They stand there staring at me like they've never met me.

I don't know how long they've been there, but it's pretty obvious what I've done regardless.

Doors are starting to open throughout our barracks as Hunters and Protectors come to figure out why there's gunfire at five in the morning.

I scramble for Ryan, who whimpers when I grab him. I get him into my arms and back towards the window. "I'm-I'm sorry. Tae will contact you with an address where they're at."

"Mason," Sasha rasps, stepping into the room.

Amari's head whips around as our drill instructor barges into the barracks.

"MOVE!"

I get Ryan out the window. Then, I'm sprinting for both our lives across the pavement, dashing through shadows.

"You saved me," Ryan croaks.

"I'm gonna get you somewhere safe," I whisper.

His breaths are fragile and weak. There are lacerations up and down his body and bruises that make him look like a fruit, overripe and melting in the summer sun.

I keep his head on my shoulder as I move through the city streets. I can't get on a bus with him like this, but I need to get far away from the base. It doesn't help that I already spent so long carrying Dion. I've only made it a few miles when I stagger and have to rest Ryan in an alleyway.

"Why did you run?" he asks, clutching his shirt in his hands. "We did nothing wrong."

I scrub my face, feeling the drying blood splatter from two dead Hunters. "I shot two people," I say, as if he wasn't there. "Singh already tried to kill you once, Ryan. What do you think she's going to do to you when she finds out you're alive and her Hunters are dead?"

He considers this for a long time, then leans to the side and throws up.

I close my eyes and rub his back. "I'm gonna get you somewhere safe," I promise again. But I've got no idea where safe is. I promised Tae I wouldn't show up at her parents' house. It's not like I know any of their safe houses. The only other place I'd trust in this city is the orphanage, but I can't bring this to their doorstep.

At least Tae and Tomas are already in this fight. They signed up for it. Everyone else is an innocent bystander that I can't put in danger.

I bow my head, gripping my knees, digging my back into the brick wall behind me. I don't cry often, but I feel the urge welling up inside of me. I can't do this. I promised Ryan that I'd keep him safe, and I can't even get my legs to stop shaking. I've got nowhere to go.

"I know a place. Just for a little while."

"How?"

"Do you want to ask questions, or do you want to keep your promise?"

I look over at Ryan,who has fallen asleep with tears streaking down his face. "Where