He glanced at Ward, sending an obvious cue. The doctor spoke immediately, his voice carrying more passion than Hess.

“The Aether storms are striking with intensity not seen since the Unity. Bliss isn’t the only Pod that has fallen. If the storms continue, they will all fall. Reverie will fall, Aria. Our only hope of surviving is to escape the Aether.”

She almost laughed at him. “Then there is no hope. You can’t escape it. It’s everywhere.”

“Outsiders speak of a place that’s free of it.”

Aria tensed. Ward knew about the Still Blue? How could he know that? But of course he would. He studied Outsiders, like her mother did. Like her mother had.

“They’re only rumors,” Aria said. Even as she spoke the words, she knew they might be true. Hadn’t the rumor of Bliss proved to be?

Hess was watching her closely. “So you’ve heard of it.”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re already on your way.”

Aria’s stomach twisted as she realized what he wanted. “You want me to find it?” She shook her head. “I’m not doing anything for you.”

“Six thousand people died here,” Ward said urgently. “Six thousand. Your mother among them. You have to understand. It’s our only option.”

Grief moved through Aria, pressing down on her. She thought of the bodies on the black cart and the people on the cots in the triage room. Bane and Echo had died because of DLS. And Paisley. Would Caleb and the rest of her friends be next?

Her heart pounded as she considered returning to the outside. Was it the thought of seeing Perry that made her pulse hammer? Or maybe she felt she owed it to Lumina to carry on her quest. But she couldn’t just let the Pods crumble.

“You can’t return to Reverie,” Hess said. “You’ve seen too much.”

Aria glared at him. “So you’ll kill me if I don’t agree? You’ve already tried that. You’ll have to do better.”

Hess studied her for a moment. “I thought you might say that. I think I’ve found another way to persuade you.”

A blue square faded on the glass. An image of Perry appeared on a small screen, floating between them. He was in the room with the painted boats and hawks. The room where he’d seen Talon in the Realms.

“Aria . . . what’s happening?” he said frantically. “Aria, why doesn’t he know me?”

The image faded, changing to Perry as he hugged Talon. “I love you, Talon,” he said. “I love you.” And then the image froze.

For an instant, the echo of his voice hung in the tiny chamber. Then Aria flew toward the glass, slamming her hands against it. “Don’t you dare touch them!”