Darkness Follows Read online

  Ingo nodded. “Grady took a letter from me that he was going to post when he got there. I haven’t heard back, but it’s difficult. I’ve been moving around a lot…” He shrugged and looked down.

  “They’re fine,” I told him. “You’ll hear from them.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted, tugging at his scar. “I thought we didn’t do platitudes.”

  “We don’t. That was a statement of fact.”

  “Anyway, speaking of letters…I have something for you.” Ingo dug into his back pocket and handed me something: a folded piece of paper. He cleared his throat. “I couldn’t make myself trade this. I thought it was probably important to you.”

  I stared down at it. I knew what it was without opening it, but opened it anyway, carefully. The faint, pungent scent of disinfectant wafted out.

  Dear Amity,

  Darling, I’ve tried so hard to get to see you…

  My throat closed.

  “I should have given it back to you a long time ago,” Ingo said into the twilight silence. “I suppose I didn’t want you to know I’d read it. I’m sorry. It was private; I had no right.”

  “But how did you get the wire for me to pick the lock?” I said in a daze.

  Ingo made a face. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does. Tell me.”

  “All right,” he said finally. “I traded my breakfast that morning.”

  I stared at him, remembering Harmony Five – the magnitude of such a gesture there.

  Slowly, I refolded the letter. It collapsed back into time-softened creases. As I slipped it into my skirt pocket, I touched the shard of glass. It had always been there, from the time we’d escaped. Each morning I’d felt naked, vulnerable, unless I had it nearby.

  I took it out and looked at it. I brushed my thumb over the sharpness of its tip.

  Very lightly, I tossed the shard into a trashcan that sat nearby. The can must have been empty; I heard the glass shatter. Something eased in my chest.

  “Thank you,” I said. “More than I can tell you.”

  Ingo’s expression as he studied me was one I’d never seen him wear before. “You’re welcome,” he said quietly.

  Neither of us seemed to know what to say then. I gazed out at the jagged, sparkling skyline of New Manhattan: home of Kay Pierce’s new regime. Soon to be our home too.

  Collie was out there somewhere, in one of those glittering buildings. I thought of the moment he’d kissed me and tensed. I’d encounter him again, and probably soon. Mac trusted him. The Resistance trusted him.

  A man can change.

  Did I believe that?

  I pushed it away and rocked sideways, nudging Ingo. “Hey. Do the dramatic chord.”

  He gave me a look. “Am I supposed to know what that means?”

  “Yes, actually. The Peacefighting-story chord.”

  “Ah, of course.” Ingo picked up the guitar and strummed it with a quick motion; the vibrant notes hung in the air. He intoned, “Amity Vancour became a Peacefighter because…”

  I took a breath. “Because she wanted to make her father proud,” I said. “Only he was already dead…and so he never knew.”

  Ingo hesitated, then laid the guitar aside and rested his hand on my shoulder. He gripped it gently, his thumb rubbing back and forth.

  “Thank you for not choosing this particular moment to start spouting platitudes,” I said.

  His hand tightened. “You know me better than that,” he said. “But I do think the man would have to have been insane if he wasn’t already proud of you.”

  I gazed at Ingo. I felt my mouth relax into a smile.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I told him.

  Welcome to a “PERFECT” world.

  Where war is ILLEGAL, where HARMONY rules.

  And where your date of birth marks your DESTINY.

  BUT NOTHING IS PERFECT.

  And in a world this BROKEN, who can Amity TRUST?

  An exhilarating epic of DECEPTION, HEARTBREAK and REBELLION.

  Praise for Broken Sky

  “Full of tension and foreboding…so cinematic and vivid. Broken Sky is a book that will blow you away. 5/5”

  REALITY’S A BORE

  “Broken Sky just left me “broken” and elated and in awe. Amity – she’s my girl. 5 stars”

  BEATRICE LEARNS TO READ

  “Feels utterly fresh and unique… So, so, soooo good.”

  THE ZOE-TROPE

  “Action, romance, heartbreak, betrayal, agonising guilt and heart-stopping tension: Broken Sky has it all. And TWISTS; dear Lord, the twists.”

  AWFULLY BIG REVIEWS

  “Brilliant…a gripping story with heroic characters.”

  ARMADILLO

  “Written with Weatherly’s trademark style, suspense, creativity and energy, this is a gripping, fascinating thriller.”

  LANCASHIRE EVENING POST

  Broken Sky

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Though it may sound strange given how gritty Darkness Follows is in places, this book was a joy to write – one of those magical writing experiences where the characters did all sorts of things the author didn’t expect. I followed where they led me and loved the journey.

  Other, non-fictional, people came along for the journey too, and I’m extremely glad they did.

  First, my dream team at Usborne. I truly couldn’t ask for a better editor: Stephanie King, to whom this book is dedicated, unfailingly provides keen insight, inspiration and calm wisdom. “Thank you” is an understatement! My heartfelt thanks also to Rebecca Hill, Anne Finnis and Sarah Stewart. As always, your spot-on feedback made Darkness Follows a much better book. My thanks also to Katharine Millichope for the gorgeous front cover, and to Amy Dobson and Stevie Hopwood for their stellar efforts in promoting the series. Though Darkness Follows is a challenging book in some ways, Usborne were behind it right from the start. So to everyone there, thank you for your faith in the story and in me.

  I must also give a nod of thanks to the memoirists and historians – some of whom are no longer with us – whose work was so valuable in helping me shape Darkness Follows. The fictional “correction camps” of Gunnison’s regime aren’t meant to represent any specific real-life concentration camps, but they do borrow elements from examples across several cultures. Especially useful in my research were Primo Levi’s If This Is a Man; Agnès Humbert’s Résistance; Paul R. Gregory’s Women of the Gulag; Anne Applebaum’s Gulag; and Kang Chol-Hwan’s The Aquariums of Pyongyang.

  My usual posse of writing pals, plus some new ones, have provided feedback, laughter, cappuccinos and gin – you all keep me sane, as you know! My love and thanks especially to Christi Daugherty, Keren David, Fiona Dunbar, Hilary Freeman, Candy Gourlay, Helen Grant, Helen Graves, Nick Green, Emma Haughton, Melissa Hyder, Inbali Iserles, Katherine Langrish, Zoë Marriott, Gillian Philip, C. J. Skuse, Keris Stainton, and Sheena Wilkinson.

  To all the readers, bloggers and reviewers who’ve enjoyed the series so far, thank you so much! I love hearing from you, and I hope that Darkness Follows meets expectations. Thanks also to my agent, Jenny Savill – I feel that we’re poised on the verge of a great adventure.

  Finally, hugs to my family for being there, especially my sister Susan Benson Lawrence. And an extra-special, you-are-amazing thank-you to my husband. “Peter” means “rock”…and you both rock and are my rock. I love you.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  L. A. Weatherly was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She now lives with her husband and their cat, Bernard, in Hampshire, England, where she spends her days – and nights! – writing.

  L. A. Weatherly is the author of over fifty books, including the bestselling Angel trilogy. Her work has been published in over ten different languages.

  Catch up with L. A. Weatherly on Facebook

  @LA_Weatherly

  laweatherly.tumblr.com

  Can’t wait for BLACK MOON? Catch up with L. A. Weatherly’s ANGEL trilogy.

  �
��Heart-stopping romance.” Mizz

  “Wonderful, original.” The Sun

  “Packed with suspense and drama.” The Daily Mail

  “Sparkling.” Books for Keeps

  “Awesome.” Once Upon a Bookcase

  “Will leave you breathless.” Daisy Chain Book Reviews

  “Stunning.” Book Angel Booktopia for Chicklish

  “Made me laugh, smile and cry.” Open Book Society

  “Fresh, imaginative…highly addictive.” Empire of Books

  “Will suck you in and take you on a thrill ride.” Feeling Fictional

  “Pure perfection.” Dark-Readers

  “Unmissable.” Jess Hearts Books

  “Mind-blowing, spine-tingling, absolutely brilliant.” Book Passion for Life

  Willow knows she’s different from other girls. She can look into people’s futures just by touching them. She has no idea where she gets this power from…

  But Alex does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows Willow’s secret and is on a mission to stop her. But in spite of himself, Alex finds he is falling in love with his sworn enemy.

  Angel

  Only Willow has the power to defeat the malevolent Church of Angels, and they will stop at nothing to destroy her. But when Willow and Alex join forces with a group of Angel Killers, Willow is still treated with mistrust and suspicion. She’s never felt more alone…until she meets Seb. He’s been searching for Willow his whole life – because Seb is a half-angel too.

  Angel Fire

  Training a new team of AKs, Alex and Willow’s love grows stronger than ever. But with the world in ruins, the angels are enslaving humanity, moving survivors into camps where they devour their energy, causing slow but certain death.

  When Alex is forced to embark on a deadly solo mission, Willow is left to defeat the angels with Seb – and she has no idea if Alex is ever coming back…

  Angel Fever

  www.angelfever.com

  First published in the UK in 2016 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. www.usborne.com

  Copyright © L. A. Weatherly, 2016

  The right of L. A. Weatherly to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

  Cover photo of pieces of demolished or shattered glass isolated on black © Arsgera/Shutterstock Aries and Taurus artwork by Ian McNee.

  The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne Publishing Ltd.

  All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN: 9781474919401

  Batch no: 03207-02