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Back The Infinity Courts Save as PDF
Chapters (52)
  1. Dedication
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  52. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With a sigh, Ahmet holds his hand over the dagger and transforms it back into a crow’s feather. “Everybody in this world has a weakness. Even Ophelia.” His eyes fall to mine, and he nods like he’s aware none of this is going to be easy. “Someday we’ll find it and use it against her.”

“Until then, we keep practicing,” Annika says. “We make sure we’re stronger today than we were yesterday.”

“And don’t worry about the test,” Theo adds. “I saw you heal yourself—you’ll get control of your consciousness eventually.”

I stare at the crow’s feather, the bowl, and the locked box. He’s trying to be encouraging. Maybe even kind.

But I don’t know what’s worse: not having power at all or being someday made to wield it.

10

I PINCH THE CANDLEWICK BETWEEN my fingers, drawing out memories of heat in my mind. White sand beneath a summer sun. A mug of freshly brewed tea cupped between my hands. The breath of a campfire as embers dance through the flames.

A flame.

I imagine fire. Beg for fire. Loud and vibrant and flickering orange ribbons through the air.

But when I release the wick, the candle is as cold and still as ever.

I sigh, pulling my knees to my chest. The floor murmurs beneath me in response. A reminder, maybe, that this world is dangerous. And that every moment I spend failing is another moment I’m indebted to the Colony.

This may be the only safe place for humans, but being reliant on so many strangers doesn’t make me feel safe. And I know, without a doubt, I would not survive in Infinity on my own. What would I do if I came face-to-face with a Resident? My favorite video game is Animal Crossing, for crying out loud. I don’t have the life experience to face off with a Terminator.

It isn’t enough to be my old self in this world. I didn’t survive my previous life, and if I don’t figure out how to protect myself, I won’t survive this one either. But aside from a change of clothes—a loose-fitting sweater, black pants, and leather boots, all courtesy of Shura—I’m exactly the same person I’ve always been. Too human to be extraordinary.

Trying to move objects with my mind, or turn them into something else—it isn’t as easy as simply practicing. Because every time I try to use my consciousness and fail, I feel like I’m standing in front of that gunman again, watching the bullet explode from the barrel, bracing for the impact that sends me falling into darkness.

I don’t just feel helpless; I feel lost.