See How They Run by Carter Ally

Author:Carter, Ally [Carter, Ally]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780545654883
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2015-12-22T08:00:00+00:00

The room was probably beautiful once. But now when I pull off the white sheets that cover the furniture, a cloud of dust billows up. Moldy drapes cover the windows, but Megan pulls them aside just a crack and peers out onto Embassy Row. From the second story of Iran we can see the street. The chaos. That’s why we aren’t in the basement. No, we’re here, watching the black smoke rise into the sky, listening to the constant chorus of sirens, shrill and piercing, playing like an old-fashioned phonograph turning in another room.

The protestors have been replaced by spectators who push against barricades. Police cars and fire engines and every news crew in Adria fill the streets. The story has changed, and for a moment, the crowd waits, reverent and still.

But soon … soon they’re going to start looking for Alexei.

The world is right outside that dirty window, but we stay in this dusty, decaying shell of an embassy, none of us certain what comes next.

“We can’t stay here.” Noah can’t stop pacing. He’s right, of course, but I don’t say so. We know the Scarred Man used to meet the prime minister here — maybe other people come here, too. It’s a risk that we can’t take, and Noah knows it.

“Do you think we’d be better off out there?” Megan points to the street.

“We can use the tunnels,” Noah says.

“And come out where?” Megan asks. “Where are we supposed to go? Where is Alexei supposed to go?”

“I don’t know,” Noah snaps. “But I know we can’t stay here.”

“You’re right,” I say. For a moment, I consider the Society and its massive underground headquarters. Ms. Chancellor said that she didn’t think Alexei was guilty, but she didn’t offer to prove that he’s innocent either. I could ask her to hide him. I could ask the Society to help. But they’ve already become embroiled in one international conspiracy on my behalf. And if I’m being honest with myself, it scares me.

If I’m being really honest, a part of me can’t help but fear they might be in the midst of another.

“Grace?” Noah is at my elbow. “Grace, what do you think?”

“You’re both right. We’re probably stuck here until the sun goes down. We’ll find someplace safe for tonight, but eventually we’ve got to get Alexei out of the country. Noah, can you get your mom’s van?”

“Yes, but I won’t.”

“You have to!”

“We can’t just smuggle a hot Russian across the border,” Noah snaps, then realizes what he’s said. “I mean, a fugitive Russian. Not a hot Russian. Not that Alexei isn’t extremely attractive. You are, it’s just that …”

“We get it.” Megan places a hand on his arm and stops him, saving Noah from himself.

Through it all, Alexei is silent. He hasn’t spoken since the street. Maybe it’s the trauma. He almost died. I know how that feels, and the sensation takes a while to get used to.

Megan and Noah are watching him, too. He doesn’t rock, doesn’t shake. It’s more like he’s still seeing it, a nightmare on a loop inside his mind.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.