William and his father arrived in Aerzen with their cart filled with wares to sell. Though Father said the main purpose of their visit was to replace the equipment William had broken, he'd also forced William to load everything from pots and pans to an assortment of horseshoes into the back. "Worst off we'll have to unload everything again when we're back in Hamelin and sell it at the market," Father had said. "Might as well try to make some copper while we're here."

Though William knew full well Father had merely used this as an excuse to force him to wake up well before dawn and haul all manner of metal until his back throbbed with the burning intensity of the forge itself, he paid the pain no mind. Nor did he protest when Father dismissed him soon after he bought the equipment they needed, telling him that he did not care what he did so long as he stayed out of his way.

To the unobservant eye, the marketplace hadn't changed much since his last visit to Aerzen. Too-wide smiles baring far too many teeth still dominated the townsfolks' faces, and the crowds still flowed with a rhythm William could not hope to understand.

But that rhythm was no longer as smooth as it once was. Customers pushed and shoved their way to any stalls selling food, swarming the vendors until naught but crumbs remained. Where once the customers had waited in perfectly regimented lines, now the rats with the biggest, burliest hosts forced their way to the front, baring their teeth at anyone who dared to challenge their claim to the food.

Aerzen's guardsmen did little to quell the chaos. Rather than chastising those who brought disorder to the market, they instead took whatever they pleased without giving the vendors a single copper in return. No one questioned the maroon-clad officials as they pilfered from the sparsely stocked stalls. Instead, they squabbled amongst themselves, paying William no heed as he slipped through the crowds on his way to the rooftop where he'd meet Thomas just before the town's meeting.

With disunity spreading amongst the town like a swarm of weevils through wheat, it was no wonder the Piper would soon attempt to take over Hamelin. As powerful as the Hymn of the Whole was, not even its nefarious notes were a match for the persuasive power of ravenous hunger.

The climb to Thomas's hiding place was far more difficult to manage alone. After dragging himself up the rope the older boy had left hanging from the side of a building, William heaved himself onto the rooftop with a grunt, panting for breath. Though years spent in Father's forge had gifted him with strong arms, they were not accustomed to such unorthodox activity.

To William's surprise, he found Thomas waiting for him with his arms folded and an easy smile playing on his lips. Though Thomas had promised to keep an eye out for him so they could share information about the Piper and his rodent army whenever William came to Aerzen, he had not expected to see him so soon. Thomas had only promised to meet him around the time the town held its weekly meeting in the square, not well beforehand.

"Glad to see you again." Thomas approached William not with the nimble surefootedness he'd expected but with an awkward shuffle as if he was afraid the lightest breeze would knock him over. "How has your sister been?"

"The same as the last time I was here." William couldn't tell him the truth. Not when the too-wide grin on his friend's face bared far too many teeth. He took a step back, silently cursing himself for not bringing something to defend himself with. "You're not Thomas."

That uncanny smile stretched into a snarl. "Is it still that obvious? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. This boy has been less than cooperative."

As if to prove his point, a garbled shriek passed Thomas's lips as his hands flew to his abdomen, clawing at his stomach as if he could rip the rat out. William darted forward, only for Thomas to yell, "Come any closer, and I will throw him off the roof!"

William froze. He could only watch as Thomas's arms stilled. Whatever the rat had done must have left it exhausted, for Thomas's body shook with ragged gasps. "The blasted nuisance still hasn't stopped fighting."

"How did you take him over?" William asked. Though he had no hope of saving Thomas until he freed everyone from the Piper's control, if he stalled long enough Thomas would be called into the town square below along with the rest of the rats, allowing William to escape.

"He must sleep the same as any human, and he did not hear us coming." Thomas grimaced. "He put up a fearsome fight but once the Piper arrived, it ended quickly. We can no longer afford to have disunity in Aerzen, so regardless of the risk, we had no choice but to subdue this meddlesome human."

"Then why haven't you taken me, too? Why wait?" William inwardly cursed himself for voicing that idea, but he had to keep Thomas talking. Had to keep stalling until the Piper's song pulled all the rats to him.

Thomas curled his lips into a sneer. "The Piper has something special planned for you. He would not be pleased if anyone else were to claim you as their own."

Chills raced down William's spine. What unspeakable fate awaited him if he succumbed to the song?

Thomas took a step toward him, the muscles in his arms jerking as he lowered himself into a crouch. "What happens next is up to you, human. Either you come with me willingly, or I'll drag you to the Piper and tell him what an insufferable pest you've been. I'm sure he'll think of an appropriate punishment. If not for you, then certainly for the incompetent pup inside your sister."

"I know what you're planning!" William blurted out. He had to keep stalling. If this rat attacked him, he and all of Hamelin were as good as dead.

"Do you, now?" Thomas asked. His voice carried nothing but mocking amusement.

"You're using the children to gather as much information as you can so you can invade Hamelin during the Harvest Festival."

Thomas clapped his hands slowly. "Pity you didn't come join our meeting. It would have saved us both so much trouble. I take it you're trying to stop us?"

"No, I've come to help you." William dug his fingernails into his palms to keep his hands from shaking and silently prayed he could use Aerzen's wariness against those from out of town to his advantage. "Forcing your way into Hamelin would risk casualties, would it not? Our farmers do not take kindly to outsiders encroaching upon our town."

Thomas shifted from foot to foot. "We are well aware how vicious your barn cats are and how sharp your pitchforks can be. You humans did not welcome us as ourselves. I am under no delusion that you will welcome us now that we wear your skin, not when so many of us have forgotten the nuances of your kind's behavior."

"I might know a way for you all to be invited to the Harvest Festival."

The older teen raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Hamelin has had a difficult time adjusting to the children's return," William went on. "Everyone has been so busy making sure they're well cared for that we haven't been able to prepare for the harvest as well as we'd like. If Aerzen offered to help harvest our crops, they would be more than welcome to attend the festival."

"Perhaps they would even give us a share of the food in exchange for our labor," Thomas said thoughtfully. He narrowed his eyes. "And what would you gain from this arrangement? Why should I believe this is not a trap meant to lure us to slaughter?"

William lowered his gaze to his boots. "I am not happy with my life in Hamelin as it is now," he said softly. "I know how it feels to long for safety. If the only way for me to finally feel safe is to help you take over Hamelin, then so be it."

"What do you know of true danger? Have you seen a cat rip your brethren open and feast on their entrails? Have you heard their cries as they were snatched by birds of prey, never to return? Have you been forced to survive on mere crumbs while those who seek to destroy you feast until the ground trembles beneath their weight?" Thomas scoffed. "I think not."

"I know how it feels to live under constant fear. I have the scars to prove it, if you will allow me to show them to you."

At Thomas's nod, William lifted his tunic above his head. The breeze chilled the fresh wounds Father had carved into his back, making him shudder as he bared his injuries to Thomas.

The other boy sucked in a breath. "What fearsome creature did this to you? I have never seen such horrible injuries on anyone who managed to survive."

"My father." William's voice cracked, forcing him into silence as he blinked back tears. He longed to turn around, to see Thomas's reaction. Instead, he took a deep, steadying breath. "From what I've seen, your kind support each other. I would give anything to be loved like that."

The words flowed as smoothly from William's tongue as his music flowed from his guitar. He wasn't truly lying, but he was not struggling to earn love from these strangers. He was fighting to regain the loving sister he had lost. Still, the realization troubled him.

How far would he go if it meant he and Emma could be together again, safe and happy?

"You have been through much," Thomas admitted.

"I just want my mother and sister to be safe," William whispered. Any louder, and he would cry. He would not allow this rat to see his tears.

"They will be." For the first time that day, Thomas's smile held genuine warmth. "The Piper provides a paradise for us all, regardless of how long it takes dissenters to see reason and submit. I will inform him of your proposition."

"Thank you." William bowed, wincing as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain burning through his back.

"Don't thank me yet." Thomas fixed him with a hard stare that would have made Father cower. "If I find out you are lying, I will take great pleasure in dragging you to the Piper myself. He may want you alive, but I am sure he will not complain too much if a few pieces are missing."