Distant waves crashed. The sun shone directly overhead.They were back in the cage.The breeze tangled in her hair, along with the metallic smell of the Caretaker’s skin. She let him go like he was a spark, and she a dry piece of wood.“Get away from her!” Lucky’s voice cut like a knife. She turned in a daze as he and the others sprinted across the grass.The Caretaker ignored them, eyes only on Cora. “Remember: three rules. That is all we require.” His outline flickered like an old-fashioned television set, and then vanished, just as the others rushed up.Cora wiped her mouth, swallowing hard despite the memory of the Warden’s hand clamped around her neck. “I’m okay. He took me to a room I wasn’t supposed to see. It’s where they observe us.” She pointed toward the candy shop, head foggy. “It was just behind one of these black windows.”Rolf frowned. “The candy shop wall that supports the black window can’t be more than six inches thick—not nearly enough room for a viewing chamber.”
