TENN
“No,” Tenn gasped.
He’d thought the runes would take them somewhere safe. Somewhere near, but safe. Just out of harm’s reach. Somewhere he could leap in or help from afar.
But when the dust cleared and he stared up at the great expanse of wall—brilliantly lit by the afternoon sun—he knew that Jarrett had taken them even farther.
“We have to go back,” Tenn said. Panic churned through his veins as comprehension took hold.
They were back in America. In Outer Chicago.
Half the world away, his friends were fighting someone else’s fight. His fight.
Jarrett stood at his side, stoic and unmoving as ever, his pale eyes fixed on Tenn.
“We can’t.”
Tenn wanted to scream at him. He’d lied. He’d lied. And now the twins and Aidan and everyone else were going to die because of it. He wanted to fly back, but he couldn’t. He needed Air. He needed Jarrett. Reality washed over him, cold and numbing, and he found he could do nothing but stare at Jarrett in sad disbelief.
“Why?” It was the only word he could think of. He squeezed his eyes shut. Prayed that when he opened them, he’d be back in England. Back with his friends. His only friends. His dying friends.
Jarrett didn’t answer right away. When he did, his words were heavy. Distant.
“I told you that I was sent to ensure that you weren’t a threat. To ensure you fought for the right side. But you’ve kept far too many secrets, Tenn. Secrets that have gotten a great many people killed. I can’t risk that anymore.”
He raised his hand, and on cue, the gates to Outer Chicago opened and a squadron of guards marched out.
Tenn didn’t even fight back when they placed him in handcuffs. Even though a flick of Earth would have freed him. Even though he could have escaped.
Where would he have gone?
What would he have done?
It was only when Jarrett pulled something from his coat that Tenn flinched. Only when the cold metal touched his skin that he realized how truly screwed he was.
The sigil from the Church. The same one Kianna had been wearing.
The moment it looped around his neck and settled on his chest, he felt the cold sink through his skin. Felt his Spheres wink out, untethered, floating away in the darkness within.
He couldn’t have reached for them if he tried.
He didn’t try.
Without Water to pull him down or Earth to steady him, Tenn was numb. His story was over.
For the first time in four years, Tenn gave over to the cold and the silence.