weight.”
“We’re al trying to do what we can,” Sarah jumped in. “Since al this began we’ve had to band together. Some in the Diamond District didn’t agree.
They only wanted to help themselves, conserve the lifestyle they were accustomed to. But when their favored district began to be hit by this war, they final y saw that al of Arcadia was at stake.”
“We saw that the Committee Building had been hit when we arrived. How is the rest of the Diamond District holding up?”
They looked at me knowingly and I could feel Tt holdingorrid’s gaze on me.
“We haven’t heard from Liam in a while,” Sarah said.
“The last time I saw him he was standing next to you,” Melanie admitted.
Great… I hid my disappointment.
In the distance we heard another big boom and crash.
“Another shard of glass. Sometimes I wonder what’s worse; the djins who run around scaring everyone or that shattering force field that is literal y crashing on our heads.”
“We’re running out of places to house people. Some homes already have three to four families living in them. Some of the younger people have opted to simply live on the street, but with so many Magical Ones wandering about, it’s a dangerous choice.”
“What can we do to help,” I said.
“Until the war is over, there’s real y little we can do. We can’t rebuild anything yet. Al we can do is try to make people as comfortable as possible,” Sarah said.
I looked at them, girls I’d known in high school, girls I’d grown up with. Seemed like yesterday we were sipping shakes at the diner, laughing and carefree as we talked about classes, boys and the beauty of Arcadia. Seemed like not long ago we were discussing shared secrets, brushing each other’s hair and helping each other with our make-up prom dresses.
with our make-up prom dresses.
We al had to grow up so fast, to leave the comfort and security of our homes and go out into a world that was so vastly different from what we had grown up with.
“The minute this war is over, I want to be right by your side as we rebuild.” I stood and clapped the dirt from my hands. “But if you’ve got everything under control for now, I’d like to keep going through Arcadia, looking for those who might need our help.”
“Like Matthew and Jocelyn.”
“Exactly. I know they’re at the Coliseum and only hope we’re not too late to help them.”
“Last I heard they were stil being kept captive. I was saddened to hear they had not escaped, but at least they’re stil alive.” Sarah shivered and grimaced. “And I stil can’t believe such a place exists. I feel so betrayed… by Pim, by the entire government… even my parents. I don’t know how involved they were in al this, and I hate to think about it. I’m not real y sure I want to know for now.”
“I’m sure they weren’t real y involved,eighto know fo” I said reassuringly, but I was beginning to wonder just how many parents had voluntarily lied to their children about the truth of Arcadia. How many who worked on the Committee fabricated not only our Life's Plan but the fal acy that was Arcadia.”
“We’d better get going if you want to continue with our search,” Torrid said.
The girls looked at him with awe and envy, but limited their comments to a simple and appreciative nod.
Chapter 14
Combing through the Diamond District proved futile. We searched every corner of the Ruby, Topaz and Garnet Districts, and the Pearl and Onyx burrows.
“Finding the girls was so easy. Why does Liam continue to elude us?”
Torrid said nothing.
“I know you don’t real y want me to find him, but I can’t just forget the relationship I had with him.” I didn’t want to get into how Liam stil loved me and stil thought we belonged together. Blocking out my thoughts, I tried to think of something else.
“I may not be able to read your thoughts.
You’ve learned to block them rather effectively, but I can tel when you block them
“We’re al trying to do what we can,” Sarah jumped in. “Since al this began we’ve had to band together. Some in the Diamond District didn’t agree.
They only wanted to help themselves, conserve the lifestyle they were accustomed to. But when their favored district began to be hit by this war, they final y saw that al of Arcadia was at stake.”
“We saw that the Committee Building had been hit when we arrived. How is the rest of the Diamond District holding up?”
They looked at me knowingly and I could feel Tt holdingorrid’s gaze on me.
“We haven’t heard from Liam in a while,” Sarah said.
“The last time I saw him he was standing next to you,” Melanie admitted.
Great… I hid my disappointment.
In the distance we heard another big boom and crash.
“Another shard of glass. Sometimes I wonder what’s worse; the djins who run around scaring everyone or that shattering force field that is literal y crashing on our heads.”
“We’re running out of places to house people. Some homes already have three to four families living in them. Some of the younger people have opted to simply live on the street, but with so many Magical Ones wandering about, it’s a dangerous choice.”
“What can we do to help,” I said.
“Until the war is over, there’s real y little we can do. We can’t rebuild anything yet. Al we can do is try to make people as comfortable as possible,” Sarah said.
I looked at them, girls I’d known in high school, girls I’d grown up with. Seemed like yesterday we were sipping shakes at the diner, laughing and carefree as we talked about classes, boys and the beauty of Arcadia. Seemed like not long ago we were discussing shared secrets, brushing each other’s hair and helping each other with our make-up prom dresses.
with our make-up prom dresses.
We al had to grow up so fast, to leave the comfort and security of our homes and go out into a world that was so vastly different from what we had grown up with.
“The minute this war is over, I want to be right by your side as we rebuild.” I stood and clapped the dirt from my hands. “But if you’ve got everything under control for now, I’d like to keep going through Arcadia, looking for those who might need our help.”
“Like Matthew and Jocelyn.”
“Exactly. I know they’re at the Coliseum and only hope we’re not too late to help them.”
“Last I heard they were stil being kept captive. I was saddened to hear they had not escaped, but at least they’re stil alive.” Sarah shivered and grimaced. “And I stil can’t believe such a place exists. I feel so betrayed… by Pim, by the entire government… even my parents. I don’t know how involved they were in al this, and I hate to think about it. I’m not real y sure I want to know for now.”
“I’m sure they weren’t real y involved,eighto know fo” I said reassuringly, but I was beginning to wonder just how many parents had voluntarily lied to their children about the truth of Arcadia. How many who worked on the Committee fabricated not only our Life's Plan but the fal acy that was Arcadia.”
“We’d better get going if you want to continue with our search,” Torrid said.
The girls looked at him with awe and envy, but limited their comments to a simple and appreciative nod.
Chapter 14
Combing through the Diamond District proved futile. We searched every corner of the Ruby, Topaz and Garnet Districts, and the Pearl and Onyx burrows.
“Finding the girls was so easy. Why does Liam continue to elude us?”
Torrid said nothing.
“I know you don’t real y want me to find him, but I can’t just forget the relationship I had with him.” I didn’t want to get into how Liam stil loved me and stil thought we belonged together. Blocking out my thoughts, I tried to think of something else.
“I may not be able to read your thoughts.
You’ve learned to block them rather effectively, but I can tel when you block them
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