Every Day in May (grand prize winner) ✔

May 29th

I barely made it here tonight.  It seems your father's guards are being extra cautious.  One of them was speaking to a fellow guard in the hallway outside the hidden passage when I first arrived here tonight.  He said they couldn't afford to make any mistakes, especially now. 

What does that mean? I know, I know—he could have been talking about anything—maybe one of them is up for promotion or is on disciplinary probation. 

I'm still worried.  I was two seconds away from opening the door to step into the hall when his voice stopped me. The guards' patrol schedule should have moved them off of that floor five minutes before then.  Why the change? Please tell me it's just my nerves making me find a problem where there isn't one.

Only two days remain; it's hard to imagine sleeping or having to go about my life like everything's normal. Naturally that's what I told you to do and I'm having trouble following my own advice.

I know you're not telling your father any of this because I know you, Theo.  Because you have just as much reason to fear and hate the Leader as the rest of us—maybe more.  He has turned on us, starved us, murdered our families, and attempted to control us.  But you—he's held you hostage your entire life, made you a stranger to your own people and blind to their sufferings until now.  You may have your issues with the Dissent, but you do want them to succeed where the Leader is concerned.

Besides, if you'd told him, I'd be dead by now—it's pretty much that simple.

I trust you because I know you.  My whole life I've been pulled towards you, though it wasn't until recently that I understood what that pull really meant; our mothers wanted their children to share a bond and now, against incredible odds, we've fulfilled their wish.  Tell me you don't feel the same way.

Graden wants me out of the city during the attack.  He's arranged for one of Jeffers' people to take me to some undisclosed location.  It's true that I do plan on being gone before the attack occurs—just not how he's imagining.

Theo, I'm going to tell you now where the hidden passageway is, just in case I can't show it to you myself.

Take the eastern staircase up one flight, turn right and walk down the hall until you come to the third door on your left.  Open it fast, not slow—it will squeak less that way.  At the back of the room amongst all of the clutter is a wide rectangular mirror hung low to the floor, flowers and vines carved into its wooden frame.  Find the fourth flower along the right side of the mirror and press its center.  You'll hear a click as the clasp releases, allowing you to slide the mirror to the side and enter the passage.  Close it behind you.

Then run.

Hopefully, you won't have to use these directions.  I'm planning on coming back, I am, but we need to have a contingency plan, don't we?  If I don't show up tomorrow, or the next day, wait until just after midnight on June first and then go.  Go find that ship from your childhood.  Don't try to find me.  Don't wonder what's happened to me. 

Go and live your life, Theo.  Yesterday you asked me what I want from you and that's it. 

I want you to live.