We spent the next day in silence. Kambili kept to her side of the road, and I stayed on mine. I couldn't tell where we were or where we were going. I simply followed her as she scrambled over fallen trees, trekked across mountainous stretches, and pushed aside prickly branches.

The sky was dark when Kambili said, "We should stop here for the night."

Here was a secluded crest within the low mountain. Releasing my backpack to the ground, I massaged my calves.

"You said we'd arrive tonight."

Kambili looked up at the sky. In the last few hours, dusk had transformed into nightfall. The moon shone obscurely behind the clouds. "I thought we would, but I must have misjudged the distance." She pointed to the other side of the mountain, where the earth raised to form snow-covered hills. "Over there is where we need to be. Tonight, we'll rest. Tomorrow, we'll arrive." She nodded as though she were making a promise to herself.

Hunting through my bag, I searched for the leftover beans and stew. I made a plate of food for each of us, laying a spoon on each side. "What will happen to the journal?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the plates. I feared the answer I'd read in her eyes.

"We'll figure that out once we reach camp. Don't pout, Celeste." I heard the exasperation in her voice.

"You don't understand," I said raising my head. "This journal means everything to me, and now that I've finally learned how to open it, you take it away without any promise that I'll ever read the words that have mystified me for so long."

Kambili locked her eyes on me. "One day, Celeste, we will read this journal from start to finish. You have my word. That's all the assurance I can give you. You'll have to trust me."

Sighing, I muttered to myself. 

She took a swig from her water bottle. "At least be happy that this will be our last night of cold beans and rice."

"I want to shower first," I said. I felt as though I'd been hiking across the terrain for my entire life. "And I'll change from these clothes. I feel like my shirt is stuck to my skin."

Kambili closed her eyes. "And I'll see my brother. I miss him. I miss all of them."

"Even Nathaniel?" I asked her, "Or are you still angry with him?"

"Of course I miss him. He's my best friend," she said.

"We only have to get through tonight." I glanced at the stars and the expansive sky. The future seemed so bright.

As I scraped the last bit of beans into my mouth, I dreamed of what was to come. Somewhere during the journey, I'd lost my anger for Nathaniel and Kambili and accepted my fate. Once we reach the camp, it would no longer be Kambili and I, but Kambili, the leader, and me—the captive—and the direct descendent of the Navarie. I was always taught that his success was a great achievement for our Citizens. My teachers never talked about how his reign brought ruin to others.

I had thought I was so smart, that I was above the rest because I cared about the past, because I wanted to seek information about the Old World through literature. Better than Analiese and Mother and all the nobles within Celestia. In the end, I learned that I was just as selfish, ignorant, and wrong.

Kambili covered herself in a blanket and propped her backpack underneath her head.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Going to bed. We must wake up early tomorrow. I want to set out by dawn."

I made my bed beside her. I raised my covers up over my body, my eyes already drifting shut. "Goodnight, Kambili."

"Goodnight, Celeste."

I fell asleep almost immediately and awakened just as easily. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and stretched. My blanket was gone. I must have it kicked off in my sleep, but as I rose to my feet and searched, I couldn't find it anywhere. It was gone, and so was my backpack. The ground beside me, where last night Kambili was resting peacefully, was vacant. The footsteps that marked our presence in the dirt had been swept clean.

"Kambili," I called out. The wind responded with an ominous whoosh. I stumbled to the edge of the crest and peered out. I searched for the small body of a girl with braids. She was my age, and she had a brother who loved her. It was becoming hard to breathe. I felt as though my lungs were collapsing. I called out her name again. The silence was unbearable. My hands began to tremble, and I felt the cold as it penetrated my clothes.

It was the smugglers. They had found us but took her and our supplies along with them. When did they come, and why did they leave me here?

Ever since the incident by the lake, Kambili had taken no chances. We hadn't encountered anyone since that day.

Where was she now? Did she escape them? Would she come back? The questions kept piling, but I had no answers.

I thought I was strong. I thought being here, fending for myself, away from the palace and all the privileges that it brought, had matured me. But I wasn't. I was weak. Kambili had been strong and smart. She killed the smuggler. It was her idea to walk across the lake to save us. I was the one who followed her like a sheep. Atulu.

What was going to happen to me?

"Celeste?"

I spun around. It was Kambili. She was here. I sighed in relief.

Standing with her feet set apart and a gun in her hands was...

"Olive?" I stepped forward. "What—how..."

We were nowhere near the city. I knew at least that. There were no mountains in central Verium, where Celestia was located. Tightening her grip on the weapon, Olive came forward.

"Filia Principia, don't worry. Help is on the way." Unclipping her portable transceiver from her belt loop, she pressed a button and spoke into the intercom. "This is Private Olive DeNair reporting. The Filia Principia has been found two miles past headquarters in the southeast region. She appears to be alone." A set of instructions were given to her through the device. Olive nodded and said, "Message received," before hooking it onto her belt.

Her hair was gathered in a high ponytail, but the ends spilled across her shoulder. "Where have you been?" She asked. "The entire state has been searching for you, and what happened to your hair. The color...it's pretty," she reassured me, "but it's so—"

"Normal?" I asked. She didn't say anything. I took in her clothes. A fitted shirt and pants and combat boots. They were all in shades of black, from the dull charcoal of her trousers to the slick sheen of her shoes. Her belt cinched her waist, accentuated her full hips and curvy shape. Her skin had darkened to a warm, chestnut brown, highlighting her honey blonde hair.

"You've changed, too. This is the military uniform." I eyed how tightly her pants molded to her body. "With a few adjustments."

"I joined when you disappeared. They needed more people, and well—I never planned on being a kitchen girl forever. I was sent here to the base in Rivers District for my training." After a few moments of silence, Olive said, "I'm under orders to search you, which is probably the last thing you want, but I'm sure you understand why it's a necessary precaution."

She approached me, but I wasn't focused on her. Rivers District. It was the biggest fortress in my state. Biggest and oldest. Navarie had started construction on it in 3049, only three years after founding Verium and declaring himself First Citizen. Twenty years later, it would be the place where Navarie's son and heir, Jon Raquier would meet Marabella Lisson, his future wife.

Rivers District was crawling with outposts stationed with guards. Guns in hand, they secured the area, working hourly shifts. The mountain on which I stood signified the beginning of Rivers District's borders.

Every Citizen of Verium knew this.

Kambili had led me here to Rivers District, an extension of my father's power, on purpose. She had no intention of taking me to her camp. With her, she stole my journal. It was only fitting. I stole the journal from Jack, and he stole it from my father.

Olive approached to give me a proper pat down.

I would see the journal again, just as I would eventually reconnect with Kambili. I had no doubts, but now, I had to face my past.