Homecoming

CHAPTER 15: Glass

Glass looked around her, feeling genuine awe for the first time since setting foot on the ground. Sunlight filtered through the trees, showering the ground with golden dots of light, like thousands of little gemstones. This was how Earth was supposed to look—peaceful, beautiful, and full of wonder.

Luke took Glass’s hand to steady her as they made their way down a steep slope. There was a narrow stream at the bottom, the water perfectly clear except for the red and yellow leaves dancing in the current. When they reached the bottom, Glass hesitated, turning from side to side as she scanned the bank for the best place to cross. But as she took a hesitant step toward the edge, Luke picked her up with his good arm and crossed the stream with an easy bound, despite the fact that they were both carrying heavy packs.

When they reached the other side, Luke lowered her carefully to the ground, then took her hand again as they continued. At first, they’d kept up nearly constant conversation as they exclaimed and pointed out different trees, and signs of various animal life. But after a while, they’d fallen silent, too overwhelmed by the beauty around them to fumble with the inadequate words they had to express it. Glass almost liked it better that way. She loved watching Luke’s face light up each time his eyes settled on a new wonder.

It had taken a couple of hours for Glass’s heart rate to come down after they’d slipped away from the camp. The quiet had scared her initially. Every snap of a twig or rustling of leaves boomed in her ears and made her jump. She knew it was just a matter of time before Rhodes realized they were gone and sent a search party to hunt them down.

But after a few hours, her stress faded away, and she began to savor the silence, the freedom of being completely alone with Luke. Glass couldn’t believe they’d ever considered staying at camp. The air was fragrant with damp leaves and musky tree bark. It was a riot of sensory input that Glass had never experienced before. She couldn’t have imagined how much brighter and more saturated the colors were on Earth, how much sweeter the air, or how the rich smells would compete for her attention.

They’d walked long into the night and slept for a few hours before setting off again, eager to put as much distance between them and Rhodes as possible before the Vice Chancellor sent a search party after them. Every half hour or so, Luke would stop, fish a compass out of his pocket, and set it on the ground, checking to make sure they were still heading due north. Sasha had told him that the splinter Earthborns, the violent ones, had claimed a vast area to the south of the Colonists’ camp as their territory. It was no guarantee, of course, but heading north at least wouldn’t lead them directly into harm’s way.

The trees grew close together, creating a canopy of leaves so thick it almost blocked the sky. But the amber light spilling through the branches and the rapidly cooling air made it clear that the day was nearly over.

“I think we made it,” Glass said wearily. The fear and adrenaline that had kept her going yesterday had drained away, and exhaustion had set in. “They’re not sending anyone after us, are they?”

“It doesn’t seem like it,” Luke said with a sigh. He reached over and slid Glass’s pack off her shoulder. “Let’s rest for a little bit.”

They dropped the packs and walked toward an enormous, moss-covered tree whose huge, twisty roots stuck out of the ground. Luke raised his arms over his head and stretched before lowering himself onto the root. “Come here,” he said, grabbing Glass’s hand and pulling her onto his lap.

Glass laughed and pressed her hand against his chest. “We have the whole planet to ourselves, and you want to share the same seat.”

“We don’t have the whole planet, you little imperialist,” Luke said, twisting a strand of her hair around his finger. “We have to leave some room for the Earthborns.”

“Oh, right.” Glass nodded with mock gravity. “In that case, we better conserve space.” She smiled and swung her leg over Luke’s so they were facing each other.

“Good plan,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, closing the narrow distance between them. He kissed her gently on the lips and then brought his mouth down to her chin, her neck. Glass let out a small sigh, and Luke grinned. He kissed the spot where her jaw met her neck and raised his head to whisper in her ear. “It feels good to be selfless, doesn’t it?”

“It has its benefits,” Glass breathed, running her hand down Luke’s back. Their joking aside, it felt incredible to be so alone. On the ship, there were thousands of people packed into a space originally designed for hundreds. There were always ears listening, eyes watching, and bodies brushing up against each other. People knew your name, your family, and your actions. But out here, there was no one watching them. No one judging them.

“Oh, look,” Glass said, pointing over Luke’s shoulder at a cluster of small pink flowers she hadn’t noticed before. He twisted around and extended his arm, reaching for one. But just as his fingers were about to close around the stem, he pulled back and let his hand fall back to his side.

“It doesn’t seem right to pick it,” he said, turning back to Glass with a sheepish expression on his face.

“I agree.” She smiled and placed her hand on the back of his head, bringing his lips back to hers.

“It’s a shame, though,” Luke murmured. “It would’ve looked beautiful in your hair.”

“Better just to imagine it.”

Luke kissed her again, then slid his arm under her and stood up, lifting her into the air. “Luke!” she laughed. “What are you doing?”

He took a few steps and, without a word, lowered her to the ground, laying her gently in the patch of flowers. Glass’s breath quickened as she watched Luke kneel beside her. The playfulness in his face had disappeared, replaced by something closer to reverence. He reached down and ran his fingers through her hair, allowing it to fan out across the pink blossoms.

Glass’s heart was pounding, but she forced herself to stay still as Luke bent down to kiss her, using his good hand to support his weight. She parted her lips slightly, then reached her arms around to pull him closer. She took a deep breath, savoring the heady combination of the flowers, the forest air, and Luke.

“We should get going,” Luke said finally, looking up at the darkening sky. “We’re going to need to find a place to stay tonight.”

Glass let out a long, contented sigh. “Can’t we just stay right here forever?”

“I wish. But we’re not actually safe out here in the dark. We should find a spot that’s more protected.”

They walked on with renewed energy for a few more hours as the sky went from a deep grayish purple to a rich, velvety black. The moon was so bright, it blocked out most of the stars and painted strangely beautiful shadows on the forest floor. It was so beautiful, it made Glass’s heart ache, as each new wonder served to remind her how much her mother was missing, how much she’d never get to see.

Luke came to a sudden halt and held out his hand to stop her. He cocked his head, listening, though Glass didn’t hear anything. After a moment, Luke whispered, “Do you see that?”

At first, all she could see was a shadowy landscape of trees, but then she spotted it: It was a small building. Right there in the middle of nowhere.

“What is it?” she asked, suddenly nervous that they’d wandered somewhere they weren’t meant to be.

“It looks like a cabin,” Luke said, tightening his hold on her hand as he led her forward, stepping slowly and silently. They made their way toward it, moving in a wide arc before approaching it from the side. It wasn’t a cabin; it was a tiny stone house, remarkably intact. The sides were covered with vines and moss, but it was clear that the walls were sturdy and strong.

They stopped a few feet away. A sudden breeze rustled the trees, and then it fell silent. Both Luke and Glass held their breath, waiting for any sign of life, but none came.

Luke stepped up to the door, pressed his ear against it for a moment, then pushed it open and stepped inside before beckoning for Glass to join him. She took a deep breath, adjusted her pack, and crossed over the threshold. There was just enough light coming through the cracked, dust-caked windows for them to see the frozen tableau inside.

“Oh,” Glass murmured, half in surprise, half in sorrow. It was as if whoever lived there had stepped out for a moment but never come back. A small bed rested in the far corner. Next to it, stacked wooden boxes formed a dresser. Glass’s eyes darted across the tiny space. Opposite the bed was a kitchen that looked sized for a doll family. Pots and pans hung from nails in the wall. A lopsided wooden table sat, waiting for someone to join it, by the cold fireplace. A basin rested against a far wall, with clean dishes piled up on one side. The house seemed lonely, like it had been waiting for a long time for its family to come back.

Glass walked over to the table and ran her hand over its rough surface. Her hand came away dusty. She turned back to Luke.

“Can we stay here?” she asked, scared it might be too good to be true.

Luke nodded. “I think we should. It seems abandoned, and it’s clearly safer than staying out there.”

“Good,” Glass said, looking around, grateful for their good luck and for the chance to dispel the sense of loneliness that clung heavier than the dust. She dropped her pack to the floor and then reached for Luke’s hand. “Welcome home,” she said, rising onto her toes to kiss his cheek.

He smiled. “Welcome home.”

They went back outside to look for firewood and any supplies that might’ve survived. There was a tiny, half-collapsed wooden shed behind the house, but the only tool they found was a mangled shovel, rusted beyond use. Luckily, there were enough dried branches on the ground that they didn’t need an ax, at least not for now.

The faint sound of running water called out to them through the darkness. Glass took Luke’s hand and pulled him toward it. While the house was surrounded by trees on three sides, there was a slope at the back that led down to a river. “Look,” Luke said, pointing at a chunk of jagged wood that stuck out over the water. “It looks like they built something on the river. I wonder why.”

He tightened his grip on Glass’s hand and led her a little closer, taking care not to lose their footing in the dark. “Is that…” He trailed off as he pointed at an oddly-shaped shadow, a strange combination of sharp edges and curved lines.

“It’s a boat, isn’t it?” Glass said, taking a few steps closer to run a finger along it. It was cold, almost like metal but lighter. It had once been white, but most of the paint had peeled off, leaving nothing but large patches of rust. She peered inside and saw what appeared to be a paddle resting on the bottom. “Do you think it still works?”

Luke walked around the side, staring at it. “There doesn’t seem to be an engine, just the paddle. I guess that means if it still floats, it’ll work.” He turned to Glass and smiled. “Maybe when my wrist is better, we’ll give it a try.”

“Well, I have two functioning wrists. Unless you think I’m not up to the task.”

“You know there’s nothing I think you can’t do, my little spacewalker. I just thought it’d be romantic to take you for a boat ride.”

Glass leaned against him, nestling into his side. “That sounds wonderful.”

They stood there for a moment, watching the moonlight rippling on the water, then went back inside the house.

Using the matches he’d taken from the camp, Luke built a small fire in the fireplace while Glass took out their tiny supply of food. Neither had felt comfortable taking more than a few days of rations. “This is crazy,” Glass said, passing Luke a piece of dried fruit from her pack. “It’s like something out of a fairy tale. A house in the woods.”

Luke took a sip of water from his canteen, then passed it to Glass. “I wish we knew what happened to the people who lived here, whether they tried to make it through the Cataclysm, or whether they evacuated.” He looked around. “It seems like they might’ve left in a hurry.” There was a note of wistfulness in his voice that made it clear he’d been thinking the same thing as Glass.

“I know, it’s like the house held on to their memories long after they were gone.”

Growing up on the ship, believing in ghosts had seemed like the most foolish thing in the world. But here, on Earth, in this house, Glass was beginning to understand how someone could believe in a lingering presence.

“Well, then it’s our responsibility to replace them with some happy memories,” Luke said with a smile. He scooted closer to Glass and wrapped his arm around her. “Aren’t you warm in front of the fire? Don’t you want to take off your jacket?”

Glass grinned as he unzipped her jacket. She closed her eyes as he began kissing her, softly at first, then with more urgency. But as much as she wanted to lose herself in his touch, she couldn’t shake the nagging thought building in the back of her mind. Luke was wrong. You couldn’t replace sad memories with happy ones.

That was the thing about heartache. You never could erase it. You carried it with you, always.

Luke’s rhythmic breath was like a lullaby. Glass’s head rose and fell on his chest as he inhaled, exhaled. She had always envied his ability to pass out cold—the sleep of the innocent, her mother had always called it. Glass’s head was spinning too fast for her to fall asleep. She wished she could just enjoy the moment, savor the magic of lying next to Luke, but she could barely look at him without feeling a heavy pang of sorrow bang against her heart. They didn’t have much longer. Soon, Glass would have to end it, before Luke discovered the secret that would get them both killed.

Tears sprang to Glass’s eyes, and she was grateful that he couldn’t see her face. He didn’t know that their future together didn’t involve anything but pain and sorrow. She took a couple of deep breaths, steadying herself.

“You okay, baby?” Luke mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

“Fine,” she whispered.

He extended his arm, and without opening his eyes, pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she managed to say before her voice cracked.

After a few moments, she could tell from the rhythm of his breath that he had drifted back off to sleep. She took his hand and gently placed it on her belly, letting his warmth seep through her skin. She watched his face as he slept. He always looked like a little boy when he was asleep, his long lashes practically brushing his cheeks. If only she could tell him about their child, the one growing inside her as they lay there.

But he could never know. Whereas at seventeen, Glass had a wisp of a chance of being forgiven for violating the Gaia Doctrine, at nineteen, Luke would be floated—executed after a cursory trial. She would have to leave him, cut off all contact so the Council couldn’t trace him back to her.

“I’m sorry,” Glass whispered as the tears slid down her cheeks, wondering which one of them her heart ached for the most.

Luke sighed in his sleep. Glass shifted her weight and brushed her hand against his cheek, wishing she could tell what he was thinking. In the chaos of their escape from the Colony, and the trauma of their crash landing on Earth, there hadn’t been any time to talk about their devastating fight on the ship. Or maybe Luke wanted it that way.

Glass had tried to conceal her pregnancy, but she was eventually found out. Violating the ship’s strict population control rules was one of the most serious crimes of all, and even after suffering a miscarriage, Glass still had to face the Chancellor. When he’d insisted that Glass reveal the father, she’d panicked and lied. Instead of Luke, she’d given the name of his roommate, Carter, a manipulative, dangerous older boy who had tried to assault Glass when Luke was away.

But although Carter was a vile slimeball, he hadn’t deserved to die. But that was exactly what had happened. The Chancellor had taken Glass’s word, sending Glass, a minor, into Confinement, and ordering Carter’s execution.

Glass would never forget the look of fury and disgust in Luke’s face when he’d discovered the truth. And even though he’d forgiven her, she worried she’d broken something that couldn’t be fully repaired—Luke’s trust.

He sighed again and, without opening his eyes, pulled her closer to him. She smiled, allowing the reassuring thud of his heartbeat to drown out her other thoughts. Coming to Earth was a chance to start over, to put the horror of the past behind them.

Glass closed her eyes and was just beginning to drift off to sleep when a loud noise startled her awake. All her senses fired up, she sat up in bed and looked around. The cabin was empty. Had she dreamed the sound? What was it? She replayed it in her head—it wasn’t quite a howl, and it wasn’t quite a voice. It was something else—like a call, a signal, but not words. Just a… communication of some kind. Between what kinds of creatures, she had no idea. Camp was miles away, and they’d seen no other signs of civilization out here. They were totally alone. It was probably just the sound of the wind against the cabin roof or something. She had nothing to worry about.

Glass lay back down, pressed herself into Luke’s warm, relaxed body, and finally fell asleep.