Escape from Eden (Original Series book 2) by Rachel McClellan Page A

was like for you.”
    “The Institute held you and your brother for a while too, correct? Because of your father?”
    “How do you know about that?” As far as I knew only Jerry and the few who had taken me back on the submarine knew of my past.
    “Max. We talk sometimes, but don’t worry. I don’t think he’s told anyone else. He thinks the world of you, do you know that?”
    “I think the world of him.”
    “He worries about you. He thinks you push yourself too hard.”
    I furrow my brow. “But isn’t that what you have to do to get anything done in this world?”
    “You have to know your limits.”
    “Which are many compared to everyone outside this wall,” I say, my voice quiet. Before she can say anything else, I add, “Tank told me why he’s here. You are going to help them, right?”
    “I’m thinking about it.”
    I open my eyes wide. “What’s there to think about? There are Originals stuck in Enfield. They need to be saved.”
    Her full lips purse together, creating even more lines around her mouth. “Yes, they do. I know that better than anyone. The atrocities committed in that place are enough to drive anyone insane. The things I’ve seen…” her voice trails off.
    I place my hand over hers. “That’s why you need to help them.”
    Her gaze meets mine. “But what about the people who will be breaking them out? Lives will be lost. I know what kind of security they have and no one can get through unscathed, especially Primes. The Institute will spot them miles away.”
    I withdraw my hand and lean back. If what she says is true, do I really want Colt and the others risking their lives? But what about the imprisoned Originals? Don’t they deserve a chance at life?
    “Who’s Colt to you?” Stella asks.
    I startle. “Colt?”
    “He was the first person you asked Tank about. You didn’t even mention your father.”
    I frown, thinking back. Did I really not ask about my dad? “He’s a good friend, that’s all.”
    Stella tilts her head and smiles like she knows more. “You want to get off this island, don’t you?”
    “More than anything. How can I help Originals if I’m stuck here?”
    “But what do you think you can do?”
    I shrug. “I can help my father find a cure, or help HOPE take down the Institute. I know the layout of every one of their buildings, except Enfield's of course. I can sneak in and destroy things, steal things, I don’t know. But I will try. Whatever it takes so Primes and Originals can live normal lives.”
    “But you could die,” she says.
    It takes me a few seconds to respond. “But I’ll die doing something worthwhile. And that, to me, is living.”
    “I’ve had my eye on you since the moment you came here,” Stella says while she leans back on her bed. She reaches under her pillow. “You’re a different child, Sage. Special even.”
    “Um, thank you?”
    She takes hold of something and pulls it out. “I want you to look at this. Take all the time you need.”
    I accept several creased pieces of paper and unfold them. On one side is a map. At the bottom is the name of a street I don’t know. It leads to another road that doesn’t have a name. Hand drawn trees are all over. At one point there’s a bridge and then another. Toward the top, there are pictures of cliffs. The map ends at a drawing of a sign that reads: “Six Flags.”
    I turn it over. Drawn on the other side is the layout of what looks like a miniature city. There’s a center plaza surrounded by buildings. Hand-written words have been scribbled over the top of them. They say: Commons area, medical, towers, bunkhouse and a bunch of others. The one that catches my eye the most is the building furthest from the others. It’s labeled “Experiments.”
    I swallow and turn to the next page. It’s a detailed blueprint of the medical room. The rest of the pages are the same—the specific layouts of each building. Some are more complex than others. The images flash into my mind in