The Network ( Book One of the Grounders Series )

45

JONAH

The Network is idle for the next three days. Everyone is still recovering from the damage of the war. Bodies litter every clan and the Artery, but they are all too numb to do anything about it.

Jonah and Kalin sit in the old school room in Daws. The map of the Aboveground still drawn down, circling Italy.

"You have to take control," Kalin says. "It's-it's been three days. I don't... I don't think they made it."

Jonah could see the sentence hurt Kalin to speak, but he is probably right. Alaric and Cicada probably died battling Arosi.

"You're ri-."

A loud boom sounded, followed by the sound of a rock avalanche. Jonah and Kalin rush in the Artery and see that the walls across the Artery have been ripped away, revealing the ocean cavern that levels out with the Artery where Verro used to be.

The remaining Grounders rush into the ocean cavern. Jonah hesitated. This place brought back memories of his friend Rox, who died viciously at the hand of Arosi's minions.

Standing near the edge of the shore is Alaric and Cicada. Across the cavern, the opposite wall has crumbled, revealing the vast fields of Arocule.

"We have prevailed," Alaric says, his voice booming across the cavern. People from Arocule have begun to gather on the other side of the cavern. Jonah spots Dax, the former leader of the rebels, among them. "We have vanquished our enemy. This perilous battle has met it's end."

Even from this distance, Jonah could see the gold flashing in their eyes.

"Today we celebrate our victory by uniting both Arocule and the Network. Two separate nations that have lived side by side for years, one of which didn't even know the other existed. Today we become one people with one purpose, to live peacefully.

"If this war has taught me anything, it's that peace is the most important thing to have. With yourself and the people around you."

Everyone cheers so loudly, the water in the ocean ripples. Jonah smile ear-to-ear and charges into the cavern and tackling his friends in a hug. The three of them collapse into the water. They sit, neck deep in the water, together again finally, shedding tears of happiness. After everything they've been through, their struggles have finally paid off.

Jonah notices the lyre tattoos on both of them, but doesn't say anything. He will ask them later what happened. Now he is too overwhelmed to even speak.

The Arocule people and the Grounders charge into the water, and swim to them. Thousands of people gather around them, lifting the three heroes onto their shoulders and cheering their names. The entire cavern radiates positive energy.

Today they've won the war. They have finally found peace. Tomorrow will be another day of hardship, another day of life. Tomorrow will come tomorrow. Now is now. And right now all Jonah could do is smile and cheer along with his people.

It is finally over. It is over and the two people that matter most to him are next to him, hoisted high in the air.