Chapter XXVI

STEPPING OUT OF THE hut, Joey listened as gasps of excitement erupted throughout the group, and she moved aside as her friends rushed to embrace David.

Ella was the first to cling to his hip, and David grinned as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so happy you're okay," she said, her tiny voice cracking as tears slid down her cheeks. David didn't reply, he didn't need to. Joey could tell that that hug spoke louder than words.

When Ella finally let him go, Alex wrapped his good arm around David's shoulders in a manly embrace. "I'll have to admit, Popsicle, you had me worried there for a minute."

David raised a brow and gestured to the pad and ripped material around Alex's shoulder. "What happened to you, Pyro?"

Alex's small grin wavered and he shrugged. "Just a little dog bite to match your cat scratch." He slapped David's shoulder. "At least it wasn't poisonous, right?" He chuckled, but even through his smile it was easy to tell that he was hurting and the pain went way deeper then the surface.

"Did something happen?" David whispered to Joey as Alex stepped away. Kathleen gave him a quick hug and walked away before Joey spoke up.

"We lost Jenny." David's head whipped her direction in shock. Her voice drifted even softer, "And ... Heather."

"What?" David asked, his brow furrowing. His voice was low in despair.

"During the wolf attack ..." Joey trailed off, unsure of what to say. "I think ... they were taken. Or, at least, Jenny was."

"They're dead." Michelle's cold voice rang throughout the air, and Joey twirled around to find her leaning against a tree with her arms crossed. "The sooner you face that fact, the sooner we can move on."

David turned his gaze back to Alex as the older boys eyes teared up, and he slid down some bark taking a seat. "Alex, I'm—"

"Don't," Alex interrupted, holding up a hand to cut David off. "We knew some people weren't going to make it." He let out a sigh, turning to Michelle. "The best thing to do is move on." Michelle gave him a stern nod. "So, now that everyone seems to be back on their feet, what happens next?"

Michelle stood up straight, her arms still crossed. "We go with the original plan. That was to escape."

"Escape?" Chase shoved his way in-between Ella and David. "I thought the plan was to save David and then let them find the exit. We were going to look for a new hideout, right?"

Michelle shook her head. "Being here, in the center, has made me realize that we cannot live out the remainder of our lives cooped up in here. Chase you've wasted three years of your life in here. I've wasted five!" She scanned the faces of the group. "We can't let Claire take our lives from us. I'm done being her slave. I'll fight 'till the last breath in my body if it means being free, and I'm hoping you'll stick by my side."

A moment of silence swept through the group until Brianna's voice pierced the air, "You've kept me alive in here for five years." She gripped the strap of her backpack that rested over her shoulder. With a firm nod, she said, "I'm not going anywhere."

Michelle looked around at the others, seeing that no one was going to back out, and she smiled. "Good! Then we'll head out immediately. I don't want to be here any longer then any of you."

"You'll be dead in three days," Chase snorted, uncrossing his arms.

Michelle eyed him, but her voice wasn't hard as it had been. "Better to die a fighter than a slave."

Joey glanced around the shadowed forest. "But ... where are we going to go?" Her hand slapped her thigh over the pocket where the paper covered in gibberish had been safely tucked away. "The poem doesn't tell me exactly how to escape."

Michelle turned to the side and pointed forwards. "North. We keep heading north. If we make it to the edge of the Dome and haven't found anything then we'll circle back and try a different direction."

Joey's jaw dropped. "But that could take days!"

Michelle snickered. "Try months. This Dome is bigger than you could ever imagine, and I've heard rumors that the Domes just get bigger with each one you pass into. Luckily for us, we were already a couple days closer to the center when we set out." She paused and looked up at the trees. "So, unless you want to stay here with the Roums, I suggest you shut up and follow me before you become lunch." She narrowed her eyes. "Though, I wouldn't have a problem with it. They'd be doing me a favor." Her words were probably meant to come out harsh, but Joey realized how she choked on her last sentence. "You've been nothing but a pain since the moment you arrived." Twirling around, Michelle shouted, "We're moving out in five!"

Nathan snickered. "Watch, it'd be just like Claire to put the exit in wolf territory."

"It'll be getting dark soon!" Evangeline called, drawing everyone's attention. "Maybe you all should stay the night and set out in the early morning."

"What?!" Lucinda exploded, marching towards Evangeline. "You are out of your mind if you think I'm going to open my—"

"Our home," Evangeline corrected. "Look, I don't know your past with these people, but ..." She furrowed her brow. "You've changed just in the day they've been here." She turned back and eyed Michelle. "Stay. Sleep. You have members in your group that could use it, and it doesn't get cold here in the center" Her eyes ventured down, and Joey looked past Michelle at Brutus still lying unconscious in the grass.

Michelle released a sigh, looked up to the sky, and nodded. "Alright." She turned back towards Evangeline. "We'll stay." Her glare met Lucinda's. "As long as you keep your protective bubble up long enough to keep us safe."

Lucinda snorted in disgust. "Please, you think I want you all piling into my home?" She stormed towards the front door. "My spell will last the night!" She jerked the door open and slammed it shut behind her.

"Get some sleep everyone," Joey heard Michelle call out softly as Joey slid down the tree Michelle had been leaning against moments ago. She released one big breath. For once, she felt like she could breathe. Like she could finally take a long deserved break, but as she sat there, feeling the unusual peace, exhaustion started to settle in. It had been days since she had allowed herself even five minutes to closer he eyes, too afraid that sleep would snatch her away.

Part of her wished she could have even a half hours worth of sleep, but ... Her eyes ventured towards David who embraced Ella, kissing her on the top of her head, and she suddenly felt her brow bead with sweat. She couldn't risk seeing yet another nightmare, another vision of David's coming doom. She had just gotten him back.

Instead of giving herself some time to shut her eyes, she forced them open, and awake she stayed the entire night. There were times she didn't find it hard. Seeing the glowing eyes in the trees, and the occasional stare-down with a creature inches away from their bubble was enough to keep her heart pumping and eyes open. But the moments of silence ... That's when she found herself battling her mind to stay awake.

She was jolted from her thoughts as Thomas sat down beside her, and she rolled her eyes. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"Sleeping?" Thomas glanced around. "But it ... it's dawn."

Baffled, Joey gave a quick glance around at the sky and surrounding forest to find the dark was beginning to fade, and the others in the group were beginning to stir. "Oh," she said softly, leaning back.

"You look awful. Didn't you sleep?" She shot him a glare before he corrected himself, "Oh, wait, you don't sleep. My bad."

She huffed. "Can't you bother someone else?" She looked around for Bellamy, wondering why Thomas wasn't bugging him, and found the other boy conversing with Chase.

Thomas shrugged like her comment didn't bother him. "Nope," he stated plainly, resting his head against the bark.

She shot him a quick glance, seeing a thin layer of ice filling the gash in his forehead. "What happened to your head?" she asked.

His hand flew to his forehead as he fingered with his wound. "Oh, David's apparently dishing out some healing gel."

"What?" Joey flung herself around and spotted David peeling back Alex's bandage before hovering a hand over the bite marks. "He needs to be resting. He'll make himself too weak."

"Well, it's too late for that now." She looked back at Thomas. "He's already done me, Bellamy, and Brutus."

Again, she huffed and rolled her eyes. "Hope he knows what he's doing."

Silence filled the air before Thomas drew in a breath. "So, I—"

"You know, you kinda remind me of the Wolverine," she interrupted, hoping he would leave, but her comment sent him bursting with laughter.

"I guess I can see the similarities." He raised a hand, balled it into a fist, and an ice shard slowly protruded from his left hand. "Except, I have one and not three ... and it's ice instead of metal."

Joey glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "So, you know your movies then."

Thomas winked. "Middle level privileges I suppose."

She smiled, recalling how Vincent—who had also been a middle level resident—would sneak a portable DVD player to the Slums where they would secretly watch movies. Slightly turning her head, she eyed the shard; the same cold blade that she thought would pierce her throat, and yet, here she was making conversation with the same guy she thought would kill her.

Her brow furrowed and she squinted, noticing a sliver of blood cascade down the back of his hand. "Does it hurt?"

He eyed his shard and gave a smug grin. "Every time," he replied, glancing at her with his eyebrows raised. She snickered, recognizing the quote.

The sunrise suddenly peeked from behind the tall, thick trees, and Thomas raised his hand, his shard retracting, as he blocked the light that unexpectedly blinded him.

"Oh, sorry!" Joey cupped a hand over her compass and the gleam vanished.

He glanced down at the compass underneath her grasp with puzzlement. "What is that? You definitely didn't have that on when we met."

She looked down at the golden compass dangling around her neck. "Uh ..." She raised her head, her eyes venturing past his head to meet Lucinda who was speaking with Jacob and Evangeline. "Lucinda gave it to me," she replied, softly. She looked back and flipped the object over revealing the J.R. engraved in its back. "It was my dads."

"Your dads?" Thomas asked, perplexed. "And Lucinda had it?"

"Yeah, uh ..." She dropped the compass and it smacked her chest. "Apparently they used to be friends."

"Your dad was friends with someone like her?" His voice rang out in unbelief.

Joey snorted. "What'd I say yesterday?" She leaned over and playfully elbowed him. "Give her some credit. Just because Michelle and the others hate her guts doesn't mean she's evil. She spent time with my dad. Clearly, she can't be all bad. Dad would never get himself mixed up with bad people."

Thomas sighed and turned away from her. "If you say so." He looked back at her, only his eyes traveled down to the compass and he arched a brow. "I don't expect Lucinda mentioned anything about it glowing pink, did she?"

"What?" Joey swiftly dropped her gaze to find the golden compass now beaming with a soft pink. "That ... is ..." She climbed to her feet and reached down to grab it. The metal instantly grew hot in her hand and she dropped it back to her chest. "Ow!" she cried out, wringing her stinging hand. "What in the—"

"Joey, get it off!" Thomas quickly jumped to his feet and reached out to rip the compass from around her neck, but without thinking, she shoved him back.

"No!" To her surprise, the hot metal lying against her chest couldn't be felt through her black shirt. "It's ... fine." Her eyebrows creased as she questioned herself. Looking up to meet Thomas's worried gaze, she said, "I can't feel it." Dipping her head, the soft pink tone of the metal died away, and Joey cautiously tapped it with the tip of her pointer finger. "It's not hot."

"Joey ..." She glanced up from the compass to meet his troubled gaze. "I don't like this. Something doesn't feel right. I think you should take it off."

"I ..." She trailed off unsure of how to answer. Glancing down, she fingered the compass in her grasp. She gazed intently at the shinning gold, examining it for some explanation as to what happened. Squinting, she saw a small crackle of energy identical to lightening build up around the black needle under the glass surface. Suddenly, a pulse emanated from the compass, and a jolt shot through her fingertips into her body. She let out a small yelp as her heart fluttered.

"What is it?" Thomas asked, hurriedly.

Joey's mind quickly fell into a daze and the world spun. Her vision blurred and her heart sped into a rapid pace. The compass slipped from her grip as her legs grew weak beneath her, and she would've hit the ground if Thomas hadn't caught her.

"Hey! Joey? You alright?"

She felt herself being shook, and her mind began to clear. Regaining strength in her legs, she straightened herself, squinted from the pounding in her skull, and looked up to find Thomas staring at her. The only expression on his face was one full of concern, worry, and fear. She gave him a weak grin to reassure him, as she pushed his hands off her arms. "I'm fine."

"Is everything okay over here?" Joey twisted her head to the side as Michelle stepped up beside them. She swallowed with embarrassment as a few of the others followed not too far behind.

Joey grinned, her cheeks growing hot. "Yes—"

"No!" Thomas nearly shouted. She shot him a glare, and he directed his next words to Michelle as he pointed at the compass around Joey's neck. "Guess where she got this from?"

Michelle eyed the compass dangling at Joey's chest. With a growl, she thrust her hand out and ordered, "Hand it to me! Now!"

A hand swiftly flew to her compass and she gripped it to keep it safe and protected from anyone who tried to take it. "No! It isn't yours! It was my dads!"

"I don't care who's it was," Michelle continued, heartlessly. "It's dangerous. Give it here!"

"Joey?" Her eyes were drawn to David who pushed himself in-between Chase and Rufus. "What are you doing? If Michelle says it's dangerous, then it's probably best to give it to her."

"No!" Joey lashed out, her grip tightening. She shook her head. "You don't understand. I thought you were on my side?"

David's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? I am on your side! I'm trying to keep you safe."

Glaring, she said, "I think I'm doing just fine on my own. Thanks."

"Joey, what's wrong?" Ella asked, stepping up alongside her brother. "You're not acting like yourself."

"It isn't her," a Scottish voice chimed, drawing everyones attention as they turned. Lucinda strode through the crowd, her head high, and Joey's pulse quickened. "It's the compass." Joey stared at her confused, and Lucinda gave a small nod of her head as she gave a sympathetic nod. "My apologizes, Joey. I should've made you aware of the power it possessed, but after all these years ... I thought it would've died away since it wasn't being used."

"What power?" Michelle spat through gritted teeth.

Lucinda gave a frown. "The compass contains an ability full of pure darkness. The longer you hold it, the worse the impact."

"Darkness?" Joey chuckled and rubbed her forehead, unable to believe a word she said. "You expect me to believe my dad had some kinda compass that gave him dark abilities?"

"Your father learned to control that ability," Lucinda continued, "up until a few days before he left when he found he no longer could. That's the real reason he left." Her voice saddened. "Because he almost killed me. He left it behind, and I was supposed to destroy it, but I couldn't. It was all I had left of him." Joey rolled her eyes, but they widened as Lucinda's irises suddenly glowed a bright magenta. "You've had it on all night. It's power is already affecting you."

Joey's hand slapped her thigh. "You think you would've mentioned something like that before letting me wear it!"

"Enough of this!" David marched towards her. "Joey, take it off!" As he reached out to grab it, she gripped it in both hands and swung herself around to keep his grimy hands out of reach. "You can't be serious?"

Ignoring his question, she turned towards Lucinda. "You said he learned to control it. So, that means I can too, right?"

Lucinda slowly nodded. "You can—"

"Then it stays," Joey interrupted. "Enough said." She released the compass and eyed Michelle. "We should get going, yes?"

"I should warn you!" Joey craned her neck back around as Lucinda's voice rang out. "If you don't learn to control the ability ... it will learn to control you."

"Tell me something I don't know," Joey said with a roll of her eyes, turning back to face Michelle. "We going or not? I don't know about you, but I'd like to get out of here so I can find my dad."

She watched as Michelle shot Lucinda one final glare before giving a nod. "Let's go."

"Joey, this isn't a good idea." Joey narrowed her eyes, hearing David's voice. "That compass could—"

"It's the only thing I have left of my dad's," she replied, harshly.

"And what if you can't control the darkness?" David nearly shouted. "What if this new ability takes over, huh? What if you can't control it?"

"Are you saying I'm not strong enough?"

"No, that's not what I'm—" He cut himself off and released a puff of air. "When we find your dad, what do you think he'll say when he finds out he was sent to the Domes to protect his daughter only to find her consumed by this ... darkness? The same darkness that he chose to leave behind!"

"Enough, David!" Joey shouted as a sudden heat filled her eyes, and David jumped back shooting a stunned look. "I'm not leaving the compass behind so I don't want to hear anymore on the matter." She swung around on her heels. "Let's go before we become something's breakfast." She turned her head to the side and eyed Brutus, who struggled putting weight on his injured leg, with a smirk. "Though, I wouldn't be surprised if not everyone could keep up."

"Joey!" Brianna snapped, aiding the injured twin.

Joey scanned the faces around her and noticed how fast her heart was beating and the rage that fueled her. She glanced down at the puddle of water she nearly stepped in, and through her reflection in the ripples, she found her irises glowing a deep red and her mouth dropped as she gawked at herself. She blinked multiple times and her eyes returned to brown. Clearing her throat, she turned towards Brutus and said softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that." She met David's frown from the corner of her eye but she didn't turn to meet his gaze. "Can we just go? Please?"

Unexpectedly, Michelle yanked off her bow from around her shoulders along with an arrow from her quiver and nocked it against the string, aiming it for Lucinda. "We can go, but she's coming with."

Lucinda clenched her jaw. "Now, wait just a minute, Michelle. This was not in the deal we made. I heal David and you all leave. That was our deal."

Michelle shrugged. "Guess I changed my mind. You've done that before many times." Lucinda growled. "But don't worry. I'm not going to kill you ... yet." Her arms shook as she shouted, "Move! You were the one that gave Joey the compass, you are the one who's going to die if things go south."

Evangeline and Jacob started walking behind Lucinda when Michelle's arrow changed its course. "I never said anything about adding an extra two mouths to feed."

"Lucinda's our friend," Jacob defended. "We're not going to leave her in the hands of someone who wants to kill her."

Michelle glanced between the two before gesturing with her head to follow behind Lucinda. "Just know, I don't trust either of you for a second."

Jacob glared at her. "If I wanted to kill anyone, I would've let Evangeline do that for me."

It was a few hours into their walk, and Joey stayed at the back of the group. Her eyes scanned the others who shot an occasional glance her way, and their whispering filled her ears.

"She's not strong enough for this."

"She can't really think she can control the darkness, can she?"

"It's just a matter of time before she turns into a monster."

Everyone was against her ... No! She rubbed her hands up and down arms, and shook her head trying to chase the voices away. No, she knew her friends better than that. They wouldn't say those things behind her back. It had to be the compass, the darkness, trying to seep in.

Maybe none of them believed she could be strong enough, but her dad was. According to Lucinda, who had chatted with her an hour prior, Dad had controlled this dark ability well for years; learned to brandish its power for good and protection. No one believed she could do it. None of them cared. None of them saw how important having this compass was to her. She gripped the compass swaying on her chest and a peace overwhelmed her as she felt its warmth against her skin. Maybe her dad never intended for Lucinda to destroy it. Maybe, somehow, he knew she'd find it, and with it she could save him.

She glanced down and found the pink glow of the compass now surrounded her hand and it brightened as streaks of lightning slowly crept up her arm. Instantly, she released the compass and the marks vanished.

Drawing in a shaky breath, reality settled in. Fighting off the darkness wasn't going to be a walk in the park like she assumed. Glancing down at the compass, she already hated the person she was becoming.

She reached for the chain with the intentions to rip it off and throw it aside, but when David slowed his pace she dropped her hands. Now walking beside her, David asked, "You sure you're okay?"

She rolled her eyes. "Is everyone going to take their turn asking me that?"

David cocked his head. "Well, I'm sorry, but with what just happened back there, I wanted to make sure my friend was okay," he fired. "Back there, I'm not even sure if that was my friend talking."

Joey's face softened as her shoulder sagged. "Neither do I," she whispered. Tears pricked her eyes as she turned and look at him. Muttering, she said, "Truth is ... this thing terrifies me." She lowered her head, making sure she went around the humongous puddle. "I lost myself back there." She rubbed her hands together, anxiously. "Maybe everyone's right. I don't feel strong enough to do this, and I feel like a fool for not listening to you."

"Then take it off," David answered, gently.

She balled her free hand into a fist, angry at herself. "I can't," she said through gritted teeth. "Even if I want to, I can't bring myself to do it."

"Then let me." David reached up, but as his fingers drew near to her neck, she flinched and took a side step over. "You can't be free from it if you won't take it off." He gave her a tender smile, and mouthed, "Let me try.

Slowly, Joey relaxed her shoulders, and David reached for the chain around her neck. The second his fingers wrapped around the chain, he and Joey both cringed. David dropped the chain, wringing his hand, and Joey took a step back rubbing the dull ache in her neck.

"Everything okay?" Joey looked over to find Kathleen staring at the two quizzically.

David nodded. "We're fine."

When Kathleen looked away, Joey gritted her teeth with a soft snarl. "I knew it was a bad idea!" She kicked a rock on the ground. "I never should've let you talk me into it!" She balled her hands and took a step, but was held back when a cold grip pried open her fingers and slipped into her fist.

Glancing over to David, she felt him squeeze her hand. "It's alright. We'll get through this. You never left my side, and I won't leave yours."

She sighed softly, feeling relieved and thankful to not have to go through this alone.