Gone

Once outside, Edilio and Quinn question Sam, who lies that he must have been sleepwalking and ate something, then choked. Astrid covers for him. Edilio presses for the truth, stating he saw Sam shoot light in the burning building, and now there is a light beam in the plant.

Sam tells his secret for the first time. He can’t control the light, only seeming to access it when panicked. Sam’s light has appeared four times: once during the storm, once with Tom, his stepfather, again during the fire with the girl, and finally in the power plant. Quinn is shocked. Sam justifies that he thought Tom was going to hurt his mother, Connie, when Tom and Connie were arguing, Tom pulled a knife out, and Sam’s light beam shot him. Sam’s mother told the hospital that Tom burned his hand on the stove. Tom left them afterward.

Astrid knew about Sam’s light power—she noticed it in his room—and she’s known about Pete for a while. Pete has many abilities activated by negative emotions. Once, when she was helping him with homework, Pete got mad and teleported her to her room. He also choked Sam in the plant. She defends Pete, stating it’s accidental. Since he has autism, he doesn’t understand he has these abilities. After the surprising revelations, Quinn and Edilio agree to keep Sam’s and Pete’s powers secret. Edilio believes other kids won’t accept them, thinking they’re superior superheroes. 

They reach the town plaza, where Coates Academy cars appear. A handsome, confident boy named Caine Soren leads the Coates kids. Caine captivates the crowd, and he assures everyone they’ll survive and thrive, saying they must unify to form a workable system that will make the adults proud when they return.

Caine asks for volunteers to devise plans for the new system. The crowd volunteers Sam as a hero, Orc as the enforcer, Mary as caretaker, Astrid for her intelligence, and others. Sam humbly declines the position, but Caine insists he take it.

The chosen few listen to Caine’s proposals in the church. Astrid is already weary of his manipulation skills. Caine appoints people for various jobs. Sam is head of emergencies and fire safety. Mary is the children’s caretaker and is given priority for babysitters, supplies, and so forth. A Coates kid named Computer Jack is the technology lead, planning to fix the phones.

Caine tells Orc that he and his crew will work for Drake, a sadistic Coates kid who will be the security leader. When Orc and Howard resist, Caine discretely creates a minor earthquake, and the crucifix falls on top of Cookie, one of Orc’s men. While Cookie’s shoulder bleeds, Diana, a beautiful Coates girl who stares at Sam, volunteers to perform first aid. Sam thinks the “C” in his mother’s journal likely meant Caine.

Twelve-year-old Computer Jack runs into Astrid. They talk about technology, but then she questions him about Drake being a bully. Jack shrugs, aware of Drake’s harshness. Astrid asks if something is wrong with Caine, and Jack shrugs again. She tells Jack she thinks he’s a good kid caught in a mess. Jack admits to Astrid that Caine can “do things” (157), but they’re interrupted by Diana. She shakes Astrid’s hand, but Astrid pulls away. As they talk, Edilio digs a hole with the backhoe to bury the firepower girl, and Diana comments that Caine didn’t sanction that. Astrid says the burial needs to be done and leaves to help with the funeral.

Jack follows Diana to the mayor’s office, where Caine has taken over. Caine asks Diana about “readings,” and she declares she didn’t have enough contact with Astrid or Sam, though Jack knows she touched Sam in the church. She believes Astrid has “two bars” of strength, and Caine wonders about their powers, listing titles like “Speeder,” “Lighter,” and “Chameleon” (160). Jack marks Astrid’s two bars on his tablet. Twenty-eight other names are listed, but only Caine has four bars. Caine advises them to keep surveillance on Sam.

Concurrently, Lana travels across the desert with her dog. Hungry, tired, and thirsty, she searches for signs of civilization. Her grandpa’s ranch is too far away, but they travel across the ravine until they find the shimmery, “watery milk” (163) wall that rises to the sky. Lana desperately follows a green mirage. She and Patrick finally arrive at the green grass in front of a cabin with a well. They drink and wash in the well’s water.

Sam, Edilio, and Quinn live in the fire station; it’s not five days after the FAYZ started, and Caine took control. They hear a wail and rush to find their classmate Bette with her face covered in blood. Orc and Chaz charge Bette with breaking a new rule about performing magic. Edilio tackles Orc, and Sam fights the others. A crowd gathers, shouting that Bette didn’t do anything wrong. The scuffle ends when Drake arrives. When Orc keeps fighting, Drake smacks Orc in the ribs and the head with a metal bat. Chaz says Bette used “the power” but amends his word choice to “magic trick” (175) when Drake growls. Drake gives Sam an updated copy of the rules.

They clean Bette’s wounds, and Sam walks her home to her brother. Turns out, Bette can make her hands glow. According to the new rules, Caine is the mayor, Drake is the sheriff and can enforce rules, and Sam is the fire chief in charge of emergencies. A rule forbids people from looting stores or getting supplies without permission. The newest rule says people cannot perform magic tricks or “any other action that causes fear or worry” (180), while another states Caine and Drake can do whatever they want.

The friends argue about the rules. Quinn says that “normal people” (179) will think people like Sam, Pete, and Bette are dangerous. Sam protests that if Caine has a power, he wants to suppress others to ensure he’s the unrivaled leader. Quinn says they must play by the bullies’ rules or risk their lives.