The Variables

“What are we in danger from exactly?” Ainsley asked, joining them. She shoved her hands deep in the pockets of her sweater and hunched up her shoulders near her ears.

Darla closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the waves crashing against the sand. Just beyond them was a beach with scattered planes on their makeshift runway, and beyond that the distinct flickering lights of a place they would never see or experience. Her shoulders slumped, and Darla opened her eyes. “Evil,” she answered, as the Ferris wheel creaked above her head. “Pure, unadulterated evil.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Lucy could see Grant riding the elevator in silence from her place in the sky bridge doorway. A guard stood a few feet in front of her and prevented her from using the common room, but Lucy didn’t care. Grant was here: his eyes were wide as he sca

“Grant!”

She could hear Gordy call out, “Stand down. Let her go” as she rushed past them all and straight into Grant’s arms.

“Grant!” she said again. She reached him and slid her arms around his neck and buried her head into the middle of his chest. She loved the way her head felt tucked up against him, as if all their angles and edges had been designed to fit together. Grant kissed the top of her head, and she didn’t pull away. Voices of dissent rose and fell behind them.

“I’ve missed you,” he said. “It’s been an adventure. I—”

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Lucy said. “Cass heard from her father! She came to tell me the moment she knew...which was good, because we had a falling out the first night. And I’m not supposed to know...but I thought maybe I could say it was luck that I saw you? I don’t know. I was on this mom and daughter date and that was when Cass found me, and...”

“Goodness,” he said. The room felt wobbly. He put a tender hand on the top of her head. “Take a breath, Lula.”

“I’m excited!” Lucy said without apology. “I haven’t talked to you. I didn’t think this would happen...I’m just excited!”

“I need to talk to you,” Grant interrupted. His face was severe. His hands were shaking. He watched her face turn white; she could sense the intensity in his voice, the importance of time alone.

“They didn’t want anyone to see you guys arrive,” Lucy said. “If it hadn’t been for Cass...” she trailed off and she tried to search his eyes for answers. Grant looked up and he watched an argument brewing behind them. Blair was having an intense conversation with her father and Gordy. Scott and Claude were only a few steps behind. Lucy looked back at her father and tried to make eye contact with him, but he kept his eyes on the floor. When she looked to Claude next, he was staring right at her. Then he slid his eyes over to the elevator and gave a subtle jerk of his head.

Lucy slipped her hand into Grant’s and began to lead him in that direction.

“Why is she here?” Huck snapped and he pointed to Lucy, his voice carrying. “I had pla

Blair began speaking again in hushed tones while Scott and Claude took even greater steps away from the conversation.

“You have no power over this situation, Blair. You are dismissed.”

“Dad!” Blair cried out. “I’m asking for you to listen to me...”

Their conversation resumed in whispers. Lucy’s heart pounded.

Lucy reached the elevator and she pushed the button, willing it to arrive faster. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice low. “Grant...”

“I need Ethan,” Grant replied.

“He might be with Cass,” she said. His tone was clear: something bad had happened. Something bad was happening.

“I need Ethan,” he said again. “And I’m sorry, but I think I need Ethan now. I have a letter...”

Lucy nodded.

“Okay. Okay. And can we talk about your letter?” Lucy asked. The pieces of the letter might have still been floating around the library; or maybe Gordy had reclaimed them all and had pieced them back together—reconstructing their private words to each other. She wanted to tell him that she couldn’t ever choose to leave him behind. She wanted him to look at her and see her loyalty. She knew that they would be reunited and here they were; she wanted to say, “I have faith in us. Don’t you have faith in us?”

The elevator bell dinged, and they slipped inside. Lucy pushed a random button and hit the door close button over and over.

“And why are we letting them leave?” Huck yelled. He stepped away from Blair, but she put her hand out. Lucy watched as Huck batted her hand away as he stalked forward, the doors closing before he could stop them.

“Grant—” Lucy’s eyes were wide. She leaned against the glass. She glanced at Grant’s neckline and searched for Salem’s necklace. Pulling away from the glass, Lucy tucked a hand under his shirt and then ran her hand across his collarbone. “It’s gone,” she said.

“It’s gone,” Grant whispered. “I’m sorry. You have no idea…I’m sorry.” He looked away; she could see his shame and she tried to co

Grant leaned down and kissed her softly. When he pulled back, he ran his thumb across her cheek. He was crying. His nose was red and his mouth turned into a frown. A tearful, snot-nose kiss was not how she had imagined their reunion. She wasn’t upset; she was afraid.

“I love you, Lula. I love you so much. But you have to take me to your brother.”

The Kymberlin residents already knew Cass, and it didn’t take long for someone to say they had seen her heading toward the East Tower pool. The pool was on one of the top levels of the main tower, and its domed ceiling was pure glass. Quickly, Grant and Lucy made their way to the pool and let themselves in through the clunky metal doors. It was warm inside with hot, stale air. Thick white clouds rolled over the top of them and exposed only brief splotches of blue. Cass was swimming laps in a bright purple bathing suit and a floral swimming cap. She moved gracefully through the water, and Lucy watched her at the edge of the pool, unsure of how to get her attention. The entire area was open and cavernous, and all they could hear was the steady splash of Cass’s feet against the water. It took several laps before Cass noticed them waiting for her, and as she neared the end of the pool, she grabbed onto the edge and ran her fingers over her nose and pulled off her goggles. She smiled, water dripping down her face, and pulled herself out of the pool in one fluid motion.