Chapter 18: The Buried War -Erin
Luce starts running towards the lights in the cemetery. She realizes that the shadows had been warning her that something was coming. She decides that she needs to find Daniel, and tell him that she believes him and knows what he is. Luce realizes that Miss Sophia and Penn are following her, and she tells them to go back, but neither of them do. They see a cloud forming over the cemetery, and at first Luce thinks it’s the shadows, but Penn realizes they look like locusts.
Luce finally finds Daniel standing on top of the mausoleum, watching the storm of bugs. She starts to climb to him, but slips and he appears behind her and catches her. He holds her and she tells him she knows he’s an angel, and asks why he loves her. Luce also thinks the storm is her fault, like the fires before. Daniel tells her this is the first lifetime that she has seen the shadows, and that they’re called Announcers, that they are essentially gossips reporting details to someone else. And the “locusts” are the shadows the Announcers have summoned to battle. “What kind of battle?; ‘The big one”. Miss Sophia and Penn finally catch up to Luce, and Miss Sophia hands The Watchers book to Daniel. Luce realizes that Daniel wrote it and put the picture inside. She realizes that it wasn’t her fault that Trevor and Todd died. She asks Daniel why he didn’t tell her everything sooner, and he explains that he couldn’t, that she has to find out on her own, and the truth always kills her.She tells Daniel she loves him for the first time, and Cam comes around the corner, clapping slowly and sarcastically. Daniel tells him not to start, but Cam snaps his fingers and they ignite. Luce hears the wings again, as the locust cloud begins to head back to them. They line up behind him and begin growing to enormous height. Daniel asks Cam why he called an end to the truce, and Cam tells him he couldn't stand seeing Daniel kiss Luce. He tells Luce that he and Daniel are going to fight over her again "Bigger this time I think. A few more casualties." Daniel asks Cam why (again) and Cam replies "She's still here". He tells Daniel that when Luce disappears this time it will be for good, because everything is different this time. Miss Sophia begins speaking in tongues, and Daniel responds to her, understanding her. Neither of them know what Cam is talking about. Behind them Arriane and Gabbe appear, and explain that the cycle could end, but not the way they want it to. Luce asks what's at stake with the whole battle, and Daniel, Arriane and Gabbe stare at her. Finally Arriane answers: if they win, it will be Hell on Earth, the end of the world. And if "we" win...they're not sure. Suddenly Daniel realizes why he can kiss Luce without her disappearing and why she can see the shadows. Before he can say it, Arriane tells him to get to the next part, and Daniel tells Lue they have to get her out of there. She looks at Arriane for help, and sees twinkling, like fireworks falling down behind Arriane and Gabbe. She realizes this is an Angelic army to match Cam's bugs. Miss Sophia offers to take her out of there, and after convincing Luce to leave Daniel, Miss Sophia, Luce and Penn start to run. Behind them they can hear horrible crashing and blasts; Miss Sophia says it's the sounds of battle, and that it will probably go on for awhile. As they're running Penn cries out, and when Luce turns back she sees that Penn has been slashed deeply in the shoulder. Penn tells her she can't feel anything. Luce and Miss Sophia carry Penn the rest of the way. Luce takes a look back at the cemetery, but regrets it. In the center is a twisting pillar of fire, as wide as the cemetary and taller than the clouds.
They finally reach the school and lay Penn on the floor. Miss Sophia locks the doors, and Luce kneels down in front of Penn, and she realizes that Penn is her only human friend at the school. Penn opens her eyes and tells Luce she's scared. Luce tells her that everything is going to be okay, that she's so strong. When Luce says this, Miss Sophia scoffs and says Penn is slowing them down, and pulls a dagger from her sweater. Miss Sophia raises it above her head, and Luce dives to stop her. Miss Sophia dodges her move and quickly slits Penn's throat. Penn raises her head and looks at Luce, then lowers her head and is still. Luce gasps and backs away, and she realizes Miss Sophia didn't lock the doors to protect them, she did it to keep Luce from escaping.
Memorable Quotes“And while the truth still scared her, being in his arms made her fell like the seas finding the shore, like a traveler returning after a long, hard, distant trip-finally returning home.” (389)
“It is not a little truth.’ Miss Sophia said, stepping forward to position herself between them. ‘And you will not survive it. As you have not survived it in the thousands of years since the Fall”. (396)
Questions
Why do you think Daniel and Luce could kiss this time? What is it that's different?
Why can Miss Sophia speak in tongues? What do you think she is, really?
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