Finally, I see my eyes. My mother’s eyes. And I suddenly grasp what she meant. Running my thumb beneath them, I notice they hold strength I never recognized before. The same strength I always saw in her.
Understanding — or maybe acceptance — showers over me.
My mother took us to Montana to try and save my brother. To hide him from the race. To hide me. But they found us anyway. She knew all along. It was right there in her eyes: knowledge and determination and strength.
I know what she was telling me when she said I have her eyes.
You have my strength, too.
The feather in my hair is more than what it appears, I realize. This was my mother’s, she’d said. But it’s what she didn’t say that haunts me. The questions I never thought to ask. The questions I’d ask now if she were here: When did she wear this feather, Mom? Did she wear it in the jungle? In the desert? Did she wear it as a Contender?
But perhaps there’s another question I’d like answered even more.
What happened to her?
I look down at Madox. My mother never wanted me to be here, but she knew I was going anyway. And she knew I could win.
I will win.
I’ll save Cody.
Then I’ll help Guy bring down this entire race.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you first and foremost to my sister, Tyse Kimball. Tyse, this book wouldn’t exist without your support. From titles to Pandoras to critical moments in the story, we discussed it all. Thank you.
To my editor at Scholastic, Erin Black, our brains are so similar it’s scary. You rock my world with your mad editing skills. Thank you for loving Tella, Madox, and Guy from the start. I’m mailing you a Pandora egg ASAP!
To Nina Goffi, Rachael Hicks, Esther Lin, and everyone else at Scholastic who helped Fire & Flood along the way, thank you. Also, to the Scholastic sales peeps, I used to be in your shoes and I know how hard you work to make it rain. Hugs!
Thank you to my agent, Laurie McLean, for selling Fire & Flood. You were the first person to read the manuscript and say, “It’s absolutely perfect.” Also, a big thank-you to Rachel Harris, Jenny Martin, and Trisha Wolfe; all brilliant writers who’ve helped me on this journey.
Thank you to my grandma for always being so excited to see me; to my mom for being a meticulous early reader; to my dad; to my brother; to Jeremiah Kimball; to friends Angee Webb, Gianina Bailey, and Laryssa Rastrelli; to the Dallas crew of writers, bloggers, and librarians; to the Scotts and the Wittmanns for their continued support; and to all my nieces and nephews on both sides — you kiddos are awesome.
And, finally, to my husband. You are my best friend and soul mate. I make up silly songs about you and sing them while you’re at work; that’s how much I hate the hours we’re apart. I’ve been married to you for five years and it isn’t enough. It will never be enough. I love you, Lion.