The Battle Begins Read Online Free PDF Page B

might’ve had an idea.”
    Her mother looked ashamed. “He wasn’t always like that. Baba went to the Dome just trying to win enough to get Pookie back. Some touts gave him inside info on who to bet on, and Baba trusted them.”
    Leesa winced at how easy a mark her dad had been. Even she knew not to trust the touts.
    â€œThey were all working for the mayor, of course. When he lost, Baba started placing daily double bets to try to break even again. Unfortunately, when he lost those, too, it hit us twice as hard. By the time he started winning, it was too late.”
    Leesa felt sick. Everything was starting to make awful, perfect sense. “That’s why we moved to the Drain, isn’t it? Mayor Eris got Pookie and the house?”
    Her mom met her eyes and nodded, and there was something else written there between them but left unsaid: it was also why Baba didn’t live with them anymore.
    Leesa gripped the tablet tightly in her hands, resisting the urge to chuck it across the room only because she knew how expensive it was. So much for her letter.
    â€œBut now we’re free.” Her mom reached out to tuck the blue strands behind Leesa’s ear. “And I’m going tokeep working and keep saving, and one day, things are going to get better.” Then her solemn tone changed to one of forced enthusiasm. “We’re already doing pretty well for ourselves, though, aren’t we? Look at this feast!” She hopped up off the couch and gave Leesa’s knee a shake. “Now come on, we’d better get cooking if you want me to stay awake for your birthday dinner.”
    â€œI don’t really feel like celebrating.” Her family was broken and her dog was gone and everything seemed stacked against her. The only thing Leesa felt like doing was curling up and crying.
    â€œBirthday girls aren’t allowed to mope.” Her mom’s voice was peppy but firm. “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that when things get hard you just have to trust in yourself, Leesa. We’re stronger than we think.”
    That made Leesa look up, and this time, her mom held her gaze without blinking. Then she smiled.
    â€œProbably not strong enough to blow out twelve candles at once, though!” her mom turned, unveiling what looked and smelled like a pineapple sponge cake. “I was thinking we should have dessert first, but if you’re not up to it . . .”
    â€œOkay, okay!” Leesa stood up. “Mom?” Her mom looked back at her. “I love you.”
    â€œLove you too, lovebug.”
    The cake was good—maybe better than anything she’d ever eaten—and it must’ve cost her mom a week of wages. But Leesa was most grateful for something her mom had said. Of all the things they’d talked about tonight, of all the information she’d learned, it was just three words that really stuck with Leesa: trust in yourself .
    If she wanted something to be done about the Unnaturals, Leesa was going to have to do it on her own.

7
    â€œI CAN’T BELIEVE S AMKEN’S GONE,” A SOFT VOICE SAID from somewhere that sounded close and far away at once.
    Castor squinted into the dim light, growling warily. He didn’t know who was speaking, and he didn’t know who Samken was; all he knew for sure was that they were not part of his pack.
    â€œLook, the s-s-shepherd dog’s awake,” another voice hissed.
    Barely. It had been a full day since they’d shot him, and Castor was still groggy. It was like that time he’d eaten the rotten rat meat, hallucinating all sorts of weird things.
    Even now, he wasn’t sure what was real. Outside of his cage, there were other cages, with other creatures. They smelled foreign and dangerous, and not only were they not dogs, but they were unlike anything he’d ever seen. As he looked around, he tried to remember all the different types of animals the Gray Whiskers had told