my friend dismounted. “Did’ja think I’d let you get away that easy?”
I grinned and ran to my friend, who tossed her reins to Joe and hugged me.
“Never, Brit,” I said, squeezing her back.
Brit pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m cycling because of you, Quinn. I failed you once. Won’t again.”
I put my hand over hers and blinked with surprise. “Because of me? What did I do?”
