Island of Fire

Sky nodded with enthusiasm. She pointed her forefinger to her temple, then fluttered her fingers like a bird, stretching her arm away, teaching him her silent word for it.

“Cool,” Alex said, delighted. “Okay, so ‘imagine’ is the first word, and then we go in order to the west. Does that sound right to you?” Alex asked.

Sky agreed, and pointed at the pictures in that order. Then she went back and pointed to the second one. She looked up at Alex, as if willing him to say the right one. She made fists and brought them together, knuckles to knuckles in front of her, then pulled them to her chest.

Alex took a deep breath, thinking back. “‘Believe,’” he said. He imitated the word in her language, bringing his fists together.

Sky smiled and pointed to the one in the middle, then held a finger to her lips. “‘Whisper,’” Alex said with confidence.

She moved her finger to the fourth one.

Alex looked at it. His mind drew a blank. “Um . . . crud.”

Sky shook her head in mock disgust, a wide grin on her face. She put her hand on Alex’s chest, pressed gently, then released.

“Oh! That one is ‘breathe.’” He flashed her a sheepish smile. He had such trouble remembering that word sometimes. “And that means the last one is ‘commence.’ Right?”

Sky rolled her hand in the air, doing the sign for it, then clapped her hands.

“Okay. Help me remember the order.” He glanced back at the clue and frowned. “Stand enrobed where . . . ,” he said, trailing off. “Hmm.” He scrambled to his feet and looked around. “Where’s Meghan?”

Where You First Saw Me

Alex didn’t see Meghan anywhere near Henry and Crow or among the fifty or so other sleeping Unwanteds inside the shack. He weaved through the people on the floor and slipped outside, Sky following him. Together they ran, zigzagging through the crowded property.

“Alex!” someone shouted. “We’re out of water!” Alex felt his stomach churn at the words he’d been dreading, but this time a wave of hope followed it. “Okay!” he shouted back. “I’m working on it. Don’t panic!” Three others tried to stop him with the same complaint, but Alex hurriedly thanked them for the information and explained that he was working on it. Finally Alex and Sky found Meghan on the sand at the water’s edge, sorting through the collection of shells, seaweed, branches, and tiny fish in a net.

“Meg!” Alex said, breathless. “I think we almost have it!” He and Sky slid to a stop at Meghan’s feet, chests heaving, throats parched.

Meghan’s eyes widened. “Well?” she mouthed. She gripped Alex’s arm.

“We’ve got the dots, the rising sun part, everything! Except I don’t know where we first saw Mr. Today. That day was so crazy. I remember the bus, and walking in and seeing the Eliminators,” he said, shuddering. “But the sight of them about put me into a coma. Everything after that is a little fuzzy, with Jim and the world swirling around. Was Mr. Today at the gate with Jim? Do you remember? Please say you do.” Alex pressed his lips together.

Meghan’s face grew thoughtful. She looked at the sky for a long moment as Alex tried not to rush her. Her brows knitted together, and she ran her finger over the thorns around her neck, as if that helped her concentrate. She closed her eyes and let out a breath of impatience. Not only was it difficult for Meghan to think back to that frightening moment, but also it was so incredibly frustrating not being able to speak, especially when speaking was crucial to helping Alex get Artimé back.

She pictured the moment they’d shuffled into the Death Farm all shackled together. She saw the Eliminators coming toward the Unwanteds, their beady red eyes glowing, their black cloaks dragging on the ground as they walked. She remembered her heart pounding, her breath stopped in her lungs as she awaited the end. She remembered her surprise when the Eliminators stopped and turned to look at the sky, and then Jim landed. She remembered how agonizingly slowly he spoke when he called out for Mr. Today.

Meghan’s eyes flew open. She grabbed Alex’s and Sky’s arms and tugged at them to follow as she ran toward the gray shack, straight to the door that faced the gate, where Mr. Today had first appeared, his shock of brilliant white hair standing on end, his bright-colored robe, his gentle words.

When she reached the spot just outside the door, she stopped and pointed to the ground below her feet, and nodded.

“Here?” Alex asked. He scratched his head. “I thought he came from the seaside door and walked the along the path around the shack.”

Meghan shook her head, her eyes flaring, her lips moving at great speed, scolding him without making a sound.

“Okay, okay,” Alex said. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” It was horrible to watch Meghan trying to ream him out and being unable to. It was worse than being reamed out the old way. But he didn’t have time to think about it now. He took a deep breath, attempting to remember the words and their order. “Ready, guys?”

Sky grabbed her head in frustration. She waved her arms, calling it off. Then she feigned putting on a . . . a coat?

Alex frowned, and then his face cleared. “Oh. Geez! The robe. I’m an idiot. Hold on a minute.” But Meghan held out her hands, telling him to stay put. She flung the door open and ran inside the shack. A moment later she was back with the robe. From the doorway, she made Alex twirl around so she could help him put the robe on. It was a bit too long, a bit too wide, but it draped nicely.