by now, or at least have been distracted by the telescreens, focused on some new reason to contribute to the dome.. In fact, last I heard you died from radiation poisoning.” I pull my helmet over my head and tap the top. “Better safe than sorry.”
“I don’t have to like it.” He sulks.
“I’ll let you sit by me in the truck.” I smile from behind my visor. He can’t see my cheeks redden from the other side. “Most people around here would be honored to sit by a Greyes.”
A smile replaces his frown. “You don’t fool me with that charming little front, Greyes.” Evan reaches out and pinches my side. I squeal in surprise. “I know the real you.”
“What’s that?” I step closer.
“If I had to sum it up in two words,” he pauses, tapping a finger on his chin, “I’d say feisty and defiant.” He throws his helmet on before I can see his face and jumps into the back of the truck. I climb up and sit beside him.
“His voice drops. “But if I had to be honest, I’d say independent and beautiful.”
My face explodes with heat from behind my visor. Beautiful? I’m sure he’s just trying to push my buttons, but it’s nice to know I have an ally. Someone I can trust. I need to have a goal to get me through every day. Evan is the best way to see my uncle again and confirm the truth of what happened to my parents.
The convoy starts up, engines rumbling in the old trucks as we make our way to the main gates. People gather along the side of the road to watch. This is the first time an expedition has left the dome in a long time.
I remember when my parents left on expeditions. People always lined up at the gates to watch the team leave. The trips were a sign of hope. A chance for freedom. I didn’t realize that back then. Do people have that same hope as they watch us leave? Are they really that unhappy here? Maybe Grandmother’s fear of the Order is right. It’s possible there’s a lot my generation doesn’t understand about how the dome has changed in the last decade.
Both sets of gates slide open, and suddenly we are free. I lean back and stare straight up at the sky. Everything out here is brighter, even though we’re shrouded by dark clouds above, the sun still breaks through, lighting up the world. I glance at Evan, who’s taken off his helmet. His eyes are closed as he holds his chin up high. He has lived outside the dome for most of his life. Being stuck inside ours the last few weeks must have felt like a prison, whether or not he was on B2 in the end.
“Take it off, Greyes.” Evan opens one eye. “I dare you.”
“Just a little farther, and we’ll be out of sight,” Roe yells from the driver’s seat.
I ignore him and wait for the all-clear. But he’s restless beside me, poking, and shifting, and distracting me from the scenery.
“Always such a good girl, aren’t you?” he teases.
I flip up my visor and flash him a grin. He closes his eye, and a smirk plays at the edge of his mouth.
After a few more minutes Roe yells from the front seat again. “How are the readings coming along, Cardinal?”
“It’s clear. I can’t believe it! Absolutely clear!”
“You heard her!” Roe yells. “All clear!”
Whoops and hollers come from all around me as I pry the helmet from my head, feeling the cool breeze on my face. I remember my favorite excerpt from my mother’s notebook: One day I’m getting Nat outside of this place to somewhere she can breathe fresh air like humankind was meant to. The sun will shine on her face. The wind will blow in her hair. I tilt my head back and take a deep breath, closing my eyes as my hair whips about my face.
“How does it feel?” Evan’s voice is close to my ear. I open my eyes and see he’s moved toward me, out of everyone’s view. He reaches up and moves a strand of hair from my eyes, sending shivers down the inside of my suit.
“Amazing,” I whisper. “I see why my mother loved it out here. I see why she liked to write
“I don’t have to like it.” He sulks.
“I’ll let you sit by me in the truck.” I smile from behind my visor. He can’t see my cheeks redden from the other side. “Most people around here would be honored to sit by a Greyes.”
A smile replaces his frown. “You don’t fool me with that charming little front, Greyes.” Evan reaches out and pinches my side. I squeal in surprise. “I know the real you.”
“What’s that?” I step closer.
“If I had to sum it up in two words,” he pauses, tapping a finger on his chin, “I’d say feisty and defiant.” He throws his helmet on before I can see his face and jumps into the back of the truck. I climb up and sit beside him.
“His voice drops. “But if I had to be honest, I’d say independent and beautiful.”
My face explodes with heat from behind my visor. Beautiful? I’m sure he’s just trying to push my buttons, but it’s nice to know I have an ally. Someone I can trust. I need to have a goal to get me through every day. Evan is the best way to see my uncle again and confirm the truth of what happened to my parents.
The convoy starts up, engines rumbling in the old trucks as we make our way to the main gates. People gather along the side of the road to watch. This is the first time an expedition has left the dome in a long time.
I remember when my parents left on expeditions. People always lined up at the gates to watch the team leave. The trips were a sign of hope. A chance for freedom. I didn’t realize that back then. Do people have that same hope as they watch us leave? Are they really that unhappy here? Maybe Grandmother’s fear of the Order is right. It’s possible there’s a lot my generation doesn’t understand about how the dome has changed in the last decade.
Both sets of gates slide open, and suddenly we are free. I lean back and stare straight up at the sky. Everything out here is brighter, even though we’re shrouded by dark clouds above, the sun still breaks through, lighting up the world. I glance at Evan, who’s taken off his helmet. His eyes are closed as he holds his chin up high. He has lived outside the dome for most of his life. Being stuck inside ours the last few weeks must have felt like a prison, whether or not he was on B2 in the end.
“Take it off, Greyes.” Evan opens one eye. “I dare you.”
“Just a little farther, and we’ll be out of sight,” Roe yells from the driver’s seat.
I ignore him and wait for the all-clear. But he’s restless beside me, poking, and shifting, and distracting me from the scenery.
“Always such a good girl, aren’t you?” he teases.
I flip up my visor and flash him a grin. He closes his eye, and a smirk plays at the edge of his mouth.
After a few more minutes Roe yells from the front seat again. “How are the readings coming along, Cardinal?”
“It’s clear. I can’t believe it! Absolutely clear!”
“You heard her!” Roe yells. “All clear!”
Whoops and hollers come from all around me as I pry the helmet from my head, feeling the cool breeze on my face. I remember my favorite excerpt from my mother’s notebook: One day I’m getting Nat outside of this place to somewhere she can breathe fresh air like humankind was meant to. The sun will shine on her face. The wind will blow in her hair. I tilt my head back and take a deep breath, closing my eyes as my hair whips about my face.
“How does it feel?” Evan’s voice is close to my ear. I open my eyes and see he’s moved toward me, out of everyone’s view. He reaches up and moves a strand of hair from my eyes, sending shivers down the inside of my suit.
“Amazing,” I whisper. “I see why my mother loved it out here. I see why she liked to write
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