My nighttime trips to town happened every night for two weeks. The first few times I went, I was overly wary--even going so far as to cover myself with a hood and black paint one night. As silly as it sounds, I would pray that when I got to the doctor's house, Orion would still be alive and he wouldn't be awake. Although he had apologized to me the first night, I didn't quite forgive him easily.

I always had no luck with the second one of my prayers. I would sneak into the doctor's building and bend over Orion, seeing what I could do to his wound, and--it would never fail--he would wake up from his sleep.

Talking to him was strained at first; he spoke to me and I didn't want to speak back. I would blame it on me trying to be as quiet as I could, or saying that I heard someone near. Every time I lied he would raise an eyebrow at me, never retaliating with a snarky comment or replying to my statement. He would just stay silent. Eventually, I was the one who uttered a greeting first or began a conversation. We would banter back and forth for a short time, then I'd start griping about my sisters and he would tell me about the events of that day. We both reveled in the bafflement of Orion's mother and doctor. They could never figure out how he got better so quickly.

One time, Orion asked me why I didn't want to be known as the one who helped him.

I just shrugged. "What I used on you is forbidden. If I'm found out, my family and I will be labeled as sorcerers."

He looked like he struggled with my answer for a moment, but then accepted it. "Well, Doctor He'll-die-soon-we-should-kill-him-now can't get all the credit for my 'miraculous' recovery."

I laughed. "He'll have to." A pang went through my chest at the thought of the doctor getting all of the credit, but I soon dismissed it.

What does it matter?

I sat back on my heels. His leg had healed so quickly. It was only a matter of days before he started going around like normal again. Then, he wouldn't need me. Technically, he didn't need me now. I was just there to make sure nothing went wrong.

It was a little sad to think about.

Orion looked over to the bow and arrows leaning against the wall. His body leaned closer to them ever so slightly, like he could call them over by staring. "I miss hunting," he whispered.

The corners of my mouth flicked up to a half-smile. Before the attack, Orion was the best hunter in the village. Now, he wasn't sure when he could even go outside again. His mother banned him a week before, and although he could walk with the assistance of a crutch, it exhausted him to try for a stretch of time.

I squirmed, uncrossing my legs and folding them under me. "Why do you want to go back? Aren't you scared another bear will attack you?"

Orion sighed and propped himself up on an elbow. "I can't explain it. I just-- hunting is something I've always had. It's a--" he broke off, hunting for the right word." -- It's an escape from everything, I guess. A way to get away from the world."

I nodded, understanding but not. I knew where he was coming from, but I had never felt like that over anything. I opened my mouth to speak, but a creak from the upstairs grabbed my attention.

Orion looked at me, his eyes wide. "Go!" he whispered.

I was already gathering my bags. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon," I hissed. My sisters had planned to come to the village the next day--their first time back since the day Orion got attacked. Although they never admitted it, I think that they were disturbed by the sight of Orion on the ground.

Who wouldn't be?

***

I couldn't keep from thinking over Orion's words the whole way home.

"Hunting is something I've always had. It's an escape from everything, I guess."

I shook my head and grabbed the vine traveling down the brick wall of my home. I've never felt like that. I guess the only 'escape' I've had is this--this sneaking out at night, this helping someone.

But why is this an 'escape' for me?

My thoughts were interrupted as I slipped through the window. Being quiet was the last thing on my mind--resulting in something I'd regret later.

"Equinox?"

Oh, shoot.

I turned around from the window and grinned. Only one of my sisters called me by my real name. Autumn.

"Hi, Autumn." I was frantically trying to figure out an excuse for my actions, knowing that she'd ask sooner or later.

"What are you doing?" she rubbed her eyes and stood up from her bed. Thank goodness she was whispering, otherwise, she would have woken the rest of my siblings.

"Shush," I put my finger to my lips. "I'm, uh, I was taking a walk."

Lame excuse, Equinox. Lame excuse.

Autumn thought so too. She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed, seemingly penetrating me with her hazel eyes.

"So, are you the one who stole Mother's vial?"

I gulped, caught in the act. I raised my eyes and looked at my sister guiltily, pleading with her not to tell anyone.

"Please, Autumn. He needed it," I whispered. My voice shook in fear of what she might say.

Autumn bowed her head. "You're always the one who says 'Don't talk to anyone. We aren't normal. This won't last,' so this is fairly ironic." She mimicked my voice midway through the sentence.

I grimaced. "I know. I just couldn't stand by and let someone die."

Autumn sighed. "I won't tell, Equinox. Just--remember, you owe me one."

Relief flooded through me. I looked at Autumn and smiled. "Thank you."

Autumn shrugged and laid back down, pulling the covers up to her head and turning her back to me. "Just remember," she said smoothly, "our parents are literally Day and Night. If you actually thought that they won't find out about this soon..." She trailed off, but I knew what she was going to say.

My face paled. As much thought as I had put into my master plan, like an idiot, I had forgotten that one, simple fact.

My parents can see my every move.

Every teen's worst nightmare.

Autumn smirked at my face. "Apparently, you hadn't thought this through."