The Extinction Trials(52)

“Me too.”

“End of the world or not,” he said carefully, “it’s one I sort of like being in.”

A smile slowly spread across her lips, but still, she didn’t look over. “I have to say, I feel the same.”

The deck was silent then, except for the sound of the boat sailing across the sea in the night, Will tapping the control screen, and the flip-flop of cards on the table.

Owen found his place in The Birthright and began reading again.





A human mind is like a set of tools. It’s a set of tools that determines our destiny. It’s a set of tools that determines our happiness.

Most importantly, our mind is a set of tools we are never taught to use.

That ends now.

Perhaps the most powerful tool our minds possess is perspective.

Consider its power through a real-world application of perspective. How does the world look? What is it made of? If you plant your nose in the ground, you get one perspective. Fly above it in a helicopter, you get another perspective. Launch into space in a rocket, and you gain yet another perspective.

They are all of the same thing: our world.

But it looks and smells and feels very different depending on which perspective you view it from.

The same is true for the people in our lives. And our own problems.

A person viewed in the context you encounter them in might seem irrational. But if you zoom out and look at their life in a wider view, their actions might make sense.

The same is true of the problems you encounter. Some might not seem solvable in the narrow view that is our mind’s default. But, if you change your perspective, if you step back and see the bigger picture, you may find a breakthrough. With your nose in the ground, you can’t see a passage through the mountains. Climbing a mountain, you can’t see the ocean beyond. In the air, you might spot the sea, but you might miss the dangers lurking on the ground.

Perspective is a powerful thing.





When the group broke and went below decks for bed, Maya turned to Owen. “It was a really good idea to share our stories today.”

“What can I say, I bring people together.”

“You downplay it, but sometimes talking and understanding each other is just as important as carrying them out of a burning building.”

“Yeah, but it’s less exciting.”

“At this point, I’m okay with less exciting.”





When it was time for Alister’s shift to begin, Owen went down the small staircase and peered through the open door to Alister’s bedroom. The older man’s back was turned to Owen, and over his shoulder, he could see that he was hunched over, staring at a tattoo on his forearm. It was a tattoo Owen had never seen on the man’s arm before—or at least, Owen couldn’t remember seeing it.

Alister suddenly realized Owen was in the room and jerked the sleeve of his sweater over his forearm, hiding the tattoo.

“Doesn’t anyone knock anymore?”

“Sorry. The door was cracked.”

“Well, shut it. There is something I want to talk to you about.”

Owen closed the door and stood awkwardly in the small room, which was dominated by the large bed. The noise of the waves breaking on the bow was like static all around them, unnerving.

“Do you believe her?” Alister asked.

“Who?”

“Blair.”

Owen shrugged. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well, there’s the obvious.”

“Apparently it isn’t obvious to me.”

“That’s strange. I figured you for the smart one of the bunch.”

“I’m a guy who runs into burning buildings. I think I’m far from the smartest person here.”

“I meant good sense. I’m not sure the rest of them have good sense. I do. I think you do. And Blair’s story doesn’t make good sense.”

“Why?”

“Think about it. If her dad is out there, why hasn’t he come to get her? He clearly knew where she was.”

Owen wasn’t sure at all what to say about that. But Alister was right—it was a good question. And it was one of many questions he pondered that night as he lay on the narrow bed in the small bedroom with Will.

What he didn’t know is that Cara, Alister, and Will had all told very big lies. Lies that they knew about.

Lies that would change everything.





Chapter Forty-One





Once again, Maya was the first awake, and Owen was waiting on the main deck alone.

“Good morning,” he said, smiling.

“Good morning.”

“We should reach the Escape Hatch location late tonight,” he said, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

“During your shift?”

“Right at the beginning.”

“I’ll set an alarm and wake up for it.”

He smiled. “It’s a date.”





The group ate breakfast and settled into the routines they had found. Cara, Alister, and Blair played cards. Will examined the ship—everything from the engine to the computer systems. It was as though he was exploring a new land and couldn’t get enough information.