It was surprisingly easy to set up a guard schedule. Nobody truly felt safe what with everything that had recently happened, so everyone was more than willing to help keep watch.

I also used my mission as an opportunity to spread word of the camp meeting tonight. I could only hope Nik would think of something by then.

Thankfully, he had. As soon as I reentered the apartment, he hurried over to me. "I have an idea."

"Why are we whispering?" I hissed.

"Sarah's asleep in the bedroom. What if I say that I overheard talk among the guards at the prison? We don't have to tell the rest of Rooftop how the Order got the information, just that they have it.

"So...take Mouse and Charlie out of the picture entirely?"

"Exactly."

"This is perfect. Everyone's gathering tonight for a bonfire - we can tell them then."

Nik nodded, his eyes sparking with steely purpose.

I couldn't only hope that his passion for our home would be enough to pull this off.

*

Once I had taken solace in the flickering flames of the bonfire, looking forward to its warmth after a long, difficult day of just trying to survive.

The fire had since lost much of its comforting effect.

Once a good number of people had gathered - I was heartened to see how our population had fleshed out since the jailbreak - I used Nik, who was substantially taller than me, to gain everyone's attention. A simple shout did the trick and I took over from there.

"We have some troubling news," I announced, hating how faces fell and sighs surfaced to meet my words. "Rooftop is in danger. The Order knows our exact location. The only way we can save ourselves is if we relocate."

Immediately, horrified mutterings arose. "How do you know this?" Matt called, stepping out of the crowd. My heart lifted to see Amber close behind him, her eyes hooded.

"When I was in jail," Nik replied, stepping forward, "I overheard a couple of guards discussing it."

"Why would they discuss such important secrets in front of prisoners?" Amber challenged.

"They didn't think any of their prisoners could ever escape," Nik explained deftly.

"We've all dealt with the Order," I contributed. "They're a bunch of royal jackasses. It stands to reason that they would be cocky, too."

"So we just have to - to pick up and leave?" one girl called out disbelievingly.

"I'm afraid so," Nik answered quietly.

"I've had enough of these bastards messing with our lives," another girl growled. "Let's stay! Hold our ground!"

This elicted cheering quickly snuffed out by my scathing response. "If you think you stand a chance against the police force of this city, you're idiotic."

"They're heavily armed and trained in combat," Nik pointed out. "This isn't a game! We need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe."

Standing there before the entirety of Rooftop with only Nik by my side, I felt like I was recapturing some fragment of our friendship from before. I felt like we could take on the world.

"I say we move," Mark announced. "I'm not your leader and I can't force you to leave, but I think it's our best if not only hope at safety."

"When should we go?" a girl asked, voice shakey.

"We shouldn't waste any time," Nik replied. "We could send out scouts to find a location in the morning and leave tomorrow afternoon if possible."

Even I was taken aback at this. It was so soon...

You're leaving anyway, I reminded myself. And this is safer.

Everyone seemed to share my initial reaction, however. Mutterings arose and crescendoed in volume until our group had devolved into dozens of different standpoints.

Finally, Nik let out another shout to regain attention. Once everyone quieted, he suggested, "Those who wan to stay can."

This seemed to be an agreement that everyone could come to terms with. Nik moved about the group, taking down the names of scouting volunteers nd offering comforting words where they were needed. It felt nice to step back and let someone else be in charge.

I had forgotten how good of a term Nik and I made.

*

That night was the first normal one I had had in a while. Sarah curled into Nik in bed and I sprawled out on the pullout couch. I slept like a baby, despite all the concerns still looming over it.

The next morning, I awoke to a comm message from Evie.

Information gained. Need you @ HQ to discuss.

I was the first one up but I couldn't bring myself to wake Nik. When I glanced into the bedroom, he looked so peaceful, brow smoothed and lips curled upwards, with Sarah cuddled in his arms.

To pass the time, I grabbed breakfast for the three of us - the lack of food was growing incredibly concerning - and messaged Evie to let her know that I would be arriving with Nik. Then I settled in with a good book and waited.

Sarah was the first to emerge. "Is Nik up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice as casual as possible.

She shrugged. "Kinda. Not ready to get out of bed, though."

That was typical of Nik. I sighed, falling back against the couch cushions.

"Why? Did you need him for something?"

"No," I replied quickly. "Just...wanna make up for lost time."

She nodded. "I know what you mean. But then there's a little part of me that just wants to forget anything ever happened so we can go bac to normal." She sighed, glancing around the apartment. "I mean, it's bad enough that we're leaving."

Guilt flashed through me. Although we had never been particularly close, Sarah and I were friends, and I knew she would be sad to see me go.

Thankfully, Nik chose then to emerge from the bedroom. "Hey," he greeted both of us, smiling sleepily.

The scene was so close to perfect, but without Charlie, it only felt wrong. I turned away from my friends, doing my best to control my sudden sense of loss.

"Well, I'm going out with a scouting team to look for a new home," Sarah said, stretching.

"I'll catch up with you guys after breakfast," Nik told her as she climbed out of the window.