28
UGLIES 421
The letter didn’t take long. Shay giggled at Tally’s heartfelt
words, but she wrote them down as directed. There was
something earnest in the way she put stylus to paper, like a
littlie learning how to read.
When they were finished, David still hadn’t come back.
He’d taken one of the hoverboards in the direction of the
ruins. As she put away her things, Tally kept glancing at the
window, hoping he would return.
But Maddy was probably right. If Tally saw him again,
she would just talk herself out of this. Or maybe David
would stop her.
Or worse, maybe he wouldn’t.
But no matter what David said now, he would always
remember what she had done, the lives she had cost with
her secrets. This was the only way Tally could be certain
that he had forgiven her. If he came to rescue her, she
would know.
“So, let’s get moving,” Shay said when they were done.
“Shay, I’m not going to be gone forever. I’d rather you . . .”
“Come on. I’m sick of this place.”
Tally bit her lip. What was the point of giving herself up
if Shay was coming too? Of course, they could always
snatch her away again as well. Once the cure was proven to
work, they could give it to anyone. Or everyone.
“The only reason I’ve been hanging around this dump
is to try to get you to come back,” Shay said, then lowered
