Free Etherworld by Claudia Gabel Page A

dad is still stuck inside?” he asks me.
    Before I can answer, Wyatt points over my shoulder, shouting, “Zared!”
    I turn around and see Zared, Ayesha, and Nora running towards us. Wyatt tries to stand, but his legs buckle underneath him. “We need to go back, now!”
    â€œWhoa,” Zared says. “Where’s David?”
    â€œHe got more ammunition and went back in,” Wyatt says slowly, as if every word is painful. “He’s going to try and destroy Elusion by himself.”
    I was right. In an effort to spare us, my dad’s intentionally leaving us behind.
    â€œWe have to go back in. We have to get him,” Wyatt says again, pleading with Zared.
    â€œIt’s impossible,” Ayesha says. “No one knows the code for the portals to the Escapes besides David.”
    â€œHow did Anthony and the others get back into Elusion?” I ask.
    â€œWe’re not sure,” Malik says. “David swears he wasn’t followed through the tunnels, but I don’t know how else they would have gotten through the firewall.”
    Wyatt is still staring at Zared, who starts backing away from us, his gaze cast on the dust-covered-ground. Like he has something to hide.
    Like he knows something he’s not supposed to.
    I narrow my eyes at Zared. “Do you know how to open up the portals?”
    He hesitates, glancing toward Ayesha.
    â€œAnswer her, Zared,” Josh demands. “Do you?”
    He nods.
    â€œHow?” Malik asks. “David wouldn’t give those codes up, to anyone.”
    â€œI’m afraid that’s confidential,” Zared says through a nervous cough.
    â€œAre you kidding me?” I say, outraged.
    Zared sticks out his chin, totally defiant.
    â€œYou opened the tunnel for them?” Nora says. “When David specifically told us that we shouldn’t leave?”
    â€œThey looked like they were getting sick, okay? They were sweating all the time; it was as if their bodies were coming down with some kind of fever,” Zared says, pacing, probably to avoid our stares. Ayesha puts her hand on his back to comfort him, but he shrugs her off and turns away. “I warned them about returning, just like David warned us, but they were so sure they’d be okay.”
    Zared stops speaking, too choked up to continue. He feels guilty. But I’m guilty too. I saw how badly my father was sweating down at the mines and in his room, and I didn’t even mention it.
    â€œWyatt, where did my dad go? Did he tell you?”
    He takes a deep breath and says, “To the Red . . . Canyon.”
    â€œZared, can you lead us through the tunnel and open the portal to that Escape?” Josh asks.
    â€œI think so,” he says.
    â€œI’m coming too,” Malik says, puffing his chest out. I smile gratefully.
    â€œCount me in,” Ayesha says.
    â€œOh, that’s great,” Zared snarls and starts pacing again. “You and Malik on a suicide mission.”
    â€œHe has a point, Regan.” Nora walks over to me, her face practically wrinkling with tension. “Please, call this off. Before we lose anyone else.”
    Josh gently puts his hand on her shoulder. “We can’t, Nor. This is the only way to get home. We should just stick to—”
    â€œThe ‘search and destroy’ plan? It’s already failed; can’t you see that?” Nora says, pleading with her brother. “There’s no way I’m letting you go back in there after what happened to Claire.”
    Josh’s eyes lock with mine. I’m not sure if Nora means to do this, but she is asking him to choose between her and me—a choice he shouldn’t have to make. Although his main motive throughout this ordeal has been to save his sister, he’s already sacrificed so much for me and my dad. The idea of telling him to listen to Nora—to let me go alone—is making my head pound, but I need to