Rivers of bodies walked along in silence to their home in the South. Weak and frail faces hung on each of the Stiffs, evidence of what they have gone through. Some were beaten and battered like they had been in war. Looking around as we headed to the shelter, I couldn't see Jenny anywhere. Mrs. Julia was at the door welcoming everyone in.

Walking inside the building, I gave Julia a sympathetic look as we both looked at each other. Heading to the cafeteria, we noticed that Lucus was sitting by himself and holding a rag to his lip.

"Okay, does someone want to tell me what the hell happened to you guys?" Brooke said as we sat down across from him.

Lucus put the rag down on the table and displayed an open split in his bottom lip. A trail of blood had dried on his chin from it gushing out earlier. "We got our asses kicked, that's what happened," Lucus managed to say through his swollen mouth.

"By who?" she questioned back.

"By the Luckies," I said as my eyes continued searching for Jenny and Spencer. I also noticed not only was Brooke unharmed but a few others too. It looked like they purposely chose which group would enter the pit.

"Why on earth would they do this to us? We're already going through enough as it is." Brooke shook her head in disbelief.

"To show us who's in charge obviously." Lucus offered his two cents in the matter.

"No," I looked over to the two. "It's to see what we are capable of." As they considered what I just told them, they were putting together all the pieces of the puzzle, from Trinity and Morgan's knowledge about the past, to testing our abilities. Even though this was the first pit battle between the Stiffs and the Luckies, there was something more about it that I felt was bigger than any of us could know.

Finally seeing the best thing in my life walking hand in hand with Spencer, Jenny's eyes lit up like the brightest star in the sky. My feet couldn't get there fast enough. Dropping to my knees, I squeezed my Little Mermaid tight to my chest. I leaned back to fully look at her and make sure she didn't have any scrapes or bruises like we all did. Her soft pale skin was untouched.

Finally, standing up to meet Spencer, I could see that his wounds were more extreme than anyone's here. Half of his face looked like it had been in a car accident. Dry crusted blood grew over the open wounds along his brow and the side of his chin. His skin pigment was red and a bit black in some spots from the trauma his skin had gone through.

"You should have seen the other guy!" He gave me his usual cheeky smirk and I didn't even mind him teasing and playing around. I was glad the shit he went through didn't change his personality. I threw my hands around his waist. I didn't care who was looking or judging; he had saved my life and stuck his neck out for me. I owed him.

His big bear hands soon draped around me, returning the gesture.

The cook's voice echoed in my ear. We all turned to face man who was announcing something to us.

"This will be the last meal of the day for everyone." He took off his close-fitting Yankee baseball cap that showed bits of his peppered hair. "We're running out of food and there's not a lot to give out now." He looked down in defeat. "I'm so sorry."

We would usually have three soups a day but now that the supply was running low, it seemed they have to cut it to two now. My worst fears were starting to happen before my very eyes. Kids were now lining up to where the cook served the bowls, all hungry and tired.

My eyes met up with Brooke's who was heading my way looking straight at me like she wanted to spill whatever it was that was in thought. She crossed her arms as she parked right in front of the three of us. "Hey could we talk for second?" she asked, dabbing her head near the halls.

I looked at Spencer. "Could you take Jenny to get her portion? We'll be right behind you guys," I said.

I watched Jenny and Spencer hand in hand heading to the line. A soft smile escaped my lips as I continued watching the duo before heading to the hall with Brooke.

Finding an isolated spot where no one was around, I waited for her to speak.

Her eyes darted from side to side making sure we were alone. "Did you find a way in?" she asked, leaning closer to me.

I realized what she was talking about. The last thing we had talked about was me trying to find a way into the North to trade. "Yeah, I found a way in. We leave tonight."

She arched a brow. "We? You mean you and Eve?" She said answering her own question. "She actually knows someone who's been..." Her voice was getting louder with pure excitement. "On the other side!?"

Placing my hand to her lips and gave her a shush. Looking around, I made sure no one heard. She was a bit frantic and jittery. "Yes," I said and dropped my hand from her mouth. "I can't say anymore. I don't want to risk you being entangled with what I know."

The wide-eyed Brooke settled her excitement down. "I just can't believe you guys actually are going to the other side."

I understood were she was coming from because I still could not fathom that I was actually going to sneak into the North side and steal from them.

"You know what this means?" Brook said. "We can get out of here. You me, Jenny, Spencer and Lucus. We can escape from this place and never look back." Her eyes were full of dreams that engulfed over the reality of the matter.

"I don't even know what to expect over there when I do reach it. It might possibly be Rankers waiting for us. I don't know."

"Yeah, but what about the others who left." She raised her hand up towards the room of bunk beds were at. "Blondie? All of them. No one can find them because they found a way out."

I placed my hands on either side of her shoulders to calm her down. Brooke made me realize that we were losing ourselves the more we stayed here. Even the most level headed and understanding person could break in a frantic to try to get out of a terrible situation. She didn't want to be here anymore than I did. I found a way to the other side, a solution to an ending that would set us free. But even I was left in the dark more than her with what I knew. I have a deep feeling that Eve wasn't telling me the whole truth about what Trinity and Morgan are cooking up down there and I'm not about to risk rounding up my friends to escape into an unknown tunnel, not knowing what would be on the other side.

"I don't know if they did or didn't, or if Eve was the one or wasn't. But trust me, Brooke, you guys are my priority. I will find a way to keep you all safe." I hugged her tight, hoping she took in the comfort and trusted what I told her.

We headed to the cafeteria and lined up to get our portion of the last meal of the day. As I was in line, I noticed Eve sitting at a table alone. She looked mentally washed out in worried thoughts. Purple and gray bruises stood out on her arms and neck as she looked down at her bowl. If only I could read minds. Only then would I have more certainty in what we were about to do that night.