Taken (Erin Bowman)

flee, Elijah among the first. The Rebels would become another nuisance in Frank’s efforts, and when Harvey finally ran, Frank would do everything in his power to get him back.
    I flip the final journal closed and push it toward the others. It’s hard to take in so much so quickly, and yet it’s oddly relieving to see the truth so plainly before my eyes. Reading it like that makes it feel so definite, concrete.
    “So you were Group D then. Saltwater,” I say to Bree. She looks up from her book and nods. “And Fallyn, as well?”
    “You got it. There’s a representative from each test group in Crevice Valley, serving as a captain under Ryder’s command.”
    I do the math quickly. It’s wrong. “But there’s four captains, and only three groups faced Heists.”
    “Raid’s from Group B, Dextern; Fallyn’s Saltwater; your father’s Claysoot. And then there’s Elijah. He represents the citizens of Taem. And there’s a lot of them. In fact, they make up the majority of the Rebels.”
    So maybe Frank’s records were right after all. “Did Elijah start the Rebellion?”
    “Yes and no. He was one of the first to go in search of people sharing his viewpoint outside the city, but I think his act of running meant nothing until he met Ryder. They crossed paths somewhere past the Hairpin and started gathering supporters. That was when the Rebellion really began.”
    “What about Ryder? I mean, I know he was from Claysoot, but how’d he end up here?”
    “I only know so much. You and I were lucky, Gray. When we got to Taem, Harvey had already run and, because of that, Frank’s experiments were on hold. But Ryder didn’t have that luxury. He was fed the lie that Frank was trying to free Claysoot and then underwent constant operations, thinking the lab workers would find something within his blood that could save his people from the Wall.
    “From what I’ve pieced together, Ryder struck up a strong friendship with one of the other boys from Claysoot. They discussed how Frank never got any closer to solving things and agreed that their only chance of leading a somewhat normal life existed far away from Taem. They started talking about running for it, and eventually Ryder did.”
    “And the other boy?”
    “The two of them broke into Frank’s office during their escape instead of running straight for the hills. Stupid move, if you ask me, but at least Ryder managed to grab the journals you just read. They were caught on camera, though, which alerted the Order. Only Ryder made it out.”
    “And then he hid in the woods until Elijah found him years later?”
    “Yup. And by then, Ryder didn’t want to fight Frank anymore. He was old and more or less happy. But after Elijah told him everything Frank had done to the city and its people, Ryder was convinced it was never too late to fight back.”
    All the pieces are joining: the records in Union Central merging with the journals in this library, which are further stitched together by Bree’s stories. My brain hurts, but in the best way possible. The truth is addictive.
    “And you?” I ask her. “What’s your story?”
    “I got Heisted, although we called it being Snatched back on the island. I watched a video where Frank told me Harvey was behind it all, that he needed my patience and assistance until he could free Saltwater. I was out on a scouting mission when I realized I didn’t want to go back. I trusted Frank at the time but didn’t want to spend my whole life searching for Harvey. I guess this makes me sound pretty selfish, actually, not wanting to save the rest of my people, but I was alone and scared. So while everyone was sleeping, before I even contemplated if it was a smart idea, I took off. A few days later, I stumbled into a rough Rebel camp.”
    “So you’re, what, sixteen, seventeen?”
    “Almost seventeen,” she answers.
    “You don’t seem that old.”
    “Why’s that? Because I’m so mature and levelheaded?” She grins proudly.
    “More the opposite. Because you’re so wild and impulsive.”
    “Oh screw you.” Her tone is half-serious, half-playful. “You’re as impulsive as me—maybe even more so.”
    “I think we are both more alike than we’d care to admit.”
    Her face morphs into a scowl. “I’ve served more responsibly for the Rebels’ cause than you can say. I’ve delivered on missions and promises and then some. That alone makes us very different.”
    “I just need the chance, Bree. I can shine under