Pretties

Tally and Zane cross the river and meet Sussy and Dex, two uglies who helped Tally create a diversion when she broke into Special Circumstances with David in Uglies. Tally is embarrassed by their awe of her. Sussy and Dex share that they have been visiting the Ruins looking for New Smokies. For the last month they hadn’t seen anyone, but the night before they found evidence of the rebellion’s presence. The uglies also say that they saw Crims in Cleopatra Park, which is in Uglyville. Tally and Zane ask them to be their guides, and they go. Tally recognizes the spot in Cleopatra Park as one of Shay’s favorite haunts from their ugly days. Zane asks for privacy with Tally, and Tally asks the uglies to send her a coded message if they find the New Smokies.

Alone, Tally confesses going undercover for Special Circumstances during Uglies and recounts her recent fight with Shay. Zane had guessed her involvement in the events of the last book. Tally then confesses that she told Shay about the cure, making Zane angry at first. The more Tally explains, the more sympathetic he becomes, until they reconcile. Tally reflects on all the people that have been in her life and left her, realizing that Zane has been with her the most consistently. The two kiss and then get ready to leave. As they do, Tally begins to tell him about her conversation with Dr. Cable, but Zane notices a group walking into the park. Tally and Zane recognize Shay among them.

Tally watches the group of 10 people. Shay leads the group in removing their outer clothes, standing in the rain in pants and tee-shirts. Shay chants words that Tally and Zane cannot hear. Tally looks at some of the members, observing their facial tattoos and realizing that Shay has been recruiting pretties who want to become Crims. Shay reveals a knife. Tally and Zane watch in horror as she cuts her forearms, holding her arms up in the air so that the blood runs down to her shoulders. Starting with Ho, a fellow Crim, the others in the clearing follow Shay’s example. Tally realizes that this is Shay’s new cure for being pretty-minded.

Tally feels guilty, believing that the “Cutters” are her fault. Zane begins to get angry but is struck with a powerful headache. The Cutters notice them as Tally puts Zane on the hoverboard to take him to the hospital, and the coldness in Shay’s gaze frightens Tally. Tally struggles through the weather, and the hoverboard starts to lose power because the river has risen too high for the board’s lifters to sense the metal at the bottom. As they approach the hospital, Zane realizes that Tally removed the coverings from her interface cuff, and they are uncertain of what someone might have overheard during their argument. Zane punches metal to break his hand, giving them an excuse to be at the hospital. He walks into the emergency bay, and Tally resolves to call the wardens if he ever collapses again.

While Tally is waiting for Zane’s hand to be fixed, two other pretties in the waiting room notice her. Their outward admiration of her catches her off guard, and she realizes that she has helped Shay recruit people. Dr. Anders, a trauma counselor with concerns about Shay, invites Tally into a back room. He references the fight Tally and Shay had at the bonfire, letting Tally know she is being spied on. Tally acts pretty-minded and pretends like the trauma of the ice rink collapse was what caused Shay to lash out. She promises Dr. Anders that she will make sure Zane eats.

After Zane is released, the two walk home in the rain and Tally tells him about Dr. Anders. She notices that Zane is in pain from his headache, but he shakes off her attempts to talk about it. They decide they must reach out to Shay before one of the wardens gets to her. Zane tells Tally that they will leave tonight: He has a plan for dealing with the interface cuffs. Tally is worried but knows they are out of options and time.