I try to move my arm, but wince when a sharp pain moves through it. The itch in the back of my throat motivates me to move once again, and the pain in my arm eases with every inch I get closer to the glass of water on the desk next to me.

I pick up the glass, gulping down its contents in a few seconds. It seems like a bad idea when a bitter after-taste remains in my mouth, suggesting I have not drank water.

I look around, not recognizing the plain, wooden room I'm in. Needing to find out more about this place, I try sitting up, and when my hand grabs the edge of the bed, the bed rolls forward. I look down, noticing I'm on a rusty-wheeled gurney.

I take my time to stand up, making sure my legs can actually do what they're supposed to this time. Hearing chatter, I make my way towards a doorway. Rather than letting the mysterious figures see me, I only poke my head out, trying to figure out who they are.

Unfortunately, I'm not as sneaky as I think, because both people look at me. I stare back at them, taking in the stethoscope hanging around one man's neck and recognizing the other man as the one who caught me after I went on the zipline.

"Amora!" Nova shoves her way between the men, never looking back to apologize. I'm happy to see her, but it looks as if she isn't too happy to see me. "Get back in bed."

I tilt my head, and before I can laugh, she frowns. Without even waiting for her to reach me, I walk back to the gurney I'm now using as a bed, climbing into it as fast as I can and wrapping a blanket over me.

It doesn't take Nova long to enter the room, and she smiles when she sees me.

"You need to rest," she walks over to me, taking a seat on a chair near my bed, "and take your med...hmm."

Her voice trails off when she sees the empty glass. That must have been some medication. I should've realized. No other drink would taste so disgusting.

"Where are we?"

"Ah," she sighs, leaning deeper into the chair. "You won't believe it, Mora. I think you're lucky."

I highly doubt that, because so many bad things happen around me.

"Do you remember the names Kwami and Kofi?"

My eyebrows furrow, and Nova gives me some time to figure out what she's trying to say. Suddenly, the first time I heard of the names flashes through my mind; Blair told me about them at the library.

I shake my head, not wanting to think about Blair, and the way Nova avoids my eyes and fiddles with her dress tells me we're in the same boat.

"They went down that place with my grandad, right?" I ask, already knowing the answer. "To find Hades' Clutch. Kofi's in jail and Kwami hasn't been heard of since."

"Until now."

"W—what?"

"Well, Kofi's still locked up, but I met the son."

"You met Kwami? He's here?"

"Not any more ." At her words, my spirit deflates. "No, I mean, he left for a couple minutes, but he's coming back. He's the one who saved us."

I fall back onto my bed, grateful that I made it out of Fate's Cave and happy to have a lead to confirm what I already think happened to Grandad.

"I might just be lucky." It feels weird saying this, and it's even weirder that a small part of me believes it.

"Although we kind of messed up his plans for the others there."

I look at Nova.

"He had camera's all over that place, so he could get a bunch of the hostages out. They've been planning everything for months, and everything wasn't ready yet, but he sent people in when he saw you on the cam."

"How does that mess things up for the others?"

"Fate's Cave might up their security. Relocate. Who knows?" Nova sighs. Noticing I feel guilty, she gently squeezes my hand. "Kwami doesn't look like he regrets a thing."

Honestly, that doesn't make me feel better. I've still ruined other people's chance at freedom. However, I'm grateful Nova is trying to comfort me.

"He said he wants to speak to you about everything. Your grandad. Your condition." Nova gives me a sad smile. "He told me about the red dust."

I almost forgot about that. Right after going on the zip-line, red dust flowed out of me as if I were triggered. Wanting to test if that can happen again, I exhale. This time, there's nothing to see.

Nova stands up and stretches her long arms into the air. Sunlight creeps in through the roof and glows on Nova's hair, making it look more fiery than usual and reminding me just how pretty my friend is.

"You better stay in bed, Mora," she says, walking over to the door. "I volunteered to help in the kitchen."

I raise my eyebrows, not trying to hide the fact that I don't believe that.

"They forced me," she wines. "I wish I was sick."

I chuckle as she disappears beyond the door.

I wish she could stay, because the silence around me is starting to get creepy. It feels like I'm experiencing the moment in a scary movie right before a helpless person is abducted or killed.

I look up at the ceiling and start to count the black dots I see on it. When this doesn't help eliminate the creepy vibes I'm getting or my boredom, I grab the ends of my hair and start braiding them into two ponytails.

Unfortunately, even this doesn't help distract me, and I start thinking about all the problems my hopes have brought.

Growing irritated of my mind being the only thing making any noise, I stand up, making sure to be careful as my feet touch the ground.

Although Nova is worried about me moving around, I feel okay. In fact, I think I might get worse if I don't get away from this room.

After peeking through the doorway, I make my way down the hall, sad to see how dull this place is. Then again, the people staying here probably have bigger things to worry about than aesthetics.

I hear the faint patter of footsteps, so I turn into the hall away from it. The last thing I need is someone else telling me to stay in bed; alone with my thoughts and bored out of my mind.

It isn't long before I hear more people heading my way, so I turn into another hallway, hoping I'll be able to find my way back before Nova visits me again. If not, I'll get a scolding that'll remind me of Grandpa's scowl every time I'd eat sand from the sandpit.

When footsteps grow louder, I take a brave decision to open a door and pray that no one is inside. With my back leaned against it, I take in the view.

The room is brighter than the hallways, enough to lift anyone's dark mood. An open window, larger than normal, provides a gateway to evergreen trees. The smell of wet grass and damp moss tickle my nose, and a yellow butterfly pays me a quick visit before flying back to its home.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Just when I thought I was home free, Luca's voice startles me. He stands near one of two chairs at the corner of the room.

I nod my head and turn around slowly, feeling a bit grumpy at being caught.

Before my hand touches the door, I hear a chair shift across the floor and turn around to see Luca nodding me towards him. He has pulled two chairs directly in front of the window.

I sigh, happy I won't be getting another babysitter, and make my way towards him.

"Thanks," he looks ahead of him, "for getting me out of there."

I smile slightly as I take a seat. He was helpful at Fate's Cave, so it's the least I could have done.

"Where's Sebastian?" My eyebrows furrow, vaguely remembering Luca refusing to leave without Sebastian by his side.

"Not here." Luca chuckles and shakes his head. "Turns out he's a spy."

My eyes widen, and I find it difficult to believe Sebastian is capable of playing that roll. He seems too relaxed. Then again, a spy should be good at acting.

"A what?"

"He feeds these people information. They need people on the inside for the big rescue. Seb's one of them."

Now, it's my turn to chuckle, but when Luca joins in, bad thoughts start to fill my mind. Sebastian's job is dangerous, enough to get anyone killed. I just hope he knows what he is doing.

"Don't worry about him," Luca says, running his hand across his hair and pushing it back. "He can take care of himself."

I must be bad at hiding my emotions for him to say that. Regardless, I nod, somehow trusting that Luca's words are true.

"So..." I begin, "he's your friend."

Luca starts to laugh, but he stops himself when he sees how amused I am. Still, the hint of a smirk remains on his lips.

"Even though you'd have to kill him in the end," I try my best to mimic Luca's voice, waving my hands in the air to be more dramatic.

"Okay, I'm going," he stands up playfully, and I pull him back to his seat with little difficulty. "I met your friend."

"Nova?"

"She told me how you all ended up at Fate's Cave."

Well, I can always trust Nova to keep a cute stranger up to date with our personal life.

"How much of it?" I bit my lip, ready to be called insane.

"Nothing much." He leans back in his chair. "Just escaping Pandora's House, swimming in rivers, some riddle, and you're trying to save Vessels."

I scratch my head, not sure what to say but relieved Luca's eyes aren't judgemental. They even seem warmer than before, but that just might be what happens when you're free.

"You think you can do it?"

Honestly, I feel I can, but thinking about all the pain I've experienced along the way, I'm not sure I really want to. A part of me feels like I should give up, but the other part is begging me to go on. I'm torn.

"If that's a yes," Luca's eyes stay on mine. I'm not sure how to describe the look in them. He could be desperate, hurt, or neither, "I'm coming with you."

His words surprise me, but not in a good way. The last thing I need is another person's blood on my hands.

I stand up, ready to turn away and go back to my room of silence. However, he holds onto my hand.

"No you don't." I pull away. "Luca, go home."

"Don't have one,'" he says, leaving every emotion out of his words.

This catches me by surprise, but I don't think he told me this so I can comfort him with cuddles, so I try to hide the worry I feel for him.

"Anything else is better than dying," I say, shaking my head and making my way towards the door.

"Amora." His voice stops me. "I'm sorry about Leo."

Hearing his name makes my eyes well up, and I feel a pain in my chest. I don't want to think about Leo right now.

Ignoring Luca, I place my hand on the door, but he doesn't give up. I hear him stand and make his way towards me.

"Amora."

"What?" I turn around violently, getting tired of trying to convince him to care about his life.

"I can't speak for Leo, but I spent years in there waiting to die, and I was losing my mind thinking that I wouldn't die the right way."

"There's no 'right' way to die."

"Chasing a dream." He looks at me as if he understands every kind of pain I've been through. "Getting it is better, but...chasing it isn't bad. It means I fought for something."

I remain silent as Luca walks back to the chair and takes a seat. Now, I can't help but cry. It feels like I'm being crushed by a weight everyone is pushing me to handle.

Suddenly, the door is swung open, and I wipe my tears away as fast I can. This doesn't trick Nova, but I don't want comfort or a lecture right now.

"Yes?"

Nova looks at me for a moment, but decides not to pry. "Kwami's back. He wants to speak to you."