Page 157 of Storm Caller
“Sort of?” I say. “Don’t worry. I made it out last time.”
“Um,” Domino says. “Sorry if that doesn’t make me feel any better?”
I grin at her, and that doesn’t wipe the incredulous look off her face. I do feel a bit like I’m losing it. Like I’m not really here and I’m suspended outside my body. Untethered like a kite in a storm. Too many things aren’t adding up, and I need something to give.
The elevator climbs, and part of me expects it to stop midway, revealing an entire battalion of Patrols, but we reach the top floor with a ding. We’re so high up, I can practically feel the building swaying under my feet as we exit into the same foyer where they held my trial.
The polished tiles gleam in the light, and I stomp over the words Protect. Preserve. Prosper, which are carved into the floor, trying to punish them with my boots.
What a fucking lie.
Ahead of me is the room where I had my trial, while wide corridors lead left and right. I take a guess and turn left, assuming I’ve picked correctly when we enter a hallway decorated with various medals and honors bearing General Sol’s name.
Another reception desk awaits us, staffed by a man who eyes us warily.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
“I’m here to see the general,” I say, trying to sound confident.
“And you are?”
“Poet Graves,” I answer. “She’ll know why I’m here.”
“I’m sorry, but the general is busy. Perhaps we can make an appointment once I confirm she would indeed like to meet with you.”
“I don’t have time for that. I want to see her now.”
“Well, I’m sorry you—”
I don’t wait for him to finish. I storm past the desk and shove open the large double doors, revealing a massive office lined with windows and decorated with deep-purple tiles. In the center sits a huge black desk, from which General Sol slowly rises.
“Where is he?” I demand. “Tell me where he is!”
“Poet, what are you doing here? I told you that I have things under control.”
“We came back to help you!” I yell. “You said you needed us! But I know you’re lying. Where is he!”
“Theo, get Grady!” the general shouts as she rounds her desk, hands held out. “Poet, calm down,” she says in a soft voice that I assume is meant to be soothing, but all it does is piss me off even more.
How dare she?
“I won’t calm down! Let him go! He’ll leave the city, and he won’t bother anyone again. He didn’t kill those people, and you know it!”
“Poet,” the general says. “Please keep your voice down.”
“I will not! You tricked me! Why?!” The final word is hurled with such visceral frustration that my voice cracks. “Please! Just let him go!”
A flurry of footsteps sounds behind me, and I turn around to find the general’s Circle Guard approaching with their stunners all aimed at me. Domino waits off to the side, eyes wide, gaze jumping back and forth, clearly at a loss for what to do.
“Poet,” Sol says. “I think you need to calm down.”
“No!” I shout, spinning around to face her. “What have you done with him? I know it was you!”
Suddenly, I’m surrounded by her Guards, who block my path to the general. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of someone familiar in the doorway as they close in, choking me off.
“Dad!” I shout. “Make them tell me where Rook is! Please!”
I’m crying, tears streaming down my cheeks. My knees are weak. My stomach hurts. My heart flutters in my chest like it’s a caged moth desperately trying to escape.
