Fortunately, I am not left alone with Cyrus for very much longer. I am extremely uncomfortable around him now after his little rant. We clearly do not agree on life, but that's probably because we came from different backgrounds. Cyrus didn't grow up on the Inside so he doesn't know what he is talking about. All he has are rumors and what he has heard me say.

Cyrus is looking back at the ground again. His finger is tracing the cracks between the stones, desperate to do anything to avoid interaction with me. I appreciate him for that. He doesn't seem to want to push our argument any further seeing as how we will probably have to spend a lot more time together.

I spend my time in silence examining my surroundings. Lakeside seems a bit abandoned. There is no lively town square like on the Inside. This are that we are in front of seems to be the town square but it is far from bustling. People walk through every few minutes, usually a couple at a time.

The architecture is vastly different from what I am used to. Everything around us seems simply built. It is built for efficiency. Everything is made out of the same wood. It is probably wood that was chopped down in the forest. I am used to lavish architecture, where additions are not made for practical purposes, but because they look cool. That seems to be a common theme in my old society. Looks are important. I was earlier surprised by the one housing district that we entered, the one where Trace practically attacked the man. Although the houses were not quite as extravagant as the tame ones on the inside, it was still reminiscent. I assume that only the important people live there.

I am surprised that such a gap can exist between those who are important and those who aren't. Then again, in the Inside there is nobody that isn't important. Everybody serves a purpose of high value in the eyes of society as a whole, with the exception of the women. But even we give life to future generations.

I am shaken from my thoughts when Cyrus shifts his weight. A pointed elbow softly digs into my side. At first I don't understand what he is doing. He isn't taking his anger out on me, he would've done that right after our argument. Instead we just sat turned away from each other, trying to let the silence pacify our anger. Then I realize that he is trying to get my attention.

I shift my body as well, so that I am facing the same way as Cyrus. Down the long street ahead of us I can see a figure. I cannot make much out of the figure, only short brown hair and dark clothes. As the figure draws nearer and nearer to us, the features start to become distinguishable. I can see why Cyrus got my attention. Trace is coming back.

I feel jitters in my stomach. They are unusual, and I try to oppress them. I haven't felt so happy to see a familiar face since before Soren changed. Not surprisingly, though, the happiness is bittersweet. While Trace is back and very likely feeling better about this whole predicament, he is likely not one hundred percent better. Nobody that I know would be okay with the fact that their sibling was going to be executed the same day that they discovered where he or she was. I just hope that Trace will not have another breakdown similar to the one he had at Avery's house.

I still don't know who exactly Avery is. I'm assuming that he had something to do with Trace's mission to find Xander, since his house was the first place that Trace went when e found out that Xander was still alive. Maybe Avery became the new leader after Xander killed the old one.

Finally Trace is upon us. His cheeks are flushed, bringing some life to his previously depressed face. He is not smiling, I would meet have expected him to, but he doesn't look angry anymore. He almost looks serene and at peace even though millions of thoughts must be running through his head.

He gazes back and forth between us. First his gaze lingers on me for a little while. I stare back at him, without an expression on my face. His lips start to turn up into a smile, but he quickly looks away towards Cyrus. Cyrus must still be glaring at me for some reason because Trace's hint of a smile quickly disappears. He frowns in what seems to be confusion as his forehead wrinkles slightly.

"What's up between you two? I can practically feel the tension emanating from both of your bodies!" He once again looks between both of us. I doubt he was expecting neither of us to answer him, but we remain silent despite his question.

"Well I guess I won't be leaving you two alone together anymore. I guess I am the glue that holds all of us together." Trace chuckles, but quickly stops once he notices that neither of us seem to be amused. The iciness between Cyrus and I must be palpable to Trace, because it as clear as glass to me.

"Okay guys, enough sitting here. We, at least I, need to go somewhere. C'mon." Trace extends his hand out towards me slowly. It is as if he's not really sure that I will take it. I do, though. It feels nice to have Trace's warm hand comfort mine as he leads us away from the storefront. We are heading back to where we came from, but I don't really care. Anything is better than awkwardly sitting on the steps with an enraged Cyrus.

That is what I think until I truly realize where we are going. We seem to be making our way to the residential district, but not just any portion of it, the rich portion. The place where Avery's house is. I seem to realize my mistake. Trace is not same again, he is so calm and collected because he was plotting. He was figuring out how to get revenge on Avery and now that he knows how, he is desperate to enact it.

I have to stop Trace from doing this. It is very likely that the revenge will not work and Trace will hurt himself instead. I have to do something, but as we walk up Avery's driveway I realize that it is too late. "Trace, why don't we just leave..." I start, desperate to protect Trace from whatever harm is going to cause himself in collateral damage.

"No, I have to discuss this with Avery. I have to see if there is a way for Xander to get out of this terrible fate." Trace resists my attempts to pull him back as he releases himself from my grip and runs back up to the doorway where he had earlier smashed the door into pieces.

A discussion. That is probably just what Trace is calling the stack he is going to execute just so that I do not freak out. He is trying to keep me calm so that I do not try to stop him.