It’s like moving through syrup, muscles howling in pain as I watch the Pearl plummet closer and closer to the Surface. Avery and the guards notice it too. They pull back, dropping their weapons. The alleyway glows a brilliant green as the Pearl’s light reflects along the windows of the towers. Its path stays fixed on me. “Back up.” Avery grabs my arm, trying to pull me away. “Jesse! It’ll kill you!” I keep my eyes on the Pearl, ignoring her. My feet are cemented in place, every bit of me hypnotized by the glowing ball of light speeding to the ground. I reach out my arms, hands open. One thousand feet. My eyes widen. The pain shoots from my core and meets the Pearl head on, pulling it forward. Five hundred. “Jesse!” Avery screams behind me, pressed against the railing at the back of the landing.
