Terra (33 page)
“Luke, Charlie…” I say, more memories returning. “Your brother!” I suddenly exclaim. “I can’t believe your brother is part of your research team. Where are they? Have you all been staying together? Where? And what have you been doing this whole time?” New images take over my memories. I picture the four of them, holed up in some underground hideout. Sneaking supplies, planning insurrection… whatever it is that rebels do.
The stern set of Adam’s mouth softens and I see the lopsided edge of a grin playing on his lips. “Always with the questions.”
“They’re all right, aren’t they?” I ask.
“Oh, they’re just fine,” he says bitterly.
My brows crease in confusion.
“They’re not here,” he says, his eyes darkening. “They left.”
“They’re not here? They left?” I repeat inanely.
Adam jerks his jaw downward in a single nod. His eyes—darker than usual—are fixed on my face, carefully judging my reactions.
“I don’t understand,” I say.
“It didn’t even take them a full day to decide you weren’t worth saving,” he spits.
“Oh. They’re gone-gone. Like Whitlock said.”
“They took the ship and turned tail.” The muscles in his neck flex threateningly.
“I’m sorry,” I say, linking my fingers behind his neck and pulling him close. I don’t need to imagine the depth of the betrayal he feels. Or the shame. I felt it too, when I thought I was the one who had been left behind. “You stayed for me, this is my fault.”
Adam shakes his head, unlocks my grasp, and leans back. “No,” he says solemnly, taking hold of my hands again. He inhales slowly, his nostrils flaring, then blows the air out through his lips. I watch him as he breathes deeply, in and out.
“Adam?” I say tentatively, not knowing if I’m supposed to break his meditation. “You’re kind of freaking me out.”
“There’s more. Something I didn’t know until just a few days ago myself.”
I brace myself. “What is it?”
“I got confirmation that they made it back. Made it home. And they told the President everything, including how I elected to stay behind. I doubt folks will be too thrilled about that, but that’s not really the issue.”
“What is, then?”
“I wasn’t lying when I told you our original mission was to fact-find and observe,” Adam says. “It was. And it wasn’t for invasion or destruction or any of the ridiculous things Whitlock said. But I never did explain why we were sent here in the first place.”
My fingers feel cold; blood drains from my extremities, pumping through my rapidly beating heart and in my ears. I almost don’t want to ask, but I know I have to. “Then what was the reason?”
“They needed to know it was safe. Safe to return.”
I stare at Adam in confusion, his blue eyes blazing.
“My people,” he says. “They’re coming back.”
The story continues in Book II
Acknowledgements
To my wonderful family: Thank you for never laughing (to my face) when I said I wanted to be a writer. Thank you for your inspiration, ability to wade through innumerable revisions, and for allowing me to talk ad nauseam about this book. I love you.
To Aileen Brenner: Thank you for being just as obsessed with—and neurotic about—this book as I am. Without you,
Terra
would be a (sappy, saccharine, way totes lame) shell of itself. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
To Ai Rei Dooh-Tousignant, Lena Horn, Cassie Johnston, Courtney Packard, Maggie Patrick, Lori Renner, Lara Tal: Thank you for letting me take advantage of you. I mean, of your expertise. Your help was absolutely invaluable.
To my other friends: Thank you for continuing to tell me how you couldn’t wait to read my book (no matter how facetiously). And thank you for allowing me to whine… a lot.
To my fantastic, awe-inspiring, and loyal blog readers: Thank you for pushing me to pursue my passions. Without your daily encouragement—with regard to numerous aspects of my life—this book might never have been written.
And finally, to Harry and Daxter, the best—if barkiest—dogs in the world: Thanks for being adorable distractions each time I very nearly went insane from hours of staring at an open Microsoft Word window.
About the Author
Gretchen Powell spent her childhood growing up in far-off places. She is a lover of books both young and adult, but her favorite genre combines those terms.
Her creative process involves copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids and sleeping fitfully.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters.
Terra is her first novel.
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