“Thank you, Mister Luce,” Calren said, his smile easy.
Then the Timekeeper grabbed his light-catcher and limped his way back where he came from, while the rest of us watched.
Tears pricked the backs of my eyes.
“All done,” said the annoying voice of the speaker. “Now is the time, dearest Hands. Now is the final round of a long game, a chance for you to show your bravery, your intellect, a chance for you to becomefamous, rich, to give your lives a completely different trajectory. We do so hope you make us proud.”
I bit my tongue. Blinked my eyes. Focused on the forest ahead—it’s just a forest!I’d spent my whole life in forests darker than this, hadn’t I?
“And most importantly—entertain us!”
The crowd cheered.
Calren nodded. “Good-timing to all of you,” he said, and I only read the words on his lips. Couldn’t hear his voice.
March’s hand was around mine, and the next moment, we were walking ahead. All of us together, putting one foot after the other, going into that forest, trying to pretend we didn’t want to be running in the opposite direction.
Johnny spoke again. “One last thing, if I may ask, dearest Hands. Sayhito the host for us!”
I took in a deep breath and squeezed March’s hand, reminded myself that he was right there. We all were. Nothing bad was going to happen, no matter what it felt like. We were going to get to the other side of this trial one way or the other—and then we’d finally be free.
41
Silence in the forest.
The moment we stepped through the trees, it was like a different world in there—also unsurprising. The shouts and the cheers of the audience no longer reached us. Neither did Johnny’s voice.
And I could have sworn we hadn’t even gone ten feet in before we could no longer see them at all anymore. Just trees, trees, and more trees.
Dark.
It was like the sun wasn’t in the sky, whenwe knewit was. I’d been sweating out there in the arena, but in here, I was thankful for the long sleeves of my suit.
“Two parts,” Mimi whispered, then said again, “Two parts,”louder. Like she wanted to test her voice.
“Yes. Two parts. Let’s get through the first, first,” Silas said.
“Historically speaking, the fourth trial is always the most complicated,” Helen.
“They wereallcomplicated.” Seth.
“But they do saythiswill be more so.” Cook.
“What does it even matter? We’ll have no choice but to figure it out, anyhour…”
It seemed to me they were all talking to distract themselves, to drown out the fear. The silence.
It actually helped.
“How long do you think we’ll need to walk for?”
“What did that speaker mean when he said,time will answer with teeth?”
“He always says nonsense,” said someone, and another, at the same time, “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”
“I’m never-ever-reven setting foot in this city ever again.”
“Count me in.”
