I look up to Luke's tired face as he softly let's my feet touch the ground. My arm wraps around his neck as he sets one of his around my waist in order to support my weight.

I stumbled to a tree near the fire, the searing pain in my back causing the clench in my jaw to tighten. Luke sets me down gently on a blanket, my back against the rough bark of the tree.

"I'll be back," Luke stands up and stretches his arms, "don't move."

"Not like I could if I wanted to," I mumble underneath my breath as Luke walks away to grab food and water.

Jogging back he plops beside me handing me food which I gratefully take and guttle quickly.

My eyes are drawn off my meal as Luke rolls up the sleeve of my shirt and examines the area The Centre took my blood. Next he moves my hair off of my neck and brushes his thumb lightly over the tender skin there.

"Ouch," I flinch backing away from his touch, surprised at the pain, "what are you doing?"

"Trying to get a look at the damage," Luke's steady eyes examines my neck as he finds the spot where I was electrocuted. "You were knocked unconscious by an electric shock... in order for that to happen they needed about six million volts."

"I guess it takes six million volts to make my skin burn," I groan moving away from his hand, "will you stop that?" I slap his hand away and wince as his delicate touch begins to feel like daggers, "it hurts."

Sighing Luke takes a bit of his food and pulls his hand away as my curtain of hair falls back over my neck.

I look away from his studious face and meet the eyes of Adam who glares painfully at me before shaking his head and walking away. I let my head slump forward before propping it up on my hand, "I feel terrible that Adam hates me, I should've done something."

"And what would you have done?" Luke asks turning his attention to me, "let him go and get killed with his sister?" I sit in silence because there was nothing I could do now to make this better. What happened in the past can't be changed and now I have to deal with the present. "I couldn't hate you, so I don't think he stands a chance."

I nod but still feel uncertainty washing onto the shore of my mind, "Maybe..."

Luke takes his hand and draws my face to his, a finger twirling a strand of my hair before being placed behind my ear. He stares into my dark cool blue eyes and rubs his thumb on my cheekbone and pushes his forehead onto mine, our noses brushing. My breath catches in my throat and an ember pops from the fire and lands on my foot. I jump up and flick it off gasping as the pain in my hip battles the pain in my foot from the burning coal. My hip doesn't hurt as much as before, in fact it has mellowed into an irritating hum, constant and always there.

"Pants," Luke helps guide me to the soil again, "are you okay?"

I nod and slip onto the grass, turning away from Luke, "I just think I need some rest."

"Okay."

Eventually my mind does slip into sleep but not before a familiar feeling of shame overcomes me. What was I doing? My friend just lost his sister and I'm... having moments with Luke. I'm a terrible friend.

      《《《《《《《《》》》》》》》》

A comfortable arm wraps around me and my head lays on another arm that isn't mine. Slitting my eyes open I turn to see Luke's head resting on my back near my neck, his peaceful face hidden by his nest of dark brown hair. My stiff back forces me to sit up and face the dark sky which has not a shimmering star in sight.

Sitting up I move Luke's arm from around me and gently place it down. Letting my hand unconsciously move a strand of his curled hair aside I reveal his notched brow I made. I smile as he stirs and moves closer to me, a warm feeling consuming me entirely as his arm hooks onto my waist and pulls me closer.

We've been through so much, I've opened up to him and he the same. So why do I feel myself hesitate when ever I find myself getting closer to him? Do I even try to peruse such a man when my friend just lost a sister? Keeping in mind that he hates me and might hate me more if Luke and I— not saying we will— but if we did become something more than friends.

I shake my head and stand up. The ache in my hip still dulled and persistent. I walk to the glowing embers in the fire and gaze at the sleeping warriors who've helped the Immunis and their Clan. I feel pride and gratefulness for their bravery and kinship. We owe them. Finally my eyes land on Roxy who's sprawled on the ground by a handsome warrior, her arm linked with his.

I smirk and tap her head annoyingly, "Roxy, Roxy, Roxy..."

Roxy groans and slaps my hand away angrily, "no."

I sigh and lay beside her and stroke her beautiful brown curls. She sighs too and slowly snuggles closer to me, a smile creeping onto my face as the sky starts to turn to a navy blue.

"Roxy," I whisper still playing with her hair.

Roxy's silver eyes slowly pry open and she glares at me, "fine. I'm up, what do you want?"

"Advice."

    《《《《《《《《》》》》》》》》

After an hour of convincing Luke I can ride on my own he finally gave in. I however regret it because only two hours in my back is sore from supporting myself in the saddle. Never the less I ignore it and keep a smile on my face, we are heading home. My new home, back to the green city with my people and the Ballator Clan.

The sun is hovering  over the tree tops and we'll soon be home. Back to Issy and Mom, back to Danial and James, back to the Immunis.

Roxy trots past me on her own horse winking before tilting her head to the man she called a six out of ten, but maybe a seven if he shaved. I giggle and wink at her back as her smile widens before she sways seductively over to him.

Shaking my head I take a slug of some water before catching the eye of Luke who snaps his head around acting like he wasn't watching me. Slowly he turns around to see me raising an eyebrow and shaking my head. I move my contemplative focus to the delicate details on the trees.

"You're seriously thinking of just being friends with Luke because Adam lost his sister?" Roxy rolls her eyes as she hops out of her blanket.

"Yeah, he's in pain and I don't want to make it worse for him. It's not the right time," I scrunch my brows together conflicted.

"That's a stupid excuse," Roxy takes my face and forces me to look into her eyes. "There's no such thing as a good time. You want my advice? It's now or never, go for it. Take a leap of faith."

I look away from the trees and jump in my saddle to see Luke riding beside me. "Luke? Do you need anything?" I ask trying to hide my shaky, startled voice.

"You're tired, you're back hurts and you're pushing yourself too hard," Luke sighs and halts his horse, "you're riding with me."

"You're kidding?" I ask, "were only an hour away."

"Two hours," Luke corrects, "and I don't want you to injure yourself further because you think you can keep riding." I give him an unimpressed look which doesn't faze him at all, "come on Pants."

I groan and hop off of my horse I named Pretzel since he was the colour of one, "what about Pretzel?"

Luke sighs and looks at him before hopping of and letting me slide into his saddle. Luke takes Pretzel's reins and ties them before strapping it to his saddle. "Pretzel will join us." Swiftly Luke hops on behind me and I look back at Pretzel who walks peacefully behind us. "He's fine," Luke groans trying to hide his laughter, "Pretzel is safe, trust me."

Nodding I lean into Luke's chest, "I know."

One hour overlaps and fades into the next before we finally reach the green city. The entire street in enveloped in cheers and welcomes, people on either side of us and children jumping up and down as jealous girls glare at me as I share a saddle with Luke. I let Luke's arms settle around me as he clutches the reins and I study the faces of the Clan and Immunis smiling up at us. We could be mistaken for one clan, but in reality we are united allies who blend together smoothly.

I feel like a hero coming back from a long and brutal war. Families await on the side lines as we walk towards Lady, her guards standing tall and gallant. Lady sits distinguishably on her throne of knives and swords which closely resembles glass and mirrors.

My heart slows and I reach my hand over to Luke's who's still griping the reins. Tapping gently I grab his attention and whisper lowly, "Luke, I need to get off. Lady will suspect something. You'll be sent to the Pit."

"It's fine, if we ride together, it doesn't mean we are together," Luke whispers lowly into my ear before sitting up and smiling at his people.

I can't help but recognized the fact that my heart doesn't just drop from Lady's face but the fact that I feel disappointed at what Luke said. Does he not feel the same way I do about him? Are these all mixed signals? Is he playing me?

"So," Lady smirks and the entire crowd falls into an irritable hush, "how did it go?"