Silence Among Stars by JoAnna S. Morris

Author:JoAnna S. Morris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult, fantasy, dystopian
Publisher: JoAnna S. Morris
Published: 2015-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

I know that I can’t shut down, but all I want to do is wallow in the guilt and shame that has overcome me. I can hardly feel the hands that are brushing the hair from my face. What happened to Julian? We were home free.

A kiss on my forehead brings me back into the moment. I thank God for Leo as I wrap my trembling arms around his thick neck and try to bury my face in his hair, except there is no hair. Surprised, I open my eyes and see Gabe crouching in front of me. I immediately let go, but he takes my hands.

“Are you okay?” He strokes my wrist softly with his thumb, worry creasing his brow. I glance to the side just in time to see Leo and Greyson dragging Julian up to the wall; they brace him against the cold stone. The panic returns as I imagine his body disregarded and left for one of Cesar’s goons to dispose of.

“What are they doing?” I motion to Julian with a tilt of my head. My throat tightens. Jude plops himself on the ground next to me and puts an arm around my shoulder, drawing me closer to him. I lay my head against his and inhale.

“Eden”—Gabe’s voice is soft and filled with concern—”they’re leaving him where he will be found and given a proper burial. He is a member of Cesar’s company. It wouldn’t be right to just leave him out here.” He releases my hand and gives a nod to Jude before getting up to offer his help to the others.

“Jude, what do you think happened to him? What would make him just keel over like that? He was fine before.” I sit up and let my head fall in my hands. I go over all our steps, trying to come up with an explanation, but come up with nothing.

“Leo tells me that Julian took care of you in there,” Jude says. I raise my head, trying to keep my chin from trembling too hard.

“Yes,” I manage. I watch as Jude picks up a dead twig and twirls it in his fingers. It’s his nervous twitch; he’s always had to keep his hands busy. A momentary surge of comfort rushes through me with the realization that I remember this simple detail about my brother.

“Maybe someday you can tell me about him.” He stands and helps me off the ground. Sighing, I rest my head against his shoulder and he squeezes my arm.

I walk over to where Julian fell, his pack the only reminder he had been there. His water bottle lies next to it, the cap inches away, settled on its side. I bend over to pick it up when Leo rushes over to me and swats it out of my hand.

“Don’t touch that,” he barks. There’s uneasiness in his eyes, something I don’t know if I’ve seen before.

“Leo?” Before the word even leaves my mouth, it hits me: he thinks Julian was poisoned. “Phoenix insisted he take a water bottle.

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