Before leaving, Tally wrote a letter to herself.
It was Maddy’s idea, to put her consent in writing. Thatway, even as a pretty, unable to comprehend why she wouldever want her brain fixed, Tally could at least read her ownwords and know what was about to happen.
“Whatever makes you feel better,” Tally said. “As longas you cure me, no matter what I say. Don’t leave me likeShay.”
“I’ll cure you, Tally. I promise. I just need written consent.”
Maddy handed her a pen and a small, precious pieceof paper.
“I never learned penmanship,” Tally said. “They don’trequire it anymore.”
Maddy shook her head sadly and said, “Okay. You dictate,and I’ll write it.”
“Not you. Shay can write it for me. She took a class,back when she was trying to get to the Smoke.” Tallyremembered the scrawl of Shay’s directions to the Smoke,clumsy but readable.
UGLIES 421F F FThe letter didn’t take long. Shay giggled at Tally’s heartfeltwords, but she wrote them down as directed. There wassomething earnest in the way she put stylus to paper, like alittlie learning how to read.
When they were finished, David still hadn’t come back.
He’d taken one of the hoverboards in the direction of theruins. As she put away her things, Tally kept glancing at thewindow, hoping he would return.
But Maddy was probably right. If Tally saw him again,she would just talk herself out of this. Or maybe Davidwould stop her.
Or worse, maybe he wouldn’t.
But no matter what David said now, he would alwaysremember what she had done, the lives she had cost withher secrets. This was the only way Tally could be certainthat he had forgiven her. If he came to rescue her, shewould know.
“So, let’s get moving,” Shay said when they were done.
“Shay, I’m not going to be gone forever. I’d rather you . . .”
“Come on. I’m sick of this place.”
Tally bit her lip. What was the point of giving herself upif Shay was coming too? Of course, they could alwayssnatch her away again as well. Once the cure was proven towork, they could give it to anyone. Or everyone.
“The only reason I’ve been hanging around this dumpis to try to get you to come back,” Shay said, then loweredher voice. “You know, it’s my fault you’re not already pretty.
I messed up everything by running away. I owe you.”
“Oh, Shay.” Tally’s head began to spin. She closed hereyes.
“Maddy always says I can go anytime. You don’t wantme to go back all alone, do you?”
Tally tried to imagine Shay hiking to the river alone.
“No, I guess not.” She looked at her friend’s face and saw aspark in her eyes, something real ignited by the idea ofgoing on a trip with Tally.
“Please! We’ll have a blast in New Pretty Town.”
Tally spread her hands. “Okay. I guess I can’t stop you.”
They rode together on one hoverboard. Croy came along onanother, to take the boards back when they reached thecity’s edge.
He didn’t talk the whole way down. The other NewSmokies had all heard the fight outside, and finally knewwhat Tally had done. It must have been worse for Croy. Hehad suspected, and she’d lied to him face-to-face. He wasprobably wishing he’d stopped Tally himself before she’dhad a chance to betray them all.
When they reached the greenbelt, though, he forcedhimself to look at her. “What did they do to you, anyway?
To make you do something like that?”
“They said I couldn&rsquo............