Legend

June won’t tell Day her name, so he just calls her the Girl (Day won’t share his name, either). Day is mad at her anyway for causing him to lose so much money; he only saved her for Tess’s sake. Now, Tess is cleaning June’s wound as they hide on a balcony high above the lake. June thanks Tess and Day for their help and asks why Day saved her. He doesn’t know. Tess quips that Day likes “cute girls” and skips off to find water, leaving Day and June alone. June is beautiful—and she looks somehow familiar. Day would like to kiss her. She’s so distracting. When asked, June says she learned to fight by watching cadets practicing around Batalla. Day tells June that Lake sector isn’t safe because of the plague. As they talk, Day notices sea daisies—Mom’s favorite flower.

Once June is asleep, Day leaves with some Notes and sea daisies to visit his family. The strange X is still on their door. Day sneaks to the back and crawls under the porch and then the house. Through the bedroom vent, he can see and hear John and Mom discussing Eden’s illness. Eden looks very unwell: he’s green and sweaty. John leaves to make soup, so Day watches Mom sit  next to Eden. He can remember Mom tucking him in, and he misses her so much. Day puts the sea daisies down in the dirt. Mom won’t see them, but they’ll be Day’s proof to himself that he’s caring for his family. There’s something in the dirt, though: a red number 2544. Putting his ear to the ground, Day can hear more hissing and gurgling.