I am free. I was ready to end my life rather than turn back to Isaac, but it appeared fate was on my side. I tossed my body over the ocean cliff. The water felt invigorating and I shortly lost consciousness after impact. Someone didn’t think it was my time to go. A fishing boat, of all the luck. We are en route to Guatemala, and the Canadian fishermen share my affinity for freedom. I plan to dedicate the rest of my life to stopping the travesties happening in America.
—The diary of Megan Jean
When Andrew released Mia she realized the rest of her friends had made it onto the roof.
“What happened?” Andrew asked.
“Alex, Carter, and I were at points on the wall,” Riley said. “The rest were waiting with weapons to storm the roof and take Grant out.”
“He told Mia not to come alone,” Carter said. “And naturally she didn’t listen.”
“I tried to give you hints,” Mia said.
“Those were the worst five seconds of my life,” Andrew said.
Standing at the top of the Rook, Mia looked around at their faces. Frank and Alex were holding each other, with huge smiles across their faces. Riley, Carter, Trent, and Corinna were laughing and hugging. They had done it. The Registry was destroyed. Corinna held her arms out and Mia went away from Andrew and hugged her sister. In the distance an explosion sounded and Mia broke the embrace.
“What was that?” Mia asked.
“The people are rioting,” Frank said. “Some of them in happiness, some in anger.”
Mia could see fires in the distance and hear groups chanting; they were too far away to make out any words. A loud pop came and everyone turned toward the entrance. It was Zack opening the hatch. He used his good arm to climb to the top and join everyone on the roof. He walked over toward Andrew and shook his hand. The two men patted each other on the back.
“What happens now?” Mia asked.
“A new world,” Alex said.
“Who will lead them?” Mia asked.
Over her entire experience she had never thought of that question. Destroying the Registry was her goal; she hadn’t considered the aftermath. Hearing Grant’s final words to Andrew made her think of the future. She could not let someone like him step up.
“It will take a few weeks for the people to calm down,” Zack said. “I know Affinity would like to set up a new government.”
“The Irish will likely be interested in offering help,” Riley said.
“What about the Americans?” Mia asked. “What will they want?”
“Who knows?” Trent said.
“Our time is done,” Zack said. “Affinity is sending someone to pick us up from Greg’s place. We have to get back there.”
Zack started walking back toward the door and the group started to follow.
“I’m staying,” Mia said.
“What for?” Riley asked. “You did your job.”
“When I went on the air tonight I told the people the truth,” Mia said. “Something nobody has done in a long time. This is my home; I can’t abandon it any longer.”
“You want to lead them?” Zack asked.
“I want to help them,” Mia said. “And I can do that more easily if I stay here.”
“This country is dangerous and volatile,” Riley said. “Not everyone will be happy with what happened tonight.”
“I know,” Mia said. “But that’s not enough to make me leave.”
“That’s your decision,” Zack said. “But if we’re going to make our pickup we need to leave now. Mia, I wish you the best of luck and I hope to see you again soon.”
He started walking toward the door. Riley came up to Mia next.
“You have my number,” Riley said. “Call and I will be here in a heartbeat.”
She gave Mia a hug before following Zack. Frank and Alex walked by next. Mia could see the tears in Alex’s eyes. They didn’t need another good-bye. Mia leaned in and gave both of them a hug.
“Thank you,” Mia said. “For everything.”
“Trent, are you coming?” Zack asked. “Affinity could use a man of your caliber.”
The former RAG agent nodded to Mia. He stuck out his hand to Andrew and the two shook.
“What about the rest of you?” Mia asked. “You don’t need to stay here.”
“I want to find my son,” Corinna said. “And then I want to help you.”
“Carter, what about your father?” Mia asked. “He’s waiting at Greg’s house.”
“We’ll see each other again,” Carter said. “But I think you’re going to need me more than he does.”
Carter walked up to Mia. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the top of the head. There was no romance in his touch. Mia imagined this was what having a brother would feel like.
“We can’t stay up here all night,” Carter said. “Corinna and I will see the other group off and wait for you at the bottom.”
Corinna nodded her head at Mia as she walked away with Carter. The door slammed shut and everyone was gone. Everyone but Andrew. Mia turned to face him.
“You can leave too . . .”
“Stop,” Andrew said. “You know my place is wherever you are.”
He put his arm around Mia’s shoulders and pulled her next to him. Mia turned her head up to face him. He lifted his free hand and brushed her hair away from her face. Their lips met and Mia was certain she didn’t need anything else to tell her this was love. Mia broke away first. Andrew kissed her forehead before they turned around to look out across the landscape again. In a matter of minutes the fires had doubled.
Mia wasn’t sure what the future would hold. In the recent past she had been a naïve brat, anxiously awaiting her wedding day, and now she was the figurehead of a revolution. Wherever her life led her, Mia knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she thought about the man next to her and the people at the bottom of the stairs. Mia was surrounded by love and friendship, and that was enough to keep her going.
“Do you think those people out there want to kill me?” Mia asked.
“I’m sure some of them do,” Andrew said. “But you wouldn’t be Mia Morrissey if there wasn’t someone who wanted you dead.”
Death was a part of life. Mia thought of her fallen friends. Whitney, who taught Mia basic life skills. Flo, who taught Mia to look inside of herself for a power she never knew existed. Her mother, who forced Mia to realize everyone’s actions had a motivation and there could be love inside cruelty. The three would be remembered forever. Mia would make sure of that.
Mia had imagined she would feel peace once the Registry fell and Grant was stopped. Instead she felt like there was more to accomplish. Mia had grown so much, but she wasn’t finished. The people would need a leader, and if they would have her Mia wanted to continue her fight for her home country. After all, the Registry had risen to power from the ashes of a once-great country. Mia didn’t see a reason why that greatness couldn’t rise again.