My chest and ribs felt like they had been compressed, and I think I swallowed a bunch of snow, but I was alive. As soon as I confirmed I was fine, Jayla wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my chest. Her entire body melted into mine, and I could feel her trembling, and not from the cold. I held her tightly and whispered for the thousandth time, “I’m okay.”

  When she pulled back, she brought her lips up to meet mine. “Never do that again.”

  I smiled against her lips. “I won’t.”

  “All right already, let’s get going,” Em groaned.

  “What?” I nudged Em as we began walking up towards where the other two guards were. “You weren’t worried about me?”

  Em shook her head. “Not in the least.” A little grin spread across her face. “You’re too stubborn to die like that.”

  I chuckled, glad Em knew making a big deal about this whole thing would only make Jayla worry more. She gripped my hand like a vise as we walked, as if I might disappear again if she let go, but I just squeezed it back, a silent reminder I was okay.

  We were still travelling over the debris and snow from the avalanche, and had just reached the two guards when a whooshing sound filled the air. For a moment, we all froze, worried we’d somehow triggered another slide, but it was different than before and sounded from much farther way. It was far enough we couldn’t see what it was, but the sound of an engine echoed through the mountain range.

  “We have to get into a better spot. They can’t see us here,” I said, moving to climb over the large blocks of ice and snow until we were at a higher ridge.

  I waved my arms frantically, and the others all did the same, screaming for someone to hear us. The sound grew closer before we finally saw the source in the distance. A Cytos guard shuttle moved towards us.

  I’d never been so relieved to see the shuttle. It dropped down a little ways away from us, hovering just above the snow, so three guards could jump out and sprint towards us. They waved us over, yelling orders over the sound of the engine we couldn’t hear. We hopped into the shuttle, using a small ladder they hung down for us. The warmth from inside hit me instantly. There were two people at the front of the shuttle, one the pilot and the other in the chair beside them.

  “There might be more on the other side,” I told one of the guards when they’d jumped in and closed the door.

  The guard signaled for the pilot to circle around, but one quick look at the damage the avalanche had done told me no one else had likely survived. We settled back, Jayla resting just under my arm, when the man in the co-pilot’s chair turned around.

  “Well, isn’t this a surprise,” Dr. Allard said, with an evil grin.

  My entire body froze. Dr. Allard was smiling, and I instantly knew we were screwed. So royally screwed. He knew who I was.

  “Heard about your little train accident,” Allard said, his voice loud against the roar of the engine. “We’ve been looking for you guys since last night.”

  “Do you know what happened to the train?” one of the guards who was with us asked.

  Allard shrugged, his eyes still fixed on me. “It would seem someone didn’t want you guys to make it to us.”

  I bit my cheek to avoid saying something I’d regret.

  “Not many of you left,” Allard mused. “Pity. We were expecting more.”

  “You’ll have to settle for us I guess,” I replied dryly.

  Allard’s gaze finally moved to the others, pausing on Theo and Sienna, who I knew he recognized. “And here I thought you two were dead, along with the others.”

  “Unfortunately not,” Sienna spat back.

  “Oh, not unfortunate at all. Though I guess it may be for you.” Allard shrugged. “But there might be one person excited to see you alive... if she remembers you that is.”

  Sienna flinched towards Allard, but Theo caught her wrist. “What have you done with her?”

  “Nothing.” Allard raised a hand. “I’m merely pointing out it’s been a while… and people change over time.”

  Sienna glared, but Allard only turned back around with a little shrug. My fists shook with restraint, resisting the urge to wipe his cocky grin right off his face. I released a breath through clenched teeth.

  “We’ll see,” he mused.

  The shuttle moved swiftly over the snowcapped mountains. The sun was setting, casting large shadows all around us. White and black and green spotted below and nothing else. Neither Dr. Allard nor the pilot gave any indication as to where we were going, and nothing but snow and rock surrounded us.

  After an hour in silence, the shuttle began to lower. Out the window, a dark black mountain loomed over us. A small opening at the base came into view as we dropped down, hidden behind a sharp, tall rock, and a ledge only large enough for the shuttle to lower and land. The doors opened, and everyone began filtering out. I waited, sticking to the back and keeping my eyes on Dr. Allard, who did the same. My hand rested on the pistol at my side.

  Jayla hovered beside me, she’d figured out who Allard was, but I subtly pushed her to move. Dr. Allard would use her to get whatever he might want from me, and I couldn’t let that happen.

  When we were the only two left, Allard spoke. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

  “I made a promise.”

  “That’s not something you’re likely able to keep.” Allard shook his head. “I warned you before that I can’t help you any further than I have.”

  “I didn’t ask for your help.” I crossed my arms.

  “Good.”

  “Is there anyone else here who might know who I am?” I asked.

  Dr. Allard knew exactly who I was referring to—Dr. Merinda. “The bitch is dead.” He smirked. “But that doesn’t mean her little spies won’t know who you are. Better off just keeping your head down, kid.”

  I nodded, moving to exit the shuttle.

  “Oh, and I doubt you’ll listen to my advice, seeing as you’re clearly on some suicide mission, but maybe avoid getting caught in general. We don’t hold prisoners here, despite what they’ve named the place. We kill them.” Allard pushed passed me and hopped out of the shuttle, joining the group near the entrance to Black Prison.

  I caught up to Jayla who slowed her pace so she was beside me. “Is he going to tell anyone?”

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  “All genetic kids, this way,” one of Allard’s guards yelled, and Em, Theo, and Sienna reluctantly moved forward. The guard removed the metal collars from around their necks before injecting a tracker under the skin of their forearms.

  “These aren’t like the old ones. They can’t be removed even if we deactivate them.” Dr. Allard circled by Theo and Sienna. “There’s no escaping this time, even if you tried, but I would suggest not trying.”

  “And what do we have to look forward to this time?” Sienna asked. “Will we be dissolved for looking at you the wrong way?”

  Allard gave her a cold smile. “You’ll be hoping for death once those things come into play, trust me.” A guard pulled them forward before Sienna could ask any more questions.

  “What about us?” the female guard called when Dr. Allard moved to leave. She limped on her wounded leg, and I only now noticed her arm was covered in her own blood.

  “It’ll be some time before they get that train track back up and running. Plus, the snow slide took out a large chunk of the track. So I guess you guys get to stay here for a bit.” His gaze turned to me again. “Try to stay out of trouble.”

  He left the four of us standing just outside the entrance with one of his guards.

  “Let’s go,” the guard motioned for us to follow him into the Black Prison. Despite it being our plan to get inside this place and find a way to stay, I couldn’t help but worry we were indeed their prisoners.

  Maybe that train explosion hadn’t been to stop us from getting there, but rather to stop us from leaving this place. Because until the train was back up and running, we didn’t have a way out.

  SIENNA

  “You’re beginning to surprise me less and less each time I see you, Sienna.” Dr. Allard waved a dramatic hand. I leveled him a glare, one I’d kept on my face since the guard brought me into this room. “We thought for sure you had died. Yet, here you are, alive and well.”

  My first taste of Black Prison was one I’d rather not experience ever again. We’d arrived more than twelve hours ago, and after being injected with a black serum and tossed in a room, a pain began to spread through my body making it nearly unbearable. Hours later, when the pain had finally ceased, a guard had brought me to Dr. Allard where I now sat stoically watching him move through the makeshift MediCenter.

  “What was that thing you put in my arm?” I demanded, keeping my focus on him while I subtly glanced around the room. My entire body was drained, and I could hardly stand on my wobbly legs, but still I searched for some sort of weapon.

  Allard nodded to an empty cot behind me. “Sit.”

  “Tell me first,” I replied.

  When I didn’t move, he took me roughly by the arm, directing me to the bed. I was so weak from whatever they’d done to me I couldn’t fight back. I was already exhausted from the two days traveling through the snow and now from the pain and torture roaring through me from the serum. My leg still ached, but it’d held up during our travels—that was a good sign. I’d noticed a few toes still blue, and they stung as feeling slowly returned. We hadn’t eaten or drank much in that time either. So, I could do nothing as he shoved me onto the bed.

  “I forgot how many questions you ask.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Where’s Vic? I want to see her.”

  “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were the one giving orders around here.” Allard gave me an icy smile. “And here I thought I was the one in charge.”

  “So you won’t tell me anything?” I crossed my arms.

  “Have I ever?”

  We stared for a few moments at each other, neither willing to back down, even though I knew my fight was futile. It didn’t matter what was going to happen to me right now. I had to find a way to access the rest of the genetic kids. Secure numbers and be ready when Jayla and Caspian got us out of here. Yet, I still burned with questions.

  “Take this.” He handed me a small cup filled with an amber-colored liquid.

  “What is it?” I sniffed the contents, a hint of something earthy wafting from it.

  “It’s so you don’t lose your toes.” Allard nodded to my sockless feet. They’d hurt too bad to put the shoes on the guard had tossed me, so I’d walked in here barefoot. “And fix a few other injuries you sustained.”

  The gash on my forehead from the train explosion had been wrapped up by Em and stopped bleeding the same day, but the dull pain remained. It joined the many other aches I felt throughout my body, so many I’d nearly forgotten it was there.

  I swallowed the drink, and it burned the whole way down my throat, warming my belly and sending a flash of heat throughout me.

  “That new little friend of yours is a wild one, isn’t she?” Allard moved around my bed and reached for a tablet. “She’s unlikely to last long here if she doesn’t learn her place.”

  “And where is that?”

  “At the bottom of the totem pole.” Allard sneered. “You might want to remind her that before she goes and ruins all your plans.”

  I tried to keep my face neutral and not let it show we did have a plan. He watched for a moment before offering a little shrug as if it were just a guess, and he didn’t already know what we planned to do here.

  The door I’d just walked through slammed opened, breaking the silence, and Theo was shoved inside by a large guard. He didn’t wait to be dismissed before the guard slammed the door shut behind him. Theo moved towards me, but Allard shot out an arm stopping him from coming to my side.

  “Sit,” Allard ordered Theo, and the fire in his eyes told us both we should listen. Theo sat and Allard turned back to me.

  “What was in that serum?” I asked again, noting how Theo looked just as exhausted and weak as I did, and I knew it wasn’t just from the trip here.

  “I don’t need to tell you anything. In fact, I think you’d rather not know… if your time here isn’t meant to be permanent.” Again Allard gave me a knowing look, which I ignored. “I can’t stop what’s happening any more than you can. Whatever you think you’re doing won’t end as you planned. You’re not the hero in this story like you think you are.”

  “And who is? You? Grayson?” I asked.

  Allard shook his head. “No one is, because there is no happy ending. There will be no grand moment when good defeats evil. When this is all over, we’ll be picking up the pieces of a broken nation, and we won’t be celebrating victory. We’ll just be happy we survived—for now.”

  I glanced at Theo. We had to do something. This couldn’t be all for nothing. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand, nor do I really care if you do. But we will survive, we will win.”

  Allard tilted his head to the side, and his face softened just a little. “I hope you do, truly. Because someone needs to live when this is all over, and it sure as hell isn’t going to be me.”

  I flinched back, surprised by his honesty. “If you know you won’t make it, why are you doing this in the first place?”

  “I once thought I was making a difference. I once thought I was the good guy.” He shook his head. “But I’ve learned over time that it’s not a matter of what you do, but what you know. I know what happens to those who talk too much.”

  “Who are we going to tell?”

  “No one,” Allard said sharply. “Because pretty soon there won’t be anyone to tell… it’s already begun. Or have you not heard the stories from Kuros?”

  My brow creased, and I looked to Theo. His face paled.

  “Oh yes, you, young Prince, would be most interested in what’s happening out there.” Allard sneered. It took me a moment to understand what he’d said, but when I looked to Theo, he wouldn’t meet my gaze. Allard’s words were ringing in my ears. Young Prince. “The Reeks broke through the wall surrounding Kuros yesterday. I believe the death toll has already reached the thousands. More will die soon enough or be changed by that virus if we don’t do something about it.”

  “I don’t understand,” I whispered.

  Allard tilted his head, staring at me for a moment before a wide smile broke out on his face. I was looking at Theo, my brows creased with questions, but he kept his gaze down, staring at his hands.

  Allard’s eyes widened as he glanced between us before he threw his head back and cackled. “You’ve got to be shitting me. You didn’t tell her? Your own girlfriend?”

  I sat up a bit straighter, annoyed at the way his words hurt a part of my ego. Theo was keeping secrets from me, a lot of secrets, but this. I didn’t even know what this was. What Allard was implying couldn’t be true—could it?

  “Is it true?” I asked. Theo wouldn’t even look at me. “Is it true?” I screamed this time.

  “Yes.”

  I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt tight, and the room was blinking in and out of view. Theo was the Prince of Kuros? The very one rumored to be missing for the last five years. Only he hadn’t been missing; he’d been in the DEZ. How was any of this possible?

  “Too bad you didn’t use that bit of information to get you out of here. I’m sure your father would have paid a hefty price to get you back.” Allard moved towards Theo. “Did you think we wouldn’t check your blood, check your records? We knew exactly who you were the minute you stepped into the DEZ, and we’ve been waiting for a chance to use that knowledge for our own benefits. Now seems to be as good a time as any.”

  “How is this possible?” I asked Theo.

  “I was only supposed to find out what was happening inside. I wanted to help my family, my people. But then I found schooling in the DEZ wasn’t that different from what I learned in Kuros. We were taught weaponry and fighting, though that was within the confines of the Palace. But I didn’t see what was so bad about the DEZ.” Finally, Theo looked up, his gaze piercing through me. “And then I met you, and I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t go back.”

  “Oh, how foolish and stupid young love can be. But I’m curious. Did he know where you were? Your father?” Allard asked, leaning against the wall a few feet away from us with a smug smile.

  Theo shook his head. “I made my brother promise not to tell him, to never reveal where I was. I knew my father would find some cover-up story, and I planned to return. With you, Sienna, once we were out.”

  I was shaking my head. All this time, Theo had been lying to me. He wasn’t the person I thought he was; he had a family, a life outside of the DEZ. He was there on a mission, and even if the reason he stayed was because of me, that didn’t change he’d lied.

  “Unfortunately, your father may never find out the truth.” Allard gave a feigned sympathetic shake of his head. “Rumor has it your two oldest brothers were killed defending the wall from the Reeks.”

  “No,” Theo breathed, his mouth gaping open. His hands clenched the bedding he sat under, and I wanted to comfort him, to wrap my arms around him, but I was so surprised and angry I couldn’t move.

  “Which makes you rather important, now doesn’t it?” Allard mused. “I think Grayson will be thrilled to know we have you again.”

  The King of Kuros, Theo’s father, had five kids. The lost Prince—Theo—was the youngest of the five, and now the last remaining male. Theo was the heir to the Kingdom of Kuros.

  “Best not to keep her waiting.” Allard pressed a button on the wall, and four guards stalked in from the double doors at the end. He nodded to Theo, and the guards quickly converged on him. “You never should have come here, and you probably should have told your team everything. Because there’s no way you’re leaving here any time soon.”

  “No, wait. Where are you taking him?” I finally moved, sliding unsteadily off the bed and tried to wrench the guard’s arm away, but he just tossed me aside, my body too weak to fight back, and I slammed into the cot, knocking it over.