Nick James - The Pearl wars

An elderly woman takes a seat across from us as the circular door slides shut. The Chute remains still, waiting for the rest of the cars to fill up.

“Hey, Jesse,” Avery points at a small screen affixed to the front end of the car, “this one heads to Spokane.”

I look over to the screen. Sure enough, bright yellow letters flash Northwest District Line: Spokane — #46. I allow myself a sliver of hope. “That’s near Seattle, right?”

“Not really,” she says, “but at least it gets us out of the city. It’s better than heading south.”

I nod. South is no good. I don’t feel like being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

A pounding on the door causes everyone to turn. I crane my neck to see a face pressed against the window, inspecting the travelers around me.

It’s Cassius. How did he find us so quickly?

I try to duck out of the way but he spots me almost immediately.

He pounds his fists on the side of the car. The passengers stare at him in annoyance, especially the elderly woman.

“Frag it.” Avery flattens against her seat. “Persistent little bugger, isn’t he?”

I ignore her, wondering how he could have escaped the cell. This is getting ridiculous. It’s like trying to crush a cockroach.

A man in a government uniform grabs Cassius’s shoulder and spins him around, away from the door. I watch as Cassius motions with his arms for the guy to let him in, but the officer shakes his head and points toward the open cars at the back of the Chute.

Cassius digs through his jacket, searching for something. Before he can pull it out, the engine whirs to life and speakers around the perimeter of the Chute begin to beep.

With a frustrated glance at the officer, Cassius gives up and turns around, sprinting to the back of the Chute.

“He’ll get on,” I whisper.

Avery sighs. “I don’t doubt it. Just be glad he can’t get between the cars.”

“Unless we stop,” I remind her.

“There isn’t another Chosen between here and Spokane. It’s a straight shot. Relax.”

I recline in my seat. I could be lying in bed right now, safe and sound back at the Academy. Instead, I’m heading for a city I’ve never been to. On the run, chased by some psycho teenaged Pearlhound-and maybe even Madame. And Avery wants me to relax?

The speakers inside the cabin hiss to life, followed by a woman’s calming voice. “Welcome aboard this Northwest District Line to Spokane, city number forty-six. This is a non-stop journey with an arrival time estimated at eleven twenty-five.”

I glance at the digital clock beside the screen. About two hours from now. Two hours without any running.

“We hope your journey with us is a comfortable one,” the overhead voice continues, impossibly cheerful. “Our automated cabin crew is always available if you have any questions or concerns.”

The Chute begins to pull forward, slowly at first, but building speed until we’re rocketing along the track. The rapidly passing scenery outside is the only clue that we’re moving at all. Motion control.

The skyscrapers blur into a tapestry of fuzzy lights until we pass through the Bio-Net. Then nothing. No lights, no movement, just darkness staining every window.

The temperature control hums to life and stabilizes the air inside. During the night, it can easily stay above 100 degrees out here. And it’s not even summer yet. I hear it’s killer in the summer. Surface Tan turns to Surface Stroke. No wonder Fringers try to break into Chosens.

I stare out the window. The Chute dips forward until the tracks touch the ground. Dust kicks up from underneath our car, clouding the air before dissipating back into the blackness. We’ve officially entered the Fringes. Dustbowl territory.

“We made it.” Avery lays her hand on my knee. “Look, about what I told you back at the Security Center-”

I turn to her. “I don’t wanna talk about it. I don’t know what side you’re on, but I don’t want to do this alone. Not after what just happened.”

She leans closer, whispering. “It should have burned right through you, Jesse. You should be dead right now.”

I nod. It’s everyone’s worst fear. Even the crazy members of Heaven’s Rain wouldn’t want to be standing in front of an oncoming Pearl. But I’ve done it.

I pause in thought. I’ve done it twice.

The words spill out of my mouth before I even know what I’m saying. “When the Pearl almost smashed into Lookout Park, I stopped it. I caused it to veer off course somehow. It was me. I knew it wasn’t just a coincidence.”

“You think you can control them?”

“Or destroy them,” I reply, “like back in the alley.”

She nods. “It’s something you’re meant to do. They did something to you back in Seattle when you were little, didn’t they?”

I press my fingers against the glass, staring out into the nothingness. “A laboratory, with green energy. Pearl energy, like in my dream.”

“And a key,” she adds. “Maybe this lab’s in Seattle. Maybe that’s what Alkine’s key is meant to open.”

I frown, pulling my hand off the glass and sinking farther into the seat. “I need to trust you, Avery, if we’re gonna do this.”

“I don’t know what I can say… ”

“If I can really control Pearls, the government’s gonna want me. The Tribunal’s gonna want me. It’s just like Alkine said. They’d start a war over this.”

She leans closer, keeping her voice low. “I’ve burnt bridges on both sides, Jesse. For you. I can’t go back to the Academy or to Madame. I don’t know what else I can say to convince you.” She reaches up and rubs her forehead.

“Headache again?”

She nods, shutting her eyes. “Wouldn’t happen to have an aspirin, would you?”

I shake my head, turning back to the window and the thick darkness outside. The Chute lurches to the left. I turn my head to see the tail end of the train curving out behind us. Cassius is back there somewhere, planning his next move. He could be calling Madame at this very moment, letting her know where to pick us up.

My heart sinks. We escaped the city, but this Chute is a moving prison-a serpentine gift box wrapped up just for Madame. If the Unified Party’s anywhere near as organized as everyone says they are, they’re going to pounce on us as soon as we get to Spokane.

I face forward. Avery’s eyes flutter closed, exhausted. Rather than broach the subject, I keep the panicked thought to myself, searching my mind for a game plan as we tear through the Northwestern wasteland.

Cassius squeezed into the one remaining seat at the tail end of the Chute, between an overweight man in a business suit and a teenaged girl with dark blue hair. As soon as he was settled, he buried his face in his hands, cursing silently.

The automated “welcome aboard” announcement came over the speakers but he tuned it out, smacking his fist against his forehead. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

The blue-haired girl noticed, raising the headphone on her earpiece. Her frenetic music formed a tinny symphony above his head. “You okay, man?”

He sat up, glaring at her. She backed off, flipping the headphone and turning her attention to the window.

He wasn’t okay. First he’d lost Fisher on the Skyship, then he’d lost him on the Surface. Worse yet, when Madame finally arrived in Portland expecting to find him, all she’d get was an empty prison cell and a bunch of beaten-up guards. Then Cassius would never have a chance of opening the black cube and discovering what was inside.

What’s more, Fisher seemed utterly clueless about what had actually happened back on the rooftop. Madame had seemed convinced that the guy was responsible for his combustion, but looking into Fisher’s eyes, listening to his panicked voice, Cassius wasn’t so sure anymore. Madame lied to others. Maybe she was lying to him now.