"No! Carolina! Please!"  My heart races as I once again rap desperately on the apartment door.

"What?" She finally hisses, pulling the door open a crack, just enough to reveal her expression of pure hatred and disgust. "Haven't you done enough already...Reed?" She says my name edged with spit, like it's a bad word.

"Carolina, please, it's been three years!"

"If you think I've forgotten, then think again."

"I don't think that," I shake my head. "I knew Violet. It would take a lifetime to forget a face like hers."

"Don't talk about her!" Carolina screams. "You're not worthy of saying her name."

"Violet Aelden was the daughter of the leader of the Black Sky!"  I squeeze my eyes shut as memories flood my brain, clouding my consciousness. "I was a young Protector on a mission...it was either kill her or be thrown out in disgrace."

"She was also my cousin and my best friend." Carolina's breaths grow heavy and pained. "She never did a bad thing in her life. Never even pulled a childish prank, because she thought it was mean. She was the purest soul I ever knew. She didn't deserve it." 

"I know," I sigh. "And I regret it every single day, I promise. I'm ashamed that I was selfish enough to value my job and my honor over her life." 

"See? This is why I never joined the Protectorate, even though everyone expected me to follow in my parents' footsteps. You guys are so obsessed with your missions and your purpose...you're just as bad as the Blackies. Anyway, why are you here? Let's get this over with."

"Carolina, please, we need your help." 

"Trust me, you're the last person I want to help."

"You won't be helping me. You'll be helping the Protectorate save the world from your crazy aunt." 

"I don't know anything about her! The Black Sky wiped my memory! How much longer are you Protectors going to try to squeeze information out of me?" 

"Memories can't be wiped," I grin. "They can only be buried. Somewhere in your subconscious is the location of the Darkener, and we need that location if we want to stop the Blackies before it's too late." 

"Fine," Carolina says through gritted teeth. "But I'm not doing this for you or for the Protectorate. I'm doing it because it's something Violet would do." 

"Thanks," I beam. 

It doesn't matter why or for whom she's doing it. What counts is the fact that she's doing it.