Everly had woken with a jolt. Her dreams had been filled with flashes of a young boy. His innocent face always looking to Everly for reassurance. She remembered tussling the boy's hair, a cloud of dirt spilling out on one occasion. A little brother. Everly smiled at the burgeoning memory. She hadn't quite remembered his name, but she remembered the love they shared for each other. Her smile lessened. Where was he now?

Obsidian's body tensed beside her, his arm hugging her close. She carefully slunk out of his hold, resting his arm on his own body, to seat herself across from him. Since first meeting Obsidian, Everly hadn't had much of a chance to really look at him without feeling her face burn. It kept her from looking directly into his eyes. She didn't remember waking up in the POD, but she had remembered waking up in his arms on the ground after. His big black eyes staring down at her, only slivers of pale green and brown differentiated his irises from his pupils. There were endless depths of warmth behind them as he had stared into her eyes so unflinching. They seemed only magnified in their darkness by his jet-black hair that shone like an oil spill when the sunlight hit it. He was strikingly beautiful in a way that made her feel guilty when she looked at him, but she didn't know why. She would've guessed he'd never done any manual labor, the only markings on his hands had been the dried blood of small lashes across his knuckles.

He said he'd been in some accident, thought Everly, but he said he was fine, even with all these cuts.

She resisted the urge to reach out and brush away the dried blood that stuck to the side of his head. His neck and arms were covered in small nicks and bruises. Even though he had limped stiffly beside her on their trek, he had still steadied her every time she'd tripped and never once complained. Everly stood, dusting the forest floor from her legs, and resolved herself to find water. In the distance she could hear a light trickling somewhere in the woods, it had to be near. She would get enough for the both of them to drink and to clean his wounds, but they'd be lucky if they didn't get sick from the untreated water. On the other hand, if they had much further to travel, their thirst would only get worse until it made them sick anyway. At least survival training is coming back to me, she thought, wishing she remembered more about the little brother in her dream.

She scoffed at the unfairness and set on her path into the forest. Not ten feet into the woods, she was frozen in her tracks. Ahead of her stood a man dressed head to toe in camouflage, a bow and quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder. His wavy brown hair was piled messily on his head, it fell around his face and veiled his brown eyes which stared wildly at her. He appeared almost feral in his stance.

How long has he been there? Has he been watching us? Is he going to hurt us? A thousand questions spiraled through her mind.

She could hear Obsidian rustling awake behind her but was frozen with fear, unable to call to him.

"You," the man in camouflage finally spoke, pulling a scarf away from his mouth, "it can't be." She could see now that he looked about her age, maybe younger.

Everly begged her legs to move.

"Everly, do you know him?" Obsidian asked.

She shook her head, turning to retreat to him. "Behind you!" She shouted.

Another man dressed in camouflage had snuck behind Obsidian, he towered over him, brandishing a heavy baton, and brought it down with force over Obsidian's head. His body crumpled to the ground.

Everly went to scream but found a hand to her mouth instead. The boy who had spoken to her held her tight from behind, keeping her from fleeing.

His voice whispered into her ear, "Shh,shh! It's okay. We're not gonna hurt you but you need to be quiet."

Everly looked to where Obsidian lay motionless on the ground. Escape was hopeless. She had no way of fighting back. And running meant leaving Obsidian behind. A tear fell down her cheek as she nodded.

The large beast of a man called to the one holding her, tying Obsidian's hands and feet, "Tie her up at least, Kai. Can't be easy on 'em just cuz she's a girl. She's still a city dweller. Just another puppet for the Regent." The man rifled through Obsidian's satchel, still strapped across his chest. When he found nothing but two wooden bowls and a notepad and pen, he grumbled with disappointment and lifted Obsidian with ease, resting him over his shoulder. The man was much older than the one called Kai. A grizzled beard patterned in grays and browns was the only hair on his head. His enormous stature made the three of them appear to be toddlers in comparison.

Kai nodded, relaxing his grip on Everly to grab a length of rope and tied her hands together in front of her. "I'm sorry about this," he whispered, then he guided her to walk forward into the forest.

The two men didn't speak again after that as they made their way through the woods. Occasionally, the large man would crouch and set Obsidian down for a moment to observe their surroundings, touching the ground, picking at leaves on their path. Then he would silently motion to the one called Kai who would only nod and proceed as quietly and cautiously as before.

Everly noted that even though Kai had tied her wrists, it was loose. If she had really tried, she could've escaped them. Not that she had anywhere to run. He guided her forward with a hand to her back that barely touched her. All in all, he had been surprisingly gentle with her, despite his feral appearance. It was all very confusing to Everly. She wanted to ask if he knew her. If so, it was obvious to her that the other man did not. But she held her tongue. They were making every effort to stay quiet and unheard it seemed, so Everly did her best to move as quietly as well.

After half a day had passed, they finally made their way to a small village by a river. The rushing water reminded Everly of the arid desert that was her mouth. She licked her lips and swallowed hard against the dryness.

Most of the houses in the village were hardly more than one large room in size. Everly counted only twenty or so that she could see. They ranged in their homeliness. Some had cozy porches with chairs under an awning, some had stoneware on display outside their doors, others colorful fabrics and large hot mixing pots of dye. The people there were busy tending to their crafts and gardens, but their attention was soon drawn to the outsiders as they were marched through the middle of town.

An old woman with braided salt and pepper hair and a dark complexion greeted them, her expression unamused, "Paul, why is it you are parading two children through town? And why is it you've got my grandson going along with this stunt? You two were supposed to be out hunting for game, not children."

"They're spies, Nanette. For the Regent. They only look like children 'cuz that's what he wants," Paul argued.

Nanette rolled her eyes at him. "Well, bring your spies inside. The townsfolk are starting to gossip," she gestured around at the gathering crowd and walked into the largest building Everly had seen so far in the little village.

Inside was a room filled with rows of benches. Church, thought Everly, or town hall? It reminded her of her own small-town church that doubled as a rec center. Another useless memory. She was directed deeper into the room and into a door near the back. Paul ducked to clear the door's frame. A small office desk sat looking into the bars of a single jail cell. Paul placed Obsidian on the only bed inside it and ushered Everly in before locking the barred doors. The whole order of events had left Everly speechless. Her thoughts still spun wildly out of control. She looked to Obsidian, wishing he'd wake up, and sat next to him on the bed to gently touch his head where Paul had hit him.

"He'll be fine," Kai looked through the bars at Everly, wringing his scarf in his hands nervously.

"Don't talk to the prisoner, Kai," Paul scolded Kai, smacking him in the arm.

Nanette placed a hand on Paul's arm, "We don't know they're spies, Paul. We gotta ask questions, investigate. Find out what they know. How'd you find 'em anyway?"

"She's the girl in the glass, Nan," Kai's voice fell quiet, his eyes unwavering from Everly.

Nan, the faint image of an old woman in a rocking chair flitted across Everly's mind. Nana.

"Don't' be stupid, kid. That's just a fairytale," Paul sneered. "We found 'em 'bout fifteen miles west, headin' this way to spy on us," he said accusingly.

The old woman paused, and looked thoughtfully to Everly who was still too stunned to speak. "Kai, go and fetch our guests some water and somethin' to eat," she ordered. He didn't move at first but finally broke his gaze away from Everly and did as the old woman said. "Paul, tell the folk gathering outside to go home. We'll have a town meeting tomorrow when we know more about our guests."

Paul glared down at Nanette before flaring his nostrils and stomping out of the room while muttering under his breath. Everly didn't catch much of what he said aside from a few curse words.

Once they were alone the old woman introduced herself, "My name is Nanette. I'm the town's mayor, which is like the leader of these parts. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Everly," she half-whispered, her throat still dry.

"So you're from the city?" Her eyes narrowed at Everly in suspicion.

Everly wasn't sure how to respond. She looked at Obsidian still asleep and brought her hand to her necklace.

"I didn't think so," Nanette said smiling softly.

Everly furrowed her brow, "How –?"

"Those folk aren't allowed little trinkets like the one you got around your neck," she pointed to where Everly was nervously rubbing at her pendent. "A cross? City folk ain't got religion. Regent saw to that," Nanette rubbed thoughtfully at her chin. "That boy though, he's from the city," she motioned to Obsidian. "He's got the telltale signs. Hair and eyes all sorts of colors those folk. Don't know why. A bit odd. The younger ones like him don't end up out here too often. Not alive anyway," she shrugged. "So, tell me girl, how'd you end up out here with him?"

Everly bit her lip. The old woman seemed trustworthy enough, but she didn't have much to tell, "I don't know. I woke up and he was there, and then he was helping me 'cuz I lost my memory." Tears threatened to expose her as she choked down the fear in her voice.

Nanette smiled and leaned against the desk, "Let me guess, you woke up in the woods?"

Everly nodded, "Do you know why I was there?"

"Not a clue," the old woman laughed but sighed when she saw Everly's dejected expression, "I know where you're supposed to go though."

"Please," Everly begged, "I need to find my brother. Is that where he is?"

Nanette's expression saddened, "I don't know, hun. But you give me the night and I'll set a few things straight." She pulled a small switchblade from her pocket and motioned Everly to approach the bars. "You take this," she said, cutting the ropes from her bound hands, "and you cut your friend free. Then I want you to hold onto it. Lord knows you're gonna need it for this world we live in," she winked, placing the pocketknife firmly in Everly's hand.

"Nan," Kai tripped through the doorway, awkwardly balancing an assortment of food in a basket and one large glass bottle of water, "I got the stuff for the prisoners you asked for."

Everly slid the knife into her pocket before Kai could tattle on the old woman.

"Guests, Kai," she said, correcting him. "And thank you, child," she patted her grandson on the head and helped him deliver the basket to Everly, adding a handkerchief from her own pocket. Kai's hand lingered on the glass bottle as he handed it to Everly. For a moment, his gaze met hers and he looked ready to say something. "Alright, we best be getting home," Nanette shooed him from the room as he began to stutter a protest. "I'mma leave you to care for your friend there. I apologize for these accommodations. We'll figure all this out in the mornin'. Go ahead and get some sleep for now," she smiled politely and closed the door behind her.

Everly pulled the knife out and went to Obsidian, cutting his hands and feet free. Then she grabbed the bottle of water and gulped down three large mouthfuls. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and sighed, eyeing Obsidian's restful face. He was still covered in little specks of dried blood all over his exposed neck and arms. Grabbing the handkerchief, she wetted it and gently dabbed it across Obsidian's forehead.

Obsidian, she thought, such a strange name. But what isn't strange about all this? She sighed and continued to wipe gently at the small cuts where she could find them.

Finally, she came to brush the dried blood from his hair. Her fingers had grown cold. Although the cell seemed well enough insulated, it was not heated and Everly began to notice the difference in temperature between them. His skin was warm to her icy touch. She trailed her fingers down from his hair to cup the back of his neck where he was warmest. His body stirred under her caress, and she pulled her hands into her lap.

"Obsidian?" she asked cautiously.

"Everly," Obsidian groaned, his hand reaching to his temple. "My head. It hurts."

"Here, have some water," Everly brought the glass bottle to his lips and helped him drink. "There's some food too if you're hungry."

He took a quick sip and sat up, leaning his weight into the wall. "Did you get enough to drink?" he asked.

"Yes," Everly lied, smiling. She could've drunk the whole bottle.

He accepted the water again and drank more deeply.

"I was worried you might not wake up," Everly admitted.

Obsidian raised an eyebrow, "I suppose it's possible I could have a concussion, although my head is already feeling a bit better sitting up. How's my pupil response?" he asked, leaning toward her with eyes wide.

Everly tried to look into his eyes but quickly found herself blushing and looked away, "No, they look fine." She didn't want to think about what would've happened if he hadn't woken up.

Obsidian cleared his throat, "I see we've been taken prisoner."

"Yes," she confirmed. "Apparently, they don't trust the people from the city?"

"Curious, seeing as people from the city don't know they're here," he noted.

Everly gasped, "Really?"

Obsidian nodded, "I have been taught from a young age that no one can survive in the Outlands. Though, I am beginning to suspect some things have been greatly exaggerated." He mindlessly scratched at the knees of his pants.

"What's it like in the cities?" She asked. The way everyone had mentioned them so far sparked fear and awe in Everly. A place that had raised someone like Obsidian couldn't be nearly as bad as they had made it seem.

He let out a long thoughtful sigh before answering, "Torture."

She gasped.

"Not in the sense that you're thinking," he waved his hands dismissively, gently chuckling. "Every day was just the same. It was agonizingly boring, trapped inside a tower with only the same routine to follow day in and day out," he lamented. "Nothing like the Outlands."

"Yes, 'cuz it's so exciting being arrested," Everly teased, rolling her eyes. "Is this what I can expect hangin' 'round with you, Obsidian? One of us passed out? Hiking 'til our feet bleed? Handcuffs?"

He threw his head back and laughed, "Are you not entertained, Everly?"

She blushed and was surprised to see Obsidian's cheeks turn pink as his eyes fell to hers. They held each other's gaze for a moment until Everly turned away, pretending to look around their cell. She was becoming increasingly aware of his body next to hers on the small bed and considered moving but there was little other option aside from the floor. Besides, she had already slept in his arms twice now.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Everly stared down at her folded hands, "I – I started remembering some things. Like this place, it reminded me of the town I grew up in. And I remembered I have a little brother. I don't remember his name yet, but I know I gotta find him." She flexed her fingers together anxiously.

"That's amazing, Everly," Obsidian scooped up her hands in his and squeezed them tightly. "You're getting your memory back! That's great news," he beamed.

Everly burned under his touch. Her hands were no longer cold from sitting in the cell. She dared herself to look into his eyes. The flecks of brown and green glittered above his broad smile. Now that he wasn't covered in blood, she could see how perfect his skin was aside from what remained of the little cuts and bruises. Untouched by the elements, she guessed, realizing he had never been outside of the city he grew up in until now. "Are you scared?" she asked.

He blinked, surprised. "What?"

"Were you scared when you ended up outside after your accident? You said the city is a tower you never left. I can only imagine all this is a bit of a shock to you. What happened?" He had only vaguely mentioned being in an accident before finding Everly in the woods. It hadn't felt like the whole story at the time. She pressed to hear it now.

Obsidian blinked again, his eyes falling to where he held her hands. He didn't let go as he explained, "I was being transferred to a different city for a learning opportunity. Really it was my attempt to escape my," he paused briefly, "life. When the tunnel wall exploded suddenly out of nowhere, I really don't know how or why, and sent the Transport I was in careening out into the woods. After I crashed, I was scared. I was worried I would be punished for leaving the city. A part of me still doesn't believe it's possible to survive out here." He gently stroked Everly's hands, turning them over to trace the lines on her palms. The feeling sent shivers up her spine. "But," he continued, "when I resolved myself to return to the city out of fear of the Outlands, despite what consequences I might face in the city, I stumbled onto your POD in the woods."

Everly had forgotten to breathe. She exhaled a heavy sigh. He was headed home before he got stuck helping me, she thought. "Do you still wanna go home?"

His hands froze in their tracing. "No. I know now we can survive out here. I'm not scared anymore, Everly," his gaze returned to hers with eyes that smoldered under black eyelashes.

Everly couldn't look away. The way he said her name made her feel like he was tasting it. She knew because it was the same way she had dared to say his name, only she couldn't bring herself to keep saying it. It was too delightful. She knew her face was a burning pink, but she felt no shame in it. Instead, she dared to look at his lips, biting her own in hesitation before leaning in and lightly placing a kiss.

Obsidian gasped and she pulled away, embarrassed. He stopped her, pulling her back to him as he cupped her cheek in his hands and laced his fingers through her hair. They paused, looking into each other's eyes. Everly's heart pounded as her breath became shaky. His face seemed to question what just happened, his eyes darting from her lips and back to search her gaze. She exhaled an uneven breath and nodded. She wanted this. This beautiful boy who found her in the woods and nursed her back to health. She wanted him to kiss her and melt all the pain and confusion away. She closed her eyes and tilted her lips up to his. For a moment there was nothing, and then his lips lightly brushed against hers. They lingered there in a soft gentle kiss. Every emotion, every spiraling thought that had been haunting Everly since waking from the POD, melted away. Obsidian inhaled deeply, his grip in her hair firming as he used his other hand to pull her body into his. The kiss becoming more passionate and rushed. The air in Everly's lungs left her as her mind swam in a dizzying cloud, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as a small moan escaped her lips. The sound seemed to stun Obsidian; his kissing stopping abruptly. Everly wanted to object but she had melted and become unable to speak or do anything aside from melt. But as quickly as he had stopped, he resumed, kissing first her lips, then the corners of her mouth, then down her jawline, each kiss more fervent than the last.

"Everly. Oh, Everly," he murmured against her skin.

Her chest was rising and falling heavily with each heated breath, her head fell back as his lips nibbled at her neck. Another moan building deep within her.

"We have to stop," she heard herself say.

Obsidian didn't seem to hear her though as his kiss continued up to her earlobe. She could feel him breathe into her hair as his hands raced along the curve of her body. Her skin prickled in response.

"We have to stop," she repeated. Her voice was so much more audible this time. Did I just think I said it the first time?

He immediately stopped, his grip loosening. Everly realized he was breathing as heavily as she was. She wondered if his heartbeat was pounding just as loudly in his own ears as hers had been. Obsidian wrenched himself away from her. When his eyes met hers, she saw a flash of a boy with sandy blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

David.

Everly gasped and turned her body away from Obsidian, covering her face with her hands. What have I done?

"Everly?"