Jinxx tells us to all stand together in a circle and hold hands. Andy and The Mystic close their eyes and in sync they chant words unfamiliar to me. I can tell it's the same language Andy was murmuring to summon Jinxx. Now that I am up close to him I notice a long silver scar running along his pale face.

In all the books I had read they would always say something along the lines of they would have been pretty. If it weren't for the scar obscuring their face. Now seeing someone with a scar I couldn't help but think the opposite. The scar might have even made him even more beautiful. I look away, hoping he didn't notice me staring.

I'm hypnotized by the movement of Andy's lips. There's something so simple but amazing about it. The enchantment breaks as I see the cyclone of black circling the three of us. It's just like the black matter that knocked me off my feet only moments ago. Andy notices me tense up and squeezes my hand.

I shut my eyes tight.

And open them to a barren desert.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Jinxx ignores my question. "We have to get to camp before the Shadows know we're here." Jinxx takes the lead and Andy stays behind with me.

Though Andy walks by me, he doesn't speak. The blank expression he wears bugs me. I deserve an explanation. About what just happened. About everything. Even when I'm staring him straight in the face, he remains blank.

"Andy."

His eyes snap back to me.

"Is this all some sick joke? If so, then okay, whatever, I get it. You thought it'd be funny if a super cool bad boy like you asks out a nerdy loser like me. We can all laugh and go home now. Prank's over."

He chuckles lowly which makes me even more pissed off. "You really think I'm a bad boy, Blue? What gave you that impression?"

"Well am I supposed to think about you?" I fumed, throwing my hands up into the air. "I've barely know you since yesterday!"

"Hasn't anyone ever told you not to judge a book by its cover?" He doesn't look the slightest bit angry, unlike me who is far more emotional. I'm surprised I haven't had a panic attack yet. He's got the whole bad boy look pinned down even if he isn't trying. Leather jacket, black skinny jeans, torn tank top, combat boots, tattoos, long black hair. He is right, though.

Could this whole evening have been why Gerard had told me to stay away from him? But what was going on with Gee? Eyes glowing red don't usually indicate human like qualities.

Holy shit. Is Gerard possibly not human? I don't have the slightest notion about anything after what's happened so far. Maybe I'm just delusional.

"When we get to camp we'd better get you into something a bit more appropriate for this environment," the Mystic calls from up ahead. "We're almost there."

I now realize I'm still in my dress from what was supposed to be a date. Desert sand pelts my bare legs, swaying my dress this way and that. "Agreed," I say, looking down to my dusty attire.

That's when I spot a figure about 50 feet away. It's a boy with bright red hair. Gerard. What's he doing here in the middle of an unknown desert? Maybe he's trying to warn me. You're a bit late then, I snap at him in my head. Perhaps I should call out to him.

"Gerard!"

He says nothing. "Gee! Is that you?" I repeat myself, shouting this time in hopes that he hears me. Suddenly, I'm jerked off my feet. I'm practically being dragged now. When the hand grabbed me roughly, Lily's jacket slips off my slight frame and into the sand and I silently mourn it just lying there. Oh, she'll definitely kill me when I get back. If I get back.

I look over my shoulder to see if he's still there. He is, but he seems to be chasing after us now. I can't choose whether to be relieved or frightened. "What the hell are you doing?" I basically scream at Andy. "That's not Way. It's one of the Shadows," he shouts back.

I'm now sprinting alongside them, trying to outrun whatever the hell a Shadow is.

Jinxx rushes us through the huge metal doors marking the entrance to the camp. Andy heaves the doors closed before the Gee-Shadow-thing could join us. A satisfying thump sounds once the doors close.

We all sit to catch our breath for a moment.

"What was that?"

Before I can get an answer, a shout splits the tense air between us. Oh, no, not this again, I think. Please, God, don't let it be another one of those Shadows. I imagine what shape it'll take this time. But what comes racing towards us isn't one of those wretched monsters.

"Ashley, wait!"

Something barrels into Andy and knocks him into the dusty ground. Jinxx laughs, which I'm guessing is a rare occasion for him. Andy bursts out laughing too, a sound of true joy. While his is loud and boisterous, Jinxx's sounds like tinkling bells, quiet and thoughtful. I don't know if I've ever seen either of them this happy.

The boy gets up off the ground, a huge smile on his face from ear to ear. He goes to hug Jinxx next.

"Did you really have to attack me, Ashley?" Andy says.

The boy, Ashley, opens his mouth to speak but stops when he sees me. "Oh, and who might you be?"he says. He takes my hands and kisses it softly. My heart flutters. His brown eyes have a playful glimmer in them. I see Andy's mouth tighten ever so slightly, but I notice. On the other side of him Jinxx is trying to choke down a laugh.

Andy moves in front of Ashley blocking him from me. "Her name's Quinn."

"I think I can talk for myself, thanks," I say sarcastically, shooting daggers at Andy with my eyes.

"I see you've got that fighting spirit. You'll fit in just fine, Quinn," Ashley smirked with a wink. "Let me introduce you to the rest of us."

From what I've seen so far the camp isn't that much, but I could tell a lot of hard work was put into it. There's a huge stone wall surrounding it, keeping us in and danger out. There are tents all designated to a certain function. One for sleeping, one for cooking, one for bathrooms, and one for training.

I'm then introduced to Jake and CC who are brothers. CC is eating when we come in and Jake is sharpening a dagger. They're known as The Mourner and The Destroyer.

"Hey, guys," Andy says coming into the tent where they're sitting.

"Shuu Aayy?"  CC mumbles, mouth full of food. Jake jumps up. "You're here!" He goes to hug the boys. He freezes when he sees me. I smile awkwardly and wave. His expression grows serious. "Is she The One?" Andy nods, Jinxx stiffens, and Ashley hoots.

***
Jinxx and Ashley decided to catch up with the brothers. Andy wanted me to meet the last person in camp. He leads me to the tent for training.

Before I can even step foot in there, a knife whooshes over Andy's head and he pushes me out of the way. "Nice aim, Lara. You nearly took off my head."

She blows a stray curl fallen loose from her braid out of her sun tanned face. "That was my goal."

A scowl blooms on her pretty face. "Who's the chick?" she says tensely. Andy opens his mouth but I make sure that I speak for myself this time. "I'm Quinn," I reply. I cautiously walk towards her and extend my hand, half afraid that she'll tear it off my body.

"Alara." She cocks a dark eyebrow when she says it, almost as if she's trying to challenge me, though I have no idea what for. "I'm Jinxx's sister."

The last statement confuses me since I see zero resemblance between the two. I'm also a little alarmed to notice that her eyes have neither any pupils nor irises. They're pitch black.

Andy leans against a shelf containing weapons, arms crossed against his chest. "While you girls gossip I'm going to go hang out with the guys." To my dismay, he just left me alone with Alara.

She jerks away from our handshake now that he's gone. She swings my arms around and pins them to my back. I grunt, trying to get her off me, but to no avail. "Who are you?" she growls in my ear. "What are you? Why the hell are you here?"

"I have no idea," I hiss back. "I'm not here because I want to! Andy told me I was 'The One' or something!"

She holds me tighter. "You're not The One, okay? You're nothing," Alara says harshly. "So why don't you--" All of a sudden, she shrieks and releases me.

"You burned me, you bitch!"

What? Alara's right arm is now red and angry. "I'm so sorry! I didn't--"

She points a finger in my face. "You better stay away from me if you want to live. Go away now. Out!"

I leave before she can try and attack me again.
***
I find out that though I may have blankets that nights in the desert get very cold. I'm dreaming about Alara. This time she has me on the ground and dagger to my throat. Andy, Jinxx, and the others are all watching and laughing. Gerard too. Though he keeps shifting between himself and a Shadow. Alara cuts me slowly, slowly and I begin to cry. I can't even scream.

You're nothing.

I suddenly feel warmth and I open my eyes. Andy's arms are around me. He must have noticed how cold and miserable I was. His bare chest warms my back.

I shouldn't let him do this. I should push him away. But maybe... maybe just for now.

Song - Garden by Halsey
A/n hello! I hope y'all are liking this a lot because I do too. Im sorry I made this one so much longer. Oh and thanks to skullsandaisies (inspiration for Alara) for letting me turn you into a bitch even though you're not really one (at least to me lol).

Chapter published: January 25, 2017