Page 47 of Bound By Stars

Jupiter catches it in his palm. “Game? What game?”

I narrow my eyes and push off toward him as he passes to Hale.

The lights flash off and then on again.

“Auto-departure, dock fourteen, proceeding in sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight…”

Tar zooms past me as the lights flash on. “Everyone out!”

Chapter Nineteen

Weslie

Twenty-five days to Mars

Heart racing, I launch myself along the wall as the lights go out again.

A white glow floods the dock. Asha grabs her brother, ushering him up the ladder, and the lights shut off.

“…forty-seven, forty-six…”

Skye disappears up the ladder and Meridian starts the climb behind her.

I brace myself to push off, aiming for the opening of the tunnel and waiting for light. The room bursts with a too-bright white glow. Pushing off, I follow Curran and Hale, who grab the bottom rung. Darkness cloaks the room again.

“…thirty-five, thirty-four…”

The heel of a boot hits me in the center of my chest. Light explodes, burning my eyes.

I hit the side wall, tumbling across the giant painted4in the opposite direction. I can’t stop. I reach for the first bar I pass, but my fingertips graze it.

Darkness. My palm hits the next bar, and I jerk to a stop.

“…twenty-eight, twenty-seven…”

“Hurry!” When the light comes on, Jupiter is alone, holding the bottom rung of the ladder and waving for me to follow.

I push off toward him, launching myself into the sudden darkness.

Light floods the space. My trajectory is off.

Jupiter reaches for me, stretching as far as he can. “Grab my hand!”

Our fingers brush. I twist. The lights go out. Our hands lock together in the dark and he pulls me to him.

“…twelve, eleven…”

Lights flash on. Jupiter pushes me ahead of him, and I scramble up the ladder.

Lights off. Gravity presses down on me, slowing my climb.

“…eight, seven…”

White light fills the tunnel. I crawl out of the hatch and turn back, leaning over the edge. Curran and I both stretch down to grab Jupiter’s hands.

“…four, three…”

Curran grips Jupiter by the arm, hoisting him up, as I grasp the collar of his suit jacket. The three of us hit the floor together.

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