Rae doesn't speak the entire time she's fixing me up. She wraps my foot in silence. She cleans my wounds and bandages them in silence. She gives me stitches in silence.

"Your bedside manner is getting worse," I tease.

She slams the roll of bandages onto the bed beside me. She goes to scrub my blood off her hands.

I gulp. "You're mad," I point out.

She turns on me and her coal black eyes are so dark I sort of feel like I'm staring into the abyss. "Mad? You think I'm mad, Raven?"

"Well... y-."

"I passed mad three exits ago! We are barreling straight towards 'righteous fury'! What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Language?"

She throws a towel at me.

"Talk to me?" I ask, as quiet as I can.

She sighs and pats her curls down. "Raven, I-." She shakes her head. "At least in the dome I had the tools to fix you when you got hurt! I knew how to fix what you broke. But what happens if you get some magical poison from these creatures? What do I do then, huh? I have pulled you back from the edge so many times, but what if there comes a day when I can't!?"

I bow my head. Rae's not the most touchy-feely person. I seem to surround myself with emotionally-constipated people. So, for her to admit how she's feeling blasts craters into me. I'm the one making her feel like this. "You're not going to lose me," I offer.

She looks like she wants to dig a finger into my bullet wound. "Really? How can you promise me that? Out here?"

"I won't take any more risks," I promise.

When she looks up at me with tears in her eyes, I feel like I'm in the center of a trash compactor. "You think I don't know you, Raven Black? You're never content sitting still. You always have to be the hero."

I bite my lip until it bleeds, looking away from her. "I would've stayed," I whisper, "if you'd asked me to."

She flinches and a tear streaks down her cheek. "I want to believe that," she rasps. "But I know you, Raven." She turns away from me. "Will's making dinner in the courtyard. Go."

"Rae, I-."

"I don't want to hear it. Go."

I close my eyes. "Okay." I hesitate in the doorway. "For what it's worth... I'm sorry."

She bows her head.

I want to stay, but I know I'll just hurt her more. I stagger to the courtyard, hanging my head.

My friends have set up camp around a fire Will's built.

I frown as I settle in between Ava and Alex. "Why aren't we staying in the houses where there's beds?"

No one answers or meets my gaze.

Ava clears her throat. "There's... bodies."

I flinch. "Are they...?"

"It happened recently," Will mutters. "We think the Fae invaded here."

I close my eyes. I try to imagine Charlie, some squirrely little owl-winged dude, trying to hurt anyone. It seems impossible. But then I remember what he did to save me back at the last village.

I shake my head when James offers me a bowl of beans.

Rae finally joins us, settling in next to Erick. She doesn't grab his hand like usual, glaring into the fire.

Trouble in paradise? I hope so.

"Listen," Will starts, "we should make a game plan. We'll camp here for the night, but we're not making good time so far. We have no idea how far this mountain is or how long it'll take us to get to the top. And James can't find his friend."

"What?" I ask, looking to James over the fire. "Do you think he's okay?"

James hesitates, staring into his beans. His shoulders slump. "He can take care of himself. He's an expert archer. When I didn't show up in time, he may have gotten worried and gone looking for me."

Will rubs his face. "Right, well, you should stay here and wait for him then."

"What?" Ava asks, lifting her head towards Will's voice. "This village clearly isn't safe from the Fae. He should stay with a large group. Besides, he's a good cook."

James blushes. "Thanks, Ava."

"And he can carry me when you get tired," she points out.

James blows out a breath, ruffling his long hair.

Will considers this. "Moving away from somewhere familiar is usually not a good idea in a situation like this. You could be separated from your friend for good."

"He's a good tracker," James says. "I can leave clues."

Will glances at me.

I offer a thumbs up.

He rolls his eyes. "Fine. But you listen to me like all of these assholes. I'm your commander now. Even if this isn't the rebellion, I'm still in charge. That clear, young man?"

James mock salutes him.

Will glowers. "Don't make me change my mind."

James smiles. "I'll be the perfect little boy scout. Swear."

Will shakes his head. "All of you, get some sleep. Ava, Raven, that means you two especially. I know you didn't sleep when we were at the last village.

I should listen. I haven't slept good since the chip knocked me out.

But I'm restless, even as the others snore in their sleeping bags around me.

I get up and pace through the village streets. I go in the houses James unlocked and place flowers at the foot of the beds the bodies lay in. I don't say anything to them. I'm sure Rae prayed for their souls, so I hope that's enough.

As I walk, I find something that makes me grin. "Hell, yes," I mutter, scooping it into my hands.

Will's not at the campsite, but I find him sitting on the railing of someone porch.

"Hey there, fearless leader. I have something for you," I tell him.

Will narrows his eyes. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

I hold my hand out and Will screams, falling backwards off the railing and collapsing in a heap on the porch. I laugh, wildly, offering the spider to him again.

He slams himself backwards into the corner, holding his hands up. "Cut it out, Raven!"

I laugh again and set the spider back on the ground, letting it run off into the underbrush.

Will clutches his chest. "How can you touch those things?"

"How can you be afraid of something you've only seen in books?"

He narrows his eyes. "Need I remind you what you're afraid of?"

I settle in front of him. "That's supposed to be a secret."

"As was mine," he grumbles, glaring at the direction the spider ran off in. "I hate their stupid legs and their eyes." He shudders. "Disgusting."

I chuckle and drop my head against the wooden beam behind me. It digs into my hair and a splinter pokes my head. "Thanks for hearing me out about all this," I say, meeting his gaze.

Will's eyes scan the village, landing on a child's doll in the middle of the road. A splatter of blood marks its face. He glares at it. "What would've happened to us if we didn't? Would we have been like this village? Slaughtered in our sleep?"

I rub the back of my neck. "I'm sorry... about my mom. I know what the compound... what the rebellion meant to you."

He looks down at his hands. "At first... I joined to find my brother. He was taken from my family as a child. We'd already lost my sister years before, so... it broke my family. I promised to find him. I promised to never stop searching. I figured once I tracked him to the dome, the best place to search for him would be in a way place for people with nowhere to go."

"You haven't found him?" I ask, gently. "Do you think-?"

"He's alive," Will snaps, hazel eyes darkening as some clouds cover the moon. He runs a hand over his buzz-cut brown hair. "I let myself get distracted with the rebellion. I... got distracted with you."

A jolt goes through me and I meet his gaze. "What?"

He sighs and his shoulders slump. "There's things I haven't told you, Raven."

"I know," I murmur, "you're my commander. I never expected you to tell me everything."

"I should've," he says.

I close my eyes. I don't want to think he has a crush on me. We work so well together. Like a well-oiled machine. But the best way to break a well-oiled machine is to tell it you want it to be more than a machine. "Will, I-."

"I'm not from here, Raven."

I open my eyes. "What?"

He won't look at me. "I didn't want to leave the dome because I was afraid I wouldn't find my brother. But... I also knew the Fae were looking for you."

I frown, my eyebrows pinching in. "What?" I can't even formulate a question. My mind reels from this revelation. What do I even ask? What am I supposed to say?

He gulps. "I know who Thomas is. I know why this is happening."

My eyelids flutter. "You're from the other realm?"

He nods. "It's why I've had so much trouble finding my brother. I had to trace him to this realm. But the person that took him must've realized I was getting close. As soon as I zeroed in on him outside the dome. In a village near here, he was swept away. Placed with a family inside the dome."

"You don't have wings." It's the only thing my brain can latch onto.

He laughs and leans back. "I... no, I'm not a Fae. I'm something else."

"What are you?"

He shrugs. "Something else."

"Tell me everything," I demand. "How did you get here? What's your brother's name? Can you do magic? Are you-?"

He puts his hands up. "Raven, stop."

I pause, my chest heaving.

"I can't tell you."

I hesitate. "Can't? Or won't?"

He considers me, then sighs, "won't."

"Why not?" I ask, my voice small.

"It's too much," he whispers. "I'll guide you through this as best I can. I'll tell you what creatures we're facing so you can stop them. I'll make sure we make it through this alive. But I can't be the one to tell you about my realm. It's... it's too much."

"For you or for me?"

He's silent for a long time. "You should get some rest, Raven."

"I don't want to rest," I hiss. "I want to know more!"

He stands. "In the morning. You haven't slept for days. Rest, or I'll knock you out." He walks off. He picks up the doll and tries to swipe the blood off its face.

I close my eyes. Damn it.

I finally settle into my sleeping bag. I sleep next to Ava, holding onto her wrist, even though she'll pull free as soon as I'm out.

The dreams come again in quick flashes. It's like I'm at a rave and every time the music thuds in my chest, a new memory hits me.

The sound of the dog snarling is the clearest.

"We're leaving Ebony."

The man I know as my papa is speaking. He's hurrying me down hallway after hallway. The building isn't made of glass.

"Hurry, Raven."

"I don't want to leave," I sob.

"We have to," he cries, sweeping me into his arms. "Hurry, before your mom notices you're gone."

"Papa," I sob, "I'm scared."

He shushes me, petting my hair. "It's okay. It's okay to be scared. I'm going to keep you safe."

He carries me down some steps, into a hallway.

The walls are made of stone and water drips from the ceiling.

He races down the halls, taking sharp turns. He looks over his shoulder and I scream. He turns around and skids to a stop.

My mother stands in front of him with men at her back. They hold spears out towards us.

She clucks her tongue, smiling. "Now, now, where do you think you're taking my daughter?"

"Our daughter," he hisses, stepping back.

My mom rolls her eyes. "Enough of your delusions. She's not yours."

"Lies," he hisses. "She's mine. I know she's mine!"

"Give her to me."

"I won't let you do this, Zoey. You'll get everyone killed. You'll get Raven killed!"

Zoey glances over at me. "I'm doing this for her own good. If you'd seen the things I'd seen, you would do the same."

The man sets me down behind his legs. "I'd rather die," he snarls.

My mom cocks her head to the side. "So dramatic. But-." She shrugs. "-Very well."

"No! Papa!"

I wake with a start, then even out my breathing until I'm sure there's no danger. I open my eyes and am blinded by the morning sun. I groan and push myself up.

"Raven!"

I look over and find Rae rushing towards me. I scramble to my feet. "What's wrong?"

She beckons me. "You'd better come take a look."

I follow her to the edge of the village.

In the ground, a large hole has been dug. At the bottom, there's a woman lying on a pile of leaves and sticks, which must've been hiding the hole. She's fast asleep.

Erick is muttering conspiratorially to James. James is frowning at Erick, like he's disgusted, which gets James a point in my book.

"Hey!" I shout and Rae smacks me in the hip.

"She could be dangerous!"

"She looks super dangerous in a hole," I respond. "Hey!" I call again and this time she stirs.

She blinks her eyes open, then rolls onto her back. She jolts upon seeing all of us staring down at her. She scrambles to her feet. "Oh! Thank God! I thought I was going to be stuck in here forever!"

"How'd you end up in a hole?" Alex asks, leaning over.

The girl rakes a hand through her hair, which is blonde with blue streaks. "I-I fell in a couple nights ago! It was dark, and I was running, and the hole had been covered. I didn't see it."

"What were you running from?" Ava asks.

The girl shifts from foot to foot. "The-the invaders, obviously. Those winged things. When I fell in, there was a girl talking. She was calling for help before the power went out." The girl backs herself against a wall. "You're not her help, are you?"

"No," Ava assures, "we left the dome the other night. Where's this girl now? We haven't found her."

"I'm not sure!" The girl cries, "do you have anything to eat? Drink? I haven't had anything since I ran from the dome."

I glance at Rae. "Can you get her something?"

Rae looks at her, then quirks an eyebrow at me. "We trust her?"

"No, but we're not going to leave her to die in here. At least a water bottle, for now."

Rae sighs and nods. "I'll be right back."

I glance around the group. "Where's Will? Has anyone seen him?"

"He said he was going to keep watch," Erick says.

"What's your name?" Alex calls.

"I'm Izzy!" She answers with a smile.

Alex blushes. "I'm Alex. We're going to get you out." He looks up at me. "Right?"

"You're asking me? We should find Will."

"We should let Will find whoever dropped the chick in here," Erick reasons. "We're getting her out."

James sneers. "No one asked you."

"Well, Raven's not making this decision. Go find some rope, you giant himbo."

James narrows his eyes.

I put a hand to his chest before he can deck Erick. "Please, find some rope, James."

James huffs, then jogs off.

Rae returns and tosses a water bottle to Izzy.

Izzy starts to down it like she's been in a desert for a week.

"Slower!" Rae warns. "Or your body won't absorb it."

Izzy heeds the advice, sipping the water.

When James returns with a coil of rope, I smile a little too fondly.

I remind myself not to get attacked to the strays.

He tosses the rope over a tree branch and lowers it down into the hole. "Try tying that around you," he calls to Izzy.

"Get ready to pull," I say, grabbing our side of the rope.

Rae tugs me away from it. "Help me pull her out. You don't need to be straining your stitches."

"But I'm one of our strongest people."

"There's three boys and Ava. They can do this."

"You want the blind chick to help us?" Erick asks.

Ava crosses her arms. "I don't need to see to pull a rope, dipshit."

"Language," Rae warns.

"I'm ready!" Izzy calls.

"Perfect timing," I mutter. "Pull the rope."

Alex, James, Erick, and Ava line up to pull Izzy out.

"That's great," I say, as Izzy reaches halfway up. "You're doing perfect, everyone. How you doing, Izzy?"

She offers a thumbs up, looking at the ground receding below her. "I'll be better once I'm out!"

Erick suddenly gives a shout and stumbles backwards. He slams into James, who topples backwards into Alex.

They all go careening backwards, hitting the dirt in a sandwich.

Ava, the idiot, tries to hold the rope by herself. It whips through her hands, but she doesn't let go.

Izzy screeches as the rope drops a few feet and sways.

"Ava!" I shout, slamming into her. I grab the rope above her hands and throw myself backwards, setting the rope over my shoulder for leverage.

Silent tears leak down Ava's cheeks. "You okay down there?" She calls, her voice warbling.

"I'm-I'm good!" Izzy shouts. "I'd like to get out now."

"Working on it!"

James appears at our side, taking a lot of the load from us.

I sigh in relief as Rae dangles over the hole and pulls Izzy onto solid ground. I drop the rope and my shoulder and hands scream at me.

"Let me see your hands," James murmurs, taking Ava's hands and examining the angry red burns.

Rae approaches and I put my hands behind my back.

I nod to Ava and Rae sighs, going to her.

"Ava and Izzy, I want you to come with me to the doctor's office. I'll make sure you're okay. Alex, bring Izzy some food, please."

Alex nods and heads back to the courtyard.

Rae guides Izzy and Ava to the doctor's.

"We should find that girl," I say, "and Will."

"I don't follow orders from you," Erick growls.

James cracks his knuckles and raises his eyebrows at him.

Erick doesn't take the hint, staring me down.

"Fine, James and I can have all the glory for apprehending the suspect."

Erick straightens. "Not if I find her first." He takes off.

James grins at me and offers a fist bump.

Ah, what the hell? I grin back and accept the bump.

The village is bigger than it seemed last night. I don't run into James or Erick as we sweep the streets, looking for Will and anyone suspicious.

I pass an alleyway and freeze. I back up and turn into it. "Charlie?" I ask and the owl wings tense. They spread, blocking my view. "Charlie, is that you?" I step into the alleyway, reaching for a dagger.

He steps aside, head bowed. The sword at his side is coated in blood.

I frown, my eyes shifting from him to the figure on the ground in front of him. My ears start to ring. Goose-bumps break out along my body.

Blood is seeping into the dirt below him.

"William?" I rasp.