Iris led her into a the main building that sat atop the hill, facing the circular arrangement of the eight tents. The front was open and pillared, and the lawn had an array of blankets for everyone to sit on when mealtime came.

"This is the only building the mainlanders left standing when they last came through," Iris informed her as they walked up the steps. "It has space for showers and baths, along with a kitchen. Maybe a training room or two. Upstairs is off- limits."

"Why? Are you guys hiding dead bodies up there or something?" Liana joked.

Iris's eyes turned serious. "Yes."

"Wait, what?"

She laughed, pushing Liana in the shoulder as if they had been friends for years. "I'm just messing with you."

Liana rolled her eyes, but smiled, and followed her into a small room, with a makeshift vanity, dressing area, and bath. Iris walked over to the bath and began running it with cold water. "Our culture is a big part of the ascension process. Notice anything when you first came here?"

"Everyone's hair was short. They all wore combat boots and cargo pants..."

"And?"

Liana sifted through her memories, trying to remember. "They had this red mark on their inside wrist."

"A branding," Iris pulled up the sleeve of her leather jacket, showing that she had a symbol on her wrist in the shape of a crescent moon. It was as red as the poison gas Taylor had described.

Liana glanced down at her own wrist, still bruised and not yet completely scabbed over from the needles. "That sounds... painful."

"You'll have to go through it during your ascension. People who fail get sent to the workfields." she tilted her head towards Liana. "Don't worry, the pain only lasts for a minute, and you'll have the cold bath to soothe it," Iris pointed. "But first, you'll need to change." She handed Liana the clothes that most of the girls she'd seen wore- olive top, beige cargo pants, and black combat boots. "It's the only type of clothes they send, but at least they're good for battle."

"Yeah, about that," Liana said as she stepped behind the curtain to change. "What exactly are you training for?"

"A rebellion," Iris said simply, as if that was the most normal thing in the world.

Liana shakily pulled the shirt over her shoulders and wiped her sweaty palms on her pants before emerging from the dressing area. "I'm totally in."

"We'll see how you handle the branding. Everyone has gone through it, even the little ones born on the island. But it's a mark of acceptance, and we bear it proudly," Iris dipped Liana's hand into the bath, scrubbing it with a damp towel. She then took a metal crescent- shape and held it by a torch until it was red- hot.

"Take a deep breath, Liana," Iris said, hovering the crescent by Liana's wrist. "Ready?"

"Ready," Her voice was shakier than she would've liked, but she forced herself to stay still as the heat from the crescent tickled her skin.

Iris smiled and flung the metal into the bath, where it sank to the bottom with a puff of steam. "You passed the test. Welcome to the ranks of the Blueblood Armada."