Page 111 of Rite of Unity

Even on a gray night that promised acid rain, small details were painfully clear.

Had the Cannons used this drug to eavesdrop, to lurk in the halls of our Rite house at night?

“There you are, Maryn.”

I spun around, heart in my throat.

Elias reached for my hand, lifting it to his lips.Warmth wrapped around me, sliding down my arm and resting comfortably in my chest.

I dipped into a curtsey, lowering my gaze.In this state, it was a challenge to school my face into neutrality.At any moment, he would grab my arm, escort me from the room, and name me tonight’s eliminated match.

My gaze lifted to his; Elias’s eyes burned into me, demanding answers.

I had none.

I had failed.

“Elias… Mr.Hale.”

His grip tightened around my fingers.“I have a surprise for you.”

I straightened just as a body barreled into me.“Maryn!”

I wrapped my arms around my best friend, squeezing, my heart banging against my ribs.“Ruth?Is it really you?”

She released me, backing up.I took her in.Her cheeks were flushed, her hair styled for a Center ball.For a moment, I forgot where I was.I forgot the trial and all that was at stake if I lost.For a heartbeat, I was a girl seeing her best friend again after weeks alone in the Center.

My gaze shot to Elias.

“I… Thank you.”

The words had barely left my mouth before Ruth slid her arm through mine, dragging me through the doors to Security Headquarters.

Inside, the space had been cleared of desks, and low lights hung from the ceiling.But my focus was on my friend.“How are you here?”

Ruth tugged us forward, and I glanced over my shoulder at Elias, trailing behind us.

We stopped beside the punch table, and I turned, wrapping Ruth in another hug as I buried my face in her hair.“I missed you.”

She wrapped her arms around my waist.“Me too.”

A tear slid down my cheek.All at once, the last sixty hours crashed over me.I held Ruth at arm’s length, inspecting her.Her eyes were clear, no dark circles.She had just completed Trial Four, but unlike Elite Rites, she wouldn’t be moving into the Center next.She would remain in the Middle.

What I would have given to be able to go home each night, to hug my mom and dad at the end of a trial.But my fate was destined to be very different from Ruth’s.

“Tell me everything,” I said, ladling punch into a cup for Ruth.

“Where do I even start?”She took the cup.“Last week was my final week at the bureau.Oh.But before I left, Corrine disappeared.Just—gone.A few weeks ago.There was all this talk for a week, nobody would say what about, and then nothing.No one's seen her since.I keep thinking about how she used to say—”

“Excuse me.”

Ruth backed up, and I turned toward Elias.

He looked at Ruth, never glancing my way.“May I borrow Maryn a moment?I promise to return her in one piece.”

Ruth’s cheeks flushed pink, and she nodded.

Elias took my hand, and my heart was back in my throat, making it hard to breathe.