Marie Lu - Life After Legend

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE LEGEND SERIES? READ ON FOR A SPECIAL GLIMPSE AT THE TRILOGY'S FINALE

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

Copyright 2017 by Xiwei Lu

ROSS CITY

ANTARCTICA

TEN YEARS LATER

SOMETIMES I SEE THINGS.

Glimpses. Flashes.

Ive been to the doctor a dozen times for it but always leave with the same diagnosis. Youve suffered a great deal of trauma, Daniel, they tell me. Go home. Rest. Which, as far as Im concerned, does no one any goddy good. I go home, I lie in bed. I try to rest.

It doesnt stop me from seeing things.

Its not that I dont like life in Ross City. My little brother, Eden, decided to come here to attend one of their prestigious tech academies, and if it makes him happy, it makes me happy. After the Republic of America, the society of Antarctica feels so free that sometimes I cant stand it. People here dont worry about plagues. They dont think about whether or not soldiers will break down your door and gun down your family. They dont wonder where their next meal will come from, or whether theyll have to flee an enemy nations invasion. Ross City is basically a walk in the park. Ive definitely known worse.

Still, I see things.

During our first year here, I saw glimpses in my sleep of a woman with icy eyes and a smirk on her lips. When shed speak to me, Id hear nothing except my own screaming. During our second year, I saw snippets of life with Tess on the streets of Lake. Our third year, I saw flickers of chandeliers and formal gloves, cameras and champagne flutesmoments of a life that didnt seem to match the one I knew in Lake.

Our fourth year, and every year since then, I see flashes of a girl with long dark hair. I can never quite make out her face, but I find myself following her in my dreams, always waking before I can reach her.

I never mention her aloud, not even to Eden. Something about her makes me want to keep her a secret.

Youre quiet tonight.

Leannas voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I shift in my chair and see her frowning at me. The evening has just faded to night, and from up here, at a caf along one of the bustling walkways connecting two adjacent buildings, I can see the time hovering in a display over a distant skyscraper. My attention returns to my girlfriend, who is watching me as she wraps curls of her red hair around her fingers.

When I dont respond right away, she leans in close and kisses me. Whats on your mind? she asks.

Sorry, I reply with a sigh. Eden has his exams tomorrow. Hes been holed up in his room all week, studying. Which is the truth, but not the reason why Im quiet tonight.

Im quiet because Im thinking about the girl with dark hair, who appeared in my dreams again last night. Im quiet because I know Im about to break up with Leanna, and Im not looking forward to it.

Leanna doesnt look convinced. Its been six months, Daniel. By now I can tell when somethings really bothering you.

Six months. This is the longest Ive been in a relationship since we arrived in Ross Citybut as I look up at Leanna, I cant help but feel my heart sink. Weve lasted this long, but I know its coming to an end. I straighten in my chair so that our hands are no longer touching. Her eyes search mine, and the expression on her face flickers slightly, as if shes trying to guess what Im thinking.

We can head back to my place, she gently suggests. If you want to give your brother his privacy.

I give her a sad smile. Its not that, I reply. Then I get up from my seat, pull on my peacoat, and offer her my hand. I start walking us back toward my apartment. We need to talk.

Back at the apartment, I pull her close and talk to her in a low voice.

As she listens, she studies my gaze, trying to figure out what shes done wrong to end our relationship. I tell her Im sorry, Im sorry.

Shes indignant at first, and I listen in silence. She had told me she loved me weeks ago, and Id been unable to say it back. She says she wishes Id said something then. She says she wishes shed never met me. Then she turns quiet too. Shes not angry at me, but I wish she would be. When she starts to cry, I hug her and bury my face in her hair. Neither of us says anything. All I can do is stay like that, feeling alone, wondering why the hell I cant let a good thing last for once.

Wondering why I cant get the girl with dark hair out of my mind.

We sit like this for hours, until finally, Leanna gets up. She gathers the things that shes left at my place over the past few monthshairbrush, nightshirts, toothbrush. She tells me shell be all right. We talk softly by the door. Then I hug her for the last time. She walks out of the apartment and down the hall, leaving me standing in the doorway.

I look on for a moment, lost in thought. My hand fidgets absently with an old ring on my finger. Its my favoritelight and sturdy, made of paper clips, and even though I dont remember where I got it, I like that it reminds me of old Lake customs. Besides, someone once told me it was made of alloys that dont rust. Might be useful someday.

When I step back inside and lock the door, Edens emerged from his bedroom and is leaning against the kitchen counter, eating an apple. He glances at me through his glasses. His eyes, once a pale purple after his ordeal in the Republic, have gradually faded over the years to a bright blue that matches my own. His head of blond curls is a tangled mess right now, and he still looks half asleep.

Thought you were studying, I mutter at my brother, even as I join him in the kitchen.

Eden shrugs. Ive gotten half a dozen internship offers already. And Im gonna ace this exam tomorrow, anyway. Figured a nap was a better use of my time.

I cant help smiling a little. Cant imagine where he gets his attitude from.

He takes another bite out of the apple. So, did you do it?

Yeah.

Eden makes a disappointed sound in his throat. I know he really likes Leanna, although, to my relief, he doesnt use that against me. Whatd you tell her?

That I just wasnt in the same place as her. I run a hand through my hair. I keep it cut short these days, another reminder of how different my life is now from when we lived in the Republic. When I was Day.

Eden rolls his eyes. Better than what you told Rose, he replies. Top secret project for the Antarctican Intelligence Serviceright.

I cast him a withering look. There are plenty of projects I do for the AIS that I dont tell you about.

Well, did you have one that made you break up with Rose?

No.

Eden shakes his head. Exactly.

Should I have kept leading Leanna on, then?

No. Like I said, its better than what you told Rose. At least you told Leanna the truth. Eden tosses the apple core in the trash. I knew your relationship was doomed months ago.

Thanks for the heads-up.

Wouldnt have made a difference. You had to figure it out on your own. Eden sits at the counter and raises an eyebrow at me. So, why didnt you like her?

I look away and reach for an apple too. Eden asks me this every time I break up with a new girlfriend, and every time, I have to make up some sort of excusebut tonight, Im too tired to think of something. So instead, I just tell Eden exactly what comes to mind. She just... wasnt the right one. I take a bite out of the apple. On the streets of Lake, this apple wouldve been impossible to come by. I gave it a few months to see if anything would change, but it didnt.