Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Train

The sun is coming up by the time we emerge from underground. I glance at Vander, concerned. I know he, like other Brights, is photosensitive, but he smiles at me, pulling on a pair of gloves and jerking his ball cap down over his face. A scarf covers the lower half, wrapped around his neck while sunglasses shield his eyes.

"I'll be fine," he says. "I've done this before, remember?"

I have to trust he knows what he's doing.

I glance back over my shoulder at the exit. We are far from where we started, a long tunnel slowly leading upward releasing us through a well-hidden portal onto the side of a road. Emile stops at the exit, waves, forlorn. Someone had to stay behind and though I know Socrates plans to leave the others in her care, I now wonder how hard it will be for her to say goodbye.

Socrates squints into the dawn, looking around, finally points. "Perfect," he says. "Follow me."