“Of course not,” Tanq says. “Is a child one year old the day it’s born? No, it is not. Besides, Year Zero sounds cooler.”

Wyatt shrugs. “Okay, I buy that. Also, it’s another possible band name.”

“If I had a working camera,” I say, “I’d take a selfie of all of us right now in front of this marker.”

“We’ll just have to remember,” Trey says. “We have to remember everything.” He turns back to gaze across the endless water of Lake Erie. Softly, he says, “We won a big battle today.”

“I say we get started on Plan B,” Wyatt says. “See if we can help each other out.”

“Can we rest first?” Tanq says. “Also, I’m starving.”

Trey puts an arm back around my shoulders. Gulls play in the gravel where waves lap the shore. Emmaline plunges into them, scattering them in all directions. For the first time in a long time, I don’t see any crows.

“Hey, look at that,” Trey says, pointing toward the tear in the clouds. It’s widening, dissipating, revealing a normal, healthy blue. “I feel like we’re watching the sun rise on a new era.”

I laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Melodrama makes me laugh.”

“Well, how’s this for melodrama? We did it. We made our mark. Made a difference. We saved the world, at least for now. I have to tell you, that might be even better than going to the NFL.”

I gaze up at him, wondering if he’s right. Would I have willingly given up all my hopes and dreams and loved ones to save the whole world? It’s too big a question. Maybe I’ll decide later.

But I squeeze his hand, because right or wrong, I appreciate the thought. I say, “Let’s go find the rest of humanity.”

About the Author

RAE CARSON is the author of two bestselling and award-winning trilogies. Her books tend to contain adventure, magic, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. Rae Carson lives in Arizona with her husband.

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

Books by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns

The Crown of Embers

The Bitter Kingdom

The Shadow Cats

The Shattered Mountain

The King's Guard

The Girl of Fire and Thorns Complete Collection

The Empire of Dreams

Walk on Earth a Stranger

Like a River Glorious

Into the Bright Unknown

Any Sign of Life

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