Part One: E

I lifted my left wrist up and spoke into it. Gold one to red leader, I said. Do you hear me? No response came. Gold one to all, I said. A solitary voice came back out of my wrist. Ashton! Thank God you’re alive! the voice said. I recognized it as a man on the council. Mr. Corey? I said. Of course, he responded. What’s happening? I asked. My sister and Master Tullis just both died right before my eyes! I waited a moment until he finally responded. There’s been some sort of freak accident. Everyone’s dead - I haven’t found a single living person besides you. What-- His voice cut out and I heard only static. I shook my wrist frustratedly. My signal had been having problems for a couple of weeks.

Finally I remembered the small object Master Tullis had left me. I glanced down at my hand apprehensively. A small bit of cloth poked out of my closed fist. I opened my hand to see a glint of metal as something fell to the ground, clinking as it bounced off the stone street. I crouched down.

There on the dull gray stone lay a small golden key, sparkling in the bright sun.