He's in every dream I have. His light brown eyes and dark brown hair haunt me whenever I close my eyes. When it's not him, it's memories. But more often than not, it's him. His eyes burning into mine. Him watching me crumble, standing beside her, laughing at me. He looks like a good person, but when he's with her, that part of him vanishes. The worst dream, featuring Ari, is the cliff.

I'm on a cliff and am looking at the ocean. The water is so beautiful in the fading sunlight. Just as the sun disappears under the water, I hear them. One boy is shouting, louder than all the rest, but the message he speaks is the same. We make us. Not them. They all want the same thing, and I get the feeling that if something is in the way, they'll get rid of it.I'm in the way. They're angry at me for something but what? What have I done for this? What will they do?They break the tree line, and stand shoulder to shoulder, making a barrier with their bodies. They break ranks for just a second and let a boy through. He walks towards me with a smirk on his face.

"Your move."That's what this is to him. A chess game. Trying to outwit the other.

"It's already been made." The words come out of my mouth, but I didn't say them.

"Have you, little phoenix? Because I don't see it." He smirks, "All I see is a scared little girl, standing on a ledge. What are you going to do? Jump?" His voice drips with mockery.

"Maybe. Or maybe not." In that moment I swipe at his face and run past him. I push him just a little, so he's standing exactly where I was just moments ago.

"You were saying?" Now it's my turn.

"You have my army at your back and me at your front. Do you want to know how this'll play out?"

"I don't think this 'army' is yours." I raise my hand and a single arrow flies, just barely grazing  my opponent's arm.

 "Traitors. All of them."

"Yes. But they want to win this little war. And right now... you're losing."

"Are you sure they're all yours?""No. But I'm willing to trust them. Give them a taste of real leadership."

"Not all are loyal." He smiles at me. "Right?" An arrow whistles from behind me and I spin to face the offender.That was my mistake. An arrow lodges itself in my chest. I look at the boy who shot it and see the same eyes that gave me the wishing penny.

I stumble back and fall.