The Isle Read Free Page A

plant upriver. Upstate was left with the only good, clean water on the East Coast, streaming down from the mountains. And those brackheads bolted once they saw they could make a quick buck. Didn’t want to be the sole supplier of fresh on the eastern seaboard no more. So they seceded.
    Left New York City high and dry, literally. Leftover landmasses banded together—including a few Jersey towns. They renamed themselves the West Isle. Together, we became the United Metro Islets.
    Since we had no army, the police force became the Division Interial. Or the Blues, if you ain’t the fancy type. And without funding, routes like the PATH stayed out of commission. People from the West Isle weren’t exactly clamoring for a way in once the Blight took over in the Ward either.
    â€œSo you and your family—the six of you—you just went ahead and drained an entire underwater railroad system? Like fixing a clogged pipe?” I whistle, ducking around the puddle that he’d missed. “Impressive.”
    Derek chuckles. “Lower your voice,” he says softly. “And no. It was just Kitaneh and me, her sister, Sipu, and Lucas—they’re also married. My other brother Pietr and his wife weren’t there.”
    â€œAnd where were they while you four were off doing all the heavy lifting?”
    He doesn’t answer, not right away. Maybe I’m imagining it,but the thick dark of the tunnel starts to feel oppressive, like I’ve asked something that doesn’t have a good answer.
    â€œThey died that day.”
    Dammit, Ren, why you gotta go and ask so many questions? I kick myself, about to say how sorry I am, but he goes on—
    â€œIt was supposed to be a simple recon mission: learn how much water Voss had in his personal supply. That was all. We knew he’d found one of the spring’s locations back before the Wash Out. What we didn’t know was just how much he’d made off with, and he’d been evading us for years. All our attempts at assassination failed. Somehow . . . Voss knew we were following him. He was ready for Pietr and Takhi when they came.”
    â€œBut . . . I thought you guys couldn’t die?” I ask, unable to stop myself. I’ve been wondering that since I found his photo album. From the 1800s.
    â€œThere are ways,” he tells me. “Humans have basic needs: Fresh water. Air. The spring’s unique properties don’t change that.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Derek. About . . . everything,” I say, but the words sound so limp once they’re out of my mouth. As we continue in silence, I wonder if he’s hurting now, still, after so many years. I’d hurt every day for the rest of my life if I lost Aven.
    â€œSomething else has me confused . . . ,” I start, needing to break the uncomfortable quiet.
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œYou guys have a zero-tolerance policy, so when Voss finds the water, you try to off him. Don’t matter what he’d use thewater for—you’ve also tried offing people who’d do good with the spring, like Callum. And me.”
    Derek’s discomfort at the reminder runs like a line of electricity through the rope ’round both our wrists. It’s taut with guilt. “So here’s my question: Why not just bomb the hell out of the spring? Destroy it. Why go through all this trouble to keep it hidden in the first place?”
    Derek answers on an inhale. “We’ve tried. We can’t.”
    Behind us, something crumbles. Derek raises his hand as the dull racket of a rockslide echoes down the tracks.
    â€œStructural damage, right? Your people would never be so clumsy.”
    Derek don’t answer immediately. Waits for the tunnel to fall quiet again.
    He grabs my hand, harder this time. Our soles hit the ground. Rubber squeaks against the metal rails, and we’re running, giving every step away.

3
AVEN
WEDNESDAY
    I need more time. My brain