"I really was going to tell you, Makai," my dad says, sitting me down at the table while my "mother" cleans up the kitchen. After Reyna told me about us being brother and sister, I had been sitting on this secret for about a week, piecing everything together. My mother never harped on me just because I caused her daughters death. It was because I'm not even hers...and, killing Lena never helped... 

 "When? When I was on my death bed?" I scold, crossing my arms. 

 "No, no," my dad repeats, shaking his head. "When you were mature enough." His tone is calming and sad, so I know he doesn't mean to insult me when he says what he did. But that doesn't make me less upset. 

 "So yeah, my death bed." 

 "Makai, what do you want from us?" Ashley Keanu asks. "You know about your father's affair and your sister is your best friend. There's nothing we can do about it now," she sighs, sitting down next to my father who sits next to me. "I still love you."

 Ashley places her hand on mine and I scoff. "I was tortured and missing for a week. And when I'm finally back, you can't come to see me until your work trip is over? I'm not as on to you; I'm an obligation." 

 "I wish you didn't think that," she whispers. 

"I tend to think about facts nowadays," I render. "While I have you both here, I have an announcement. No, none of my friends have died today that I know of. No, it doesn't have to deal with another revealed family member." Digging into my back pocket, I find what I'm looking for and pull it out. "I got accepted to a college in Northern California." 

 "I didn't even know you applied," Dad admits, picking up the acceptance letter and reading it, nodding in approval. "I'm very proud of you. But Makai, this is so far away."

 "That's the point," I bluntly state, becoming more and more like Reyna.

 My dad and Ashley frown at the statement. "That's a little rash," my ex-mom slowly says. "If you don't like me, I get it. But stay for your father's sake." 

 "I applied two weeks ago, after the hospital," I explain. "I'm not just going there because of what you two kept from me. I want to leave this place. Almost all of my friends are dead, the girl I was in love with was slashed open, and there are just too many bad memories here in Solaris. I want to get as far away as I can."

 "Running from your problems won't make them disappear, Makai. And if you want to leave this place, then leave it. Don't travel to the other half of the country to evade it," Dad, please.

 "I don't think any other college will take me with my criminal record of hacking," I tell him. "The tech program over there is willing to overlook it and see it as misused talent rather than a series of felonies."

Knowing I'm right, my father sighs and rubs his temples. It's the face he makes in defeat. Like when Ashley makes up undeniable reasons for me to be grounded so my father must punish me; he doesn't want to, but he must. That's his defeat and that is how he feels now. He knows I won't get anywhere else and that leaving Solaris is my best option. 

"And," I continue. "I've dropped out of school. I'm finishing up online."

"And what's the reason for this, now?" Ashley asks, trying to act interested, but is really annoyed.

"You know, I just hate waking up early," I mock. "How about the killer who ordered my failed murder was in there and no one knows how they were there and who they are? That seems like a good reason to not set foot on the campus."

"What about your friends?" Dad inquires, trying to find some way to keep me in school.

"My friends are dead, Dad."

"Reyna isn't," he reminds me.

"She's not a friend – she's family," I correct, eyeing my father as he shrinks back a bit with the shame of keeping that secret from me for 18 years. "And she'll be fine. She knows a thing or two about handling herself."

"Makai, all I ask is that you take time to think about this," Ashley recommends.

"Moving to the other side of the continent is a big deal."

"I've already thought it through. It's the decision I've made and the decision I'll be making. I'm an adult, now. I may not act like it, but I am totally capable of making my own decisions. Now if you'll excuse me...I'm tired and I'm going to bed."

"Goodnight," Ashley bids.

"Goodnight, son," Dad wearily wishes.

I don't say goodnight. Goodnight is like saying "I'll see you tomorrow" which is like "I'll see you later" which is like "I'll be right back." You never say you'll be right back. Now that I think about it, you never say you're never going to die. That's like signing your death wish. Aero said he'd never plan on dying soon, and that day, he did.

Who else should I save from self-proclaiming invincibility?

Oh, no.

I've got to have a serious conversation with Adriano sometime soon.