Page 97 of Rite of Unity

Another cry—I shoved the next door open.A girl rushed for me, knocking me back into the hall.I wrapped a hand around hers and tugged her with me, running for the stairs.

“Maryn!”

My blood ran cold.

“Mama?”

I turned around.There was a third door.We’d run past it, not checking.

“Maryn!It’s stuck!”

“I’m coming, Mama!”

I turned back.The girl holding my hand yanked hard, pulling us toward the stairs.I ducked down until we were eye level.“I have to help my mom.Do you think you can make it out the door on your own?”

She shook her head, tears spilling over her cheeks.

“Okay.Don’t cry.We’ll get her out, then we’ll all go together.”

She shook her head again, pulling harder on my hand.

I straightened, tucking the boy closer to my chest, and dragged the girl toward the last door.“I’m coming Mama.”

A blast sounded—the ceiling collapsed farther down the hall.“Mama!”

The boy in my arms screamed and wrapped his arms around my neck, choking me.

“Mommy,” the girl wailed, digging her nails into my hand.

More of the ceiling began to crash to the floor.I coughed, looking down at the children in my arms.

I can’t save her.My eyes burned, but not from the smoke.

I turned for the stairs.

We raced down, taking them two at a time, hitting the ground floor as the stairs began to crumble behind us.The smoke was so thick now my vision was blurring.

I took the lead, pulling the girl behind me.

Her hand was ripped from mine, and I stumbled to a halt, spinning around.A beam had fallen across my path.The girl was somewhere behind it.Trapped.

Her silence was more terrifying than her cries.I looked down again.The boy’s cheeks were bright red, his eyes closed.My heart pounded.

I spun toward the door, bare feet singed with every step over the burning wood.I reached the door, throwing it open, letting out a pained scream as fire exploded across my back, knocking me to the floor.

The world was swallowed in black smoke, and my skin burned where fire licked up my clothing.

I crawled toward the door, shoving the unconscious boy in my arms through the frame.

Then nothing.

I blinked, coughing up the putrid taste of radiated slime.

I blinked again as the room came into focus.

To my left, a monitor beeped, and I could just make out the numbers tracking my vitals.

To my right, a nurse in brown set a glowing leech down on a metal tray and peeled her gloves off.