36

A vast crowd stood facing the mist that surrounded Stone City. Some were dark-skinned and painted a glowing-purple from Zulu’s village, Benan. Others were dressed in the cotton jumpsuits of Rex Lei, the city of stone. In between the two distinct groups were others, those with no special clothes or identity. Those who’d answered the call of the drums.

If you want to get out of this place, follow me. That’s all Kai had said in the underground chamber where he’d found his friends.

Kai’s heart pinched as he looked them over. He had a hunch how to get them back to the natural, but it was just that—a hunch. If wrong, he’d be responsible for more pain than he could wrap his brain around.

He held Bree’s hand, and she let him. Zap and Ruaan flanked them. Zap chewed his lips and his face was pale. Ruaan glared at Kai and then at the mist and back again.

“Are you sure about this?”

Kai shrugged. “We can’t get home through the spirit cuttings. They’re still flooded. I’ve been thinking about the last time we went through the mist. I saw Runt.” He held up a hand to stop Ruaan from interrupting. “I spoke to her, I was almost right there at the OS. Maybe this is just a veil of consciousness. Maybe the dust they sprinkled was to keep our bodies asleep, but if we go in without it, we may just cross back to the natural. Think about it. Last time I was in the same room as Runt, but something kept me here. It could only be the dust.”

“What about the pain?” Zap switched from chewing his lips to chewing his fingernails. “This lot,” he waved an arm over the crowd who’d followed them from the underground, “they followed you here because you offered them a new start. A different life. Do you think it’s fair to lead them into so much pain just because it might work?”

“Pain is temporary. They made their own choice.” Kai turned to Bree. “I’m going to carry you, and you’re going to let me. I’m not leaving you behind again.” He swung her up against him before she could argue. Her arms clung tight around his neck, and her heart raced next to his skin.

He gritted his teeth, cast one last glance at the crowd, and stepped into the mist.