“When the sun comes up, we’ll head there,” Tynan said. “If something has happened or someone is fighting back, their defences may be down. It could be our way out.”

  Petra nodded beside him, the two sitting close against the stone wall.

  The night was nearly silent, except for the occasional howls of the Dred Wulfs and guttered screams of the Reeks.

  “I still don’t understand why the Dred Wulf helped us,” Petra whispered. “Our people used to hunt them, we wore their furs, yet they saved our lives back there.”

  “I think they realized they wouldn’t survive the Reeks much longer, that there were so few of them left, and it was only a matter of time before the Reeks killed them all,” Tynan said. “Maybe they, too, felt it was their job to protect the forest, and now that included us.”

  I didn’t know why they’d done it, but I would be forever grateful they did. As we sat there, silently watching the stars, I couldn’t help but remember what Ava used to always tell me. I do as the stars ask me, and I wondered if the stars were to thank for the protection we received tonight, too, even if it wasn’t bound to last.

  All around us was silence, all but for a subtle whooshing sound getting louder.

  “What is that?” I whispered when I realized it wasn’t the wind.

  “It’s getting, closer,” Tynan said. “There.” He pointed to the south, and we moved to our feet.

  In the distance, a sleek, silver shuttle flew just above the mountaintop, right for us.

  I sucked in a breath. “Do you think—”

  “I’m not sure,” Tynan answered before I finished. We had no way of knowing if this shuttle was friend or foe. Tynan pulled out his sword, which would do nothing against a shuttle, and Petra stepped up beside us with an arrow aimed at it.

  The shuttle flew past us, circling above us just low enough for me to see the symbol for the Cytos Guard on its belly.

  We paused, holding our breath and waiting for the shuttle to open fire as the side doors slid back, but they didn’t. Instead, a black rope dropped down and dangled just in front of us. I looked back to Theo, who glanced up to the shuttle before a smile spread across his face.

  “Friend,” he said, pointing to the man leaning out of the shuttle door. Caspian.

  I let out a long sigh and waved up at him. His surprise was as genuine as mine. As he motioned for us to climb, whatever he yelled down at us was lost over the sound of the engine. Theo moved towards the rope first and motioned for me to climb onto his back. It was painful just trying to keep my legs around his waist, and as he climbed I clenched harder and gripped with my arms to keep myself from slipping. When I was within reach, Caspian pulled me up. Two guards helped Theo.

  I pushed myself from the edge to allow Petra to climb up behind us, too exhausted to even drag myself into a proper seat. One of the men passed me a bottle of water, and I gulped down half of it in one swig.

  “You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” I said to Caspian. “How did you find us?”

  “It’s kind of a long story, but a guy named Gunner told us to come here,” Caspian said, yanking Tynan inside before closing the shuttle door. My shock must have read across my face, as Caspian continued, “He told me to tell you guys he’s sorry.”

  I glanced to Theo, sitting behind me. He scowled. “Guess that’s one way to apologize.”

  I shrugged. I think it’d be a long time before I forgave him.

  “Where is he?” I asked.

  Caspian looked down. “With The Six still,” he said. He finally gazed up to meet my eyes. “With Vic.”

  The air caught in my lungs. “Vic?”

  Caspian shook his head. “I’m sorry, I tried…” He told us what happened. How he found Vic, tried to get her out, but he couldn’t. How he’d made the deal with Dr. Merinda to help get Gunner to them safely, and how in the end, they let him go, but not Vic. Tears welled in my eyes as he spoke. She’s alive.

  “What will they do with her?” I asked, and Theo gripped my hands tight, stopping them from trembling.

  Caspian shook his head. “I’m not sure, but I don’t think they’ll be sending them back to the Void any time soon. Allard said they still needed them for something.”

  I nodded, numb.

  “We’ll get her back,” Theo said.

  Petra and Tynan introduced themselves. A few other people were in the shuttle with Caspian, including a Carbon whose name I recognized from Jayla’s stories.

  “We’ll need a healer or medic when we get wherever you’re taking us,” Theo said, nodding down to where I still sat on the ground with my leg stretched out before me. The throbbing was dull but constant, and the subtle vibration of the shuttle jarred me with each little bump and movement.

  The Carbon nodded. “Call ahead, Logan, we’ll need someone there when we land.”

  “On it, Simon,” Logan answered him before radioing in the message.

  I gripped Theo’s hand, and his thumb brushed back and forth over my palm.

  The shuttle was silent the rest of the way, but the reality we were leaving the Void didn’t feel real. The horrors we had witnessed wouldn’t disappear as quickly as the night sky.

  In the distance, the sun started its slow ascent on a new day, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes and breathe a small sigh of relief.

  “We made it out,” Theo whispered in my ear, his lips brushing against my neck. “We survived.”

  I nodded against him, letting his words settle in.

  We’d survived. We’d escaped the Void. And Vic was still alive. But it wasn’t over. It was just beginning.

  JAYLA

  The last shuttle arrived an hour later than the rest. Logan had circled back when he heard over the radio Simon wasn’t with us. I’d ordered him to wait an additional thirty minutes to see if Simon arrived before leaving.

  Shuttles from Cytos would have already been dispatched when we set off that alarm at the base in the Void, so we couldn’t risk waiting too long and leading any of the Cytos Guards to Eres.

  When we got the call from Simon saying he and another person were on the rooftop, I’d never been so happy. Simon must have found Reyes, and they were on their way back.

  Em and I waited just outside the city where the other shuttles were lined up and refuelling for the trip back to Cytos. They couldn’t risk staying here for too long; someone could notice them and report to Governor Grayson, if they hadn’t already.

  A healer stood beside Em. We’d received the report there was someone injured on the shuttle, and a healer was needed. The radios didn’t work well in the desert or over the Void, so we didn’t know who was injured. I just hoped it wasn’t Simon or Reyes.

  I covered my eyes with my arm as the shuttle landed and kicked up a wave of sand. Once the engines were off, I opened my eyes to find two guards leading people towards us. Two people I didn’t recognize, both with long, white hair and blood covering them, walked towards us, along with two more people I couldn’t see yet as the sand still whipped in my eyes. The healer was already moving towards the girl who winced with each movement.

  I had to blink away my shock at the familiar red hair and green eyes glancing up at me only briefly, a slight smile on her face as they passed. Sienna was alive? And Theo? Relief ran through me that someone we had tried to save was still alive.

  Simon trailed behind them. He met my eyes, and as if knowing what I wanted to ask, he solemnly shook his head and my heart dropped. He hadn’t found Reyes.

  I moved to follow them but Em stopped me. Her eyes still fixed on the shuttle. “I’ll check on them,” she said to me, not taking her eyes off the shuttle. “You’re needed elsewhere.” She nodded to the shuttle and gave me a wink before following behind Simon.

  I scrunched my brow at her back before glancing back to the shuttle.

  I blinked.

  My body lurched forwards of its own will, stumbling as if something was jerking me on a string.

  My heart stopped entirely, and I didn’t think I was breathing… but I ran. Faster than I ever had to the man standing just outside the shuttle door.

  The distance between us disappeared in a blur. The only thing I could see was him, and I didn’t dare blink for fear he would vanish before my eyes. Two more strides and I crashed into him. He stumbled a few steps before catching his balance. My arms wrapped tight around his neck, and I buried my face into the crook of his shoulder.

  Caspian’s chest rumbled with a soft laugh before he placed his arms around me, hugging my body in even closer than it already was. I couldn’t stop the sob escaping me. I sucked in a breath, breathing in the smell of him, savoring the feel of every inch of his body. It trembled against mine, and his hands moved up and down my back, as if he had to feel every inch of me just to know it was real, that it wasn’t a dream. My hands roamed through his hair and down his neck, and I pulled away only enough to place my lips on the soft skin between his neck and his shoulder. Kissing him. Tasting him.

  “I’m here,” he whispered in my hair, “this is real.” He knew my fears because they were his own. And I almost couldn’t believe it was true, but the feel of his hard body against mine, the rapid beating of his heart against my chest, and the sound of his voice in my ears told me it was.

  This was real.

  I couldn’t stop shaking, even as Caspian set me down but still held me tight. He kept his grip around my back and withdrew only enough to see my face. Tears stained my cheeks.

  He smiled, wiping away the wetness on one side, then the other.

  “How?” I whispered, my voice breaking.

  Caspian captured my lips with his own with heartbreaking softness, as if that one kiss could take away the pain he heard in my voice, the tears still falling.

  “I said I’d never leave,” he whispered, his breath warm against my lips. “And I like to keep my promises.”

  I couldn’t breathe, and there were no words, so I just pulled him back in and kissed him. “Never do that again,” I said between kisses.

  He chuckled, and I didn’t hear anything else but his beating heart and his promise, “I’ll never leave you.”

  GUNNER

  It wasn’t long before they came back to our room. Vic sat quietly on her bed; her knees tucked into her chest. I couldn’t stop staring at her.

  This was the Ghost? The girl who everyone was trying to kill before the Reeks took over? This was the girl Sienna had been searching for? Her friend?

  I had known it was her the minute Caspian said her name. And I didn’t know why I didn’t tell her I knew where Sienna was, and she was still alive—at least I hoped she was still alive. Maybe it was because I’d have to explain how I’d betrayed them all. I’d left her friends behind, so I could get some stupid information I’d probably never receive.

  I’d thought I was going crazy the day after the mountain imploded when I’d started hearing a voice in my head—Dr. Merinda’s voice. The tracker hadn’t been taken out yet, and it would seem on top of killing us kids, it also had the ability to pass on a message through it. And when Merinda promised information in exchange for the device she claimed was inside Venzier, I found I couldn’t resist.

  I’d wanted to, believe me. I wished I were a stronger man. I fought it as long as I could, the headaches from the small amounts of venom they seeped through the tracker, nearly killing me before they finally removed it under the mountain. I thought I could be strong enough to say no and move on once it was out. But I wasn’t.

  So I’d made a deal with the Devil.

  Even once the tracker was out, once the pain and voices in my head ceased, I found I had to know. I was weak, and I hated myself for it, but it was who I was, and I couldn’t deny that. I hadn’t intended them all to die, I’d gone in there with the plan of bringing them with me back to Dr. Merinda, but then everything went to hell, and I knew there was no going back, so I ran. I didn’t know how many of the Guardians survived, I’d tried not to look at the bodies outside of Venzier, but I knew there weren’t many.

  Someone had removed Reyes’ body shortly after Allard left with Caspian, and I couldn’t help but wonder if somewhere out there anyone would sacrifice their life for me. I scowled at the wall. I knew the answer, and it was a resounding, “Hell No!”

  The door clicked open, and Dr. Merinda stepped in. Instinctively, I stood and moved closer to Vic, who was still curled in the same position, but now she shook like a leaf.

  “It seems we lost a few people from this room,” Merinda commented, her eyes narrowed. “We’re leaving. Let’s go.” She moved to the door, and I quickly closed the distance.

  “Where?” I asked.

  “That’s classified.” Merinda shrugged. “You’ll join the others.”

  “Others?”

  “Did you think you were the only ones?” Merinda mused at my confused expression. “Well, I guess you may be the exception. But yes, there are others. More genetic kids, all immune to the disease that has destroyed our way of living for far too long.”

  “What do you mean, I’m the exception?”

  Dr. Merinda shifted on her feet and tilted her head with a bored kind of expression. “What makes you think I would tell you anything? What makes you think you’re even remotely important enough to deserve any answers?”

  “We had a deal,” I said, closing my fist over the device still in my hand.

  Dr. Merinda glanced down to my hand, and then she stuck hers out.

  I crossed my arms. “I want what you promised first.”

  “Very well,” Dr. Merinda sighed. “Your father is a hack of a Carbon who knowingly gave you up to us in exchange for his own freedom and safety. He was a lowly kind of guy, the kind who would turn on his friends at any moment if it benefited him to do so.”

  I swallowed, a thick lump in my throat, seeing the comparisons Merinda didn’t try to hide.

  “Your mother was a human. She didn’t know of your existence, as she was told you died during creation. It wasn’t until recently she even found out about you, but unfortunately she’s dead now.”

  My heart sank. She didn’t know about me? My mother had thought I died? Was she… could she have been… No. Not a chance. I wouldn’t let myself even consider it.

  “You’re the exception to this experiment we’ve been running, as you were never meant to be created in the first place. Every other genetic kid was made on purpose… along with the twin of each child we created for the DEZ.” Merinda watched with unbridled glee as my eyes widened.

  “What do you mean, twin?”

  A wave of impatient annoyance flashed across Merinda’s face. “I can’t believe that any one of you kids could be that stupid. That you actually thought your parents just up and left you because they changed their minds. How idiotic could you be?”

  I clenched my jaw, my hand still clasped around the artifact.

  Merinda glanced to my hand, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Must I really spell it out for you? Fine. When someone created a genetic kid for themselves, we made two. One for the parents, and one for us. The genetic kids are the ideal specimen to combat the Reeks, and we had hoped our best chance at retrieving that thing currently in your hand.” My eyes darted to the artifact. “It would seem we were right, mostly.”

  I swallowed back the dryness in my throat. Behind me, Vic had gone deathly pale. She covered her mouth with her hands.

  The Marked kids hadn’t been abandoned by their parents because their parents never knew of their existence. Families were living their lives thinking they had one child and never knew of the other one who’d been sent to their death by some sadistic demon who’d created us for the soul purpose of using us as pawns.

  My father had known of my existence, and he willingly gave me to these people. I wanted to deny it all, I didn’t want to believe that my own father could be so cruel, but then again… wasn’t I just as bad? I’d destroyed an entire tribe, allowed my friends to be used for my own gain. He and I were the same—terrible, horrible people.

  “Names,” I growled back.

  “That wasn’t a part of the deal. I only promised information, not names,” Merinda said sweetly.

  I squeezed my fist against the artifact in my hand. “I want to know the name of the son of a bitch who gave me up and kept me from my own mother.” I was shaking, and the artifact under my grip creaked.

  Dr. Merinda smirked, amused at my flash of anger. “Your father’s name is Simon,” Merinda said. She opened her palm for me to place the artifact in. “And your mother was the former Commander of the Watchers… I think you briefly met. Commander Reyes?”

  My body went numb. I shook my head, and my knees gave out under me as I dropped to the ground. No, it couldn’t be. A hand brushed my back, but I flinched and it disappeared.

  Merinda swiftly took the artifact from my slack fingers. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to chat sooner.” She turned and opened the door.

  A low growl escaped me, and I moved to lunge for her, but two guards stepped in my way and grabbed me by both arms, yanking me into the hallway. I glanced back to see two more guards leading Vic behind me.

  A hot rage filled me as I glared at Merinda’s back as she led the group down the hall. Dr. Allard met up with us, falling into step with Merinda, and I wondered if he had also known. Of course he’d known, and he’d let it happen, too. He gave Caspian the tools to escape the cuffs, to kill my mother.

  “The train is ready to go, and our operatives have been dispatched as requested,” Dr. Allard said to Merinda. “They’ll round up every one of them, so we can move on to phase two now that we have that thing.” He nodded to the artifact in Merinda’s hand.

  “Good,” she nodded. “Oh, and Allard, I want them all. Do not disappoint me again.”

  Allard only nodded, his expression flat.

  I let them drag me, let them lead me away, as my mind tried to understand what I had just been told. I had just unknowingly watched my mother die—for me—and I didn’t stop it. I didn’t know I should have stopped it because I didn’t believe for one second anyone was looking for me, or anyone would sacrifice themselves for me.