Everly found herself at a loss for words around Obsidian. She was thankful there hadn't been much time to talk. She didn't know how to explain to him that she was already in a budding relationship. Kissing him had been a mistake. One that she had enjoyed until she remembered David. Everly had fallen asleep that night and dreamt more about the boy who she had been sneaking kisses with back on Earth. The boy she had promised to kiss after their first date on Eden Major.

When she'd woken that morning, her tears had dried. The confusion and embarrassment she felt had settled into determination. She would find her brother and David. She had never been one to break promises.

She stood over the metal tub full of invitingly warm water. Kai had snuck them over to his house to get cleaned up before the town meeting that would discuss their fate. If the man named Paul had any say, they wouldn't be leaving their cell again anytime soon. She was fully prepared to savor every moment of the hot bath until she heard Obsidian's voice carry down the hall and through the bathroom door.

"I would never leave her!"

She leaned her ear to the door to eavesdrop.

Kai's voice answered back, "We'll see about that, city boy." Their voices paused for a moment until Kai spoke again, "Oh, you're a brave one." She could hear Kai laughing, "Do you honestly think you could take me on in a fight?"

A fight? Everly panicked. Kai was a hunter and Obsidian was from the city. She could not see it being a very fair fight. She yanked open the bathroom door, interrupting the two boys staring at each other fiercely. "Excuse me," she called out. They immediately turned to her, causing her to blush. She fumbled for something to say, "I was about to get in the bath, but then I realized I didn't see a towel. Is there one I could use?"

"Of course," Kai smiled, glancing briefly at Obsidian.

The look Obsidian gave Kai before abruptly storming outside could've burned the place down.

Everly hesitated to go after him. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, nothing to worry about." Kai leaned close to Everly to point over her shoulder, "Towel's right there." He didn't look away from her eyes as he pointed. Kai was only a couple inches taller than her, but he stood in a way that made him tower over her as he leaned in. "Can I help you with anything else?"

Her skin prickled with goosebumps. She had noticed earlier that he was dressed more casually than his hunting gear. He had a simple shirt on that hugged tight against the muscles on his body. Up close, she could see the warm chestnut brown of his eyes. He was handsome. She blushed. "Thanks, but no," she said, closing the door between them again.

There weren't many boys back home that weren't old men or related to her. David had been the first boy to show her any interest. And it had taken him growing up for Everly to notice him back. She sighed. She didn't know what she would do if she couldn't find him or her brother. She didn't know what she would do when she did find them. And she definitely didn't know what to do about Obsidian, or Kai for that matter now that he seemed to be showing her attention as well.

She undressed and immersed herself in the warm water, dipping her head below the surface. If she could have grown gills, she would've stayed under the water indefinitely. The weightless buoyancy cradled her until she finally had to breach the surface for air.

"Everly. Oh, Everly," Obsidian's voice echoed in her mind as she lost herself thinking of his lips whispering into her skin. She burned all over thinking about the night before.

I can't, she thought. It isn't fair to David. She leaned her head against the rim of the bath and stared up at the ceiling. What am I going to do about any of this?

The sound of people entering the house interrupted her thoughts and she listened as well as she could while leaning from the bath. She could hear the distant voices of what sounded like Kai and then Nanette as more footsteps continued down the hallway. Another door closed and the footsteps quietly retreated.

At least there wasn't any shouting this time, she considered, returning to her bath.

While washing her hair, she'd found a surprising number of leaves and other debris. It had taken longer than she'd wanted to rid her hair of all the tangles. And after some light scrubbing with soap, she was able to completely rid her hands of the dirt that had collected under her nails. When she finished her bath, she took her time getting dressed. Nan, she guessed, had left some clothes and a pair of gently used shoes to change into. She donned the light blue blouse and pulled on a pair of loose-fitting pants that were held up by a ribbon tied at the waistband, both surprisingly flattering. Then she joyfully put on the shoes, grateful not to wear the thin neoprene ones that had given her blisters on her journey so far.

She heard another door open, and footsteps retreat down the hallway. Nanette's voice faintly spoke up from the kitchen. Everly waited, concerned Kai and Obsidian would start to argue again. Instead, Nanette and Obsidian seemed to be talking about something. Their voices weren't loud enough to hear clearly from behind the door. Everly pressed her ear against it to eavesdrop again.

"Thank God I was there to stop you," Kai's voice shouted suddenly.

Everly gasped.

Obsidian's voice rose to match Kai's, "If I hadn't been there, she might be dead."

"Boys, stop," Nanette's voice joined the shouting. "Kai, it is a miracle that this boy was there when she woke up. He's right, she could very well have ended up dead if he hadn't been there."

"He was walking them straight to a mountain beast den. If me and Paul hadn't gotten there when we did, they'd both be dead," Kai argued back.

"I said stop, Kai! There ain't no reason to argue 'bout it now," Nanette shouted.

The loud screeching of a chair against the floor cut across all the shouting. It was followed by a door slamming shut.

Everly's heart raced. She leaned against the door, letting herself slide to the floor. She knew she had Obsidian to thank for helping her when she'd woken from cryostasis, but she also had Kai to thank for bringing her to his village. After Kai and Paul had captured them, they had moved silently through the forest. Now she knew why. Mountain beasts. Some kind of terrible creatures that would have killed them.

Obsidian wasn't to blame for that though. She knew. He had been just as lost as her.

Nanette's voice continued, quiet and inaudible. Everly could hear Obsidian respond, but she couldn't make out what either was saying until suddenly he shouted out, "What? No." It was followed by a door opening and slamming shut.

Everly scrambled to her feet and ran to the kitchen.

Nanette sat at the table, looking pensively at her folded hands. She looked up at Everly when she entered the room and smiled, "You're lookin' refreshed, dear."

"What happened? Where's Obsidian?" Her voice frantic with concern.

Nanette smiled but it didn't touch her eyes, "He just learned a hard truth about where he comes from. Didn't much like the news. Just give him a minute, hun." Nanette patted the seat next to her, inviting Everly to sit.

"What hard truth?" she asked, reluctantly joining her at the table.

Nanette waved dismissively in the air, "Oh, just the well-known fact out here that the cities are a terrible place ruled by a tyrant."

"Oh," Everly quietly responded. She suddenly recalled what the old woman had mentioned the day before, "You said you knew I was out in the woods and that you knew where I'm supposed to go. How? I don't understand."

Nanette's smile grew, "Just an old wives' tale about a girl encased in glass," she winked.

"What?"

"You can ask Kai all about it sometime. My grandson has had a bit of a crush on you ever since he first laid eyes on ya," she chuckled.

Everly blushed. It was obvious to Nanette how Kai felt about her. She considered if it had been obvious to anyone else. She didn't know whether she should be embarrassed or flattered. Either way, it was not something she was interested in allowing to go further. "I have a boyfriend," she clarified, although she had never had a chance to define what she had with David before the migration. "I need help finding him and my brother. Where do I need to go?"

The old woman eyed her warily before answering, "There's a path through the forest, a hidden path, to a city that the Regent has no control over. They can help you."

"So how do I get there?" Everly pressed.

Nanette sighed, weaving her hands together, "Kai has made the trip many times. He's our village Runner. Runs the path for trade. He alone is allowed passage between the city and our village so that we can stay hidden from the Regent. He will take you there. First things first, though, we gotta get you over to town hall for the meeting. As mayor, I promised everyone some answers."

Everly nodded, although she had already given the woman all the answers she had. Not that they were helpful answers. She didn't know what else she could offer the town that would ease their discomfort with her and Obsidian. But she would do what she could to get their help.

The front door opened, and Kai entered, hauling a heavy bag over his shoulder. He placed it by the entryway before addressing the two women, "Paul's outside, says it's time." His gaze seemed nervous as he quickly glanced at Everly.

"You tell 'em I'll be out in a minute with our guests," Nanette instructed, a touch of venom in her tone.

Kai nodded and left again.

"Why don't you grab Obsidian from the garden," she offered Everly, her voice returning to its gentle nature.

Everly nodded in agreement and went out the back door. Her heartbeat had started to race again. She hadn't spoken to Obsidian alone since the night prior. She found him standing over a large basin of water, staring vacantly into it. Everly cleared her throat, "It's time, Obsidian." She shivered, hugging her arms close to herself.

He turned toward her, his face an unreadable mask, "Alright then. Best not keep them waiting." He walked by her into the house without a second glance.

Everly followed him inside where he had joined Nanette by the front door. The old woman patted his arm encouragingly before opening the door for him. Paul stood expectantly waiting for them outside. He grumbled more concerns about having let them loose on the town as Nanette rolled her eyes and they all followed him back to the building that housed their cell. The people of the town had gathered at the entrance, their murmuring voices coming to a hushed silence as they followed them inside.

At the front of all the benches rose a stage that held two chairs and a podium. Nanette led them up the stage steps and offered the chairs for them to sit. Paul stayed at the foot of the stairs, crossing his arms as if standing guard.

Nanette approached the podium and addressed the settling townsfolk, "Everybody take a seat already and we'll get started." She waited a moment for the voices to settle in their seats before continuing, "Now, you may have heard from Paul, but these two children were found lost in the woods the other day –"

Paul's grumbling voice began to object. Everly imagined he would probably argue they were spies, not children, and they were on their way to spy on them, not lost, but Nanette cut him off before he could make either claim.

"—And we are here to simply ask them a few questions. Now, I've spoken to both of them, and it seems the boy here was in a tunnel that exploded and it sent his vehicle crashing out into the woods, where he found the girl. Now, unfortunately, the girl's got some amnesia."

Voices rose up to challenge the claim as a lie. Everly blushed and shrank into her seat.

Nanette slammed down a gavel, knocking loudly on the podium until the voices settled. "Unless you're ready to ask a civil question, ya'll best be quiet," she threatened.

An older man in the back of the crowd stood up, "How do we know she isn't lying about the amnesia?"

"We don't," Nanette admitted, "but please remember that she is just a child. A victim of the Regent if anything. Now, we have never seen children come out of the city before. I suggest we send them to Pisces. They will be able to determine if the Regent plans on using them against us somehow."

Obsidian spoke up, startling Everly with his booming voice, "The Regent does not know you're here. We are told there is only death outside of the city. None of us were aware of your existence. There is nothing he is planning. He is certainly not using her to carry out some nefarious plot." He gestured to Everly.

A woman in the middle of the crowd stood this time, "If we send them to Pisces, they could lead the Regent right back here." She spoke as if Obsidian hadn't said anything. "I suggest we lock them back up until Kai can send word to Pisces. We'll see what they have to say before risking them turning on us."

The crowd called out in agreement. Everly looked to where Paul stood, his face smug as he turned to stare them down.

Nanette hammered her gavel again. She sighed heavily as the voices died down, "Fine. Paul, take them back to their cell."

Her command stunned Everly, but she complied, leaving the stage with Obsidian to join Paul as he marched them back to the cell. He gave Obsidian a shove before slamming the cell door behind them and leaving.

Everly clung to the bars, she couldn't face being alone with Obsidian again. She listened intently to what little she could hear as the town continued to debate.

The clamoring of voices hushed again and this time she heard Paul loudly ask, "Why keep them prisoner? Why risk anything at all? We could just hang 'em and be done with it." His suggestion was met with agreeing shouts. Not many, but enough.

Everly's heart raced. She had thought Nanette would've immediately slammed her gavel down to stop those cheering, but a moment passed before Nanette spoke at all, "We'll send Kai to Pisces. If they suggest we execute them, then we will." Her hammer rang out to adjourn the meeting and Everly could hear the footsteps of the crowded room emptying out.

She numbly released the bars of the cell and retreated to the bed, sitting down and pulling her knees to her chest.

"Everly – I," Obsidian took an uncertain step toward her, his hand lifting for a moment before falling to his side.

Tears began to sting at her eyes, and she buried her face in her knees. She didn't want to cry, not now. Not when her future was so uncertain. The bed sank with the weight of Obsidian sitting down next to her.

"We have to get out of here," he resolved.

Everly squeezed herself tighter, unwilling to look up. "Did I miss something?" she asked bitterly. "Cuz, last I checked, we were locked in a cell."

"We'll find a way out," he assured her.

Everly lifted her gaze to angrily scoff at him, "How? And what do we do when we get out? Nanette told me I gotta go to Pisces to find answers. Now she's sayin' they could decide to kill us, Obsidian. Not to mention, Kai's the only one who knows how to get there. We'd just be lost in the woods again!"

Obsidian held her gaze, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Everly."

Her eyes didn't flinch away as she considered his words.

The back door they had snuck out of earlier suddenly creaked open. They both snapped their attention to the intruder. In crept Kai, a backpack over his shoulders and another bag in his hands. He crossed the room and swiftly unlocked the cell door. "Come on. We have to get out of here before Paul notices." He tossed the other bag to Obsidian and Everly realized it was the satchel he'd been travelling with. "He's getting a lynch mob together. He wasn't going to wait for me to get back from Pisces. We have to leave now."