Chapter 26

That night, the Outsider haunts my dreams. I kick and thrash, choking while his fingers coil around my throat. Tears spill down my cheeks as my lungs burn for air. His maniacal laughter thunders in my ears—a final mockery at my lame escape attempts.

I open my eyes and study my hands, looking at every crease and scar on my calloused palms. The tingling sensations of healing are gone for now. In their place is a roaring current, a twisted need for agony. This could be my new mutation. Placing a trembling hand to my chest, I squint in the dying light as the creature returns as a silhouette. Its claw teases the bare skin of my arm, drawing a slow trickle of crimson that stains the floor. My breaths are quick and ragged. Sweat trickles down my temple.

As I strain to focus on the beast, it slowly fades away. Its form grows distorted—one arm longer than the other, neck stretching and bending to one side—while it melts into the night. Running tentative fingers over my arm, I find smooth skin where there should've been a healing wound. A haze slowly lifts from my vision. I touch the cracked concrete floor. Still, I can't find the slick drops of blood. The creature isn't real.

I can make others see and experience things that aren't there.

The wind stabs my body, but I couldn't feel it earlier, with Mateo blocking its assault. Sitting up, I glimpse the sliver of orange cresting the horizon and drop my gaze to the rotting log where he sat hours ago.

He's gone.

A burning sensation prickles my legs. Jax's face has just started peeling, but his hands and feet are fine. It's a side effect of planting the Constrictors too close to the camp. Though my muscles scream for rest, I walk to the log where Mateo's chain sits in the bark's crevasse. The pendant holds a smear of blood. There's a sharp intake of breath from behind me. Jax takes the accessory, his eyes widening as he studies what his brother left behind.

Once we've gathered our things, we begin our search in the forest. My mind wanders back to our training at the Institution, where they taught us what to do if we ever had to search for someone. We knew everything by the book. We'd even practiced this before, but now, I fall back on instinct. Somehow, I'm half-expecting to find Scipio's camp and Mateo to be trapped in a cage. Chewing my lip, I look for any tell-tale smoke columns rising out of the canopies, praying that I'd find none.

My chest tightens with a dreadful ache, and I chase the thoughts away. Jax takes my hand as we meander through the trees, walking past the dying false immunes stuck in the old sap. I glance down and regret it instantly. Sallow faces stare back at me. Their eyes are wide open, and their features are frozen in a rictus of horror. The smell of decay wafts to my nose. Bile burns my throat. I frown at the sight of bones peeking through flesh, and still, we press forward until we reach the cocoons.

There's a loud crunch beneath my feet, and I look down at the brown and shriveled Constrictor. Following the withered plant, we stop short of a massive hole where it likely started growing. Its roots are thickest here, and its girthy stem is made of twisting veins of parasitic creepers. Flies hover around it.

Peering down the hole, I don't see anything except Mateo's knife stuck deep inside the plant's sap production chamber. He killed the Constrictor.

I don't know what to think anymore. Still, I stare at that exact area, squinting into the hole. There's no sign of his body, but there's no way anyone could've survived that fall. Jax grabs my arm and gently guides me away. Further up, the cocoons are drying up to a brown crust, cracks starting to form on their surface as they disintegrate flake by flake. We're careful not to step on the false immunes and carcasses littering the undergrowth.

"Aria, he isn't dead. I know it," Jax rasps.

The words feel hollow and empty, and I bite my tongue before I say something I know I'll regret.

You didn't see Mateo's body. Maybe—

I squash the thought right away. False hope leeches off emotions, taking whatever it can until we've got nothing left to give.

A cocoon starts to rattle. Hollow moans seep through its tough silk exterior. Whatever's inside wriggles and squirms, bursting through in a mess of slime and oil. It reeks of death. The beast is the same as the one in the neural mapping, with the same dislocated jaw and lumbering gait. The creature walks in slow, deliberate circles around us. It leaves a fluid trail behind and drags its longest claw through the soil. Dropping its nose to my hair, I resist the urge to flinch while it takes a whiff.

Soon, the others emerge from the other cocoons. They all have the same build, towering over us by several heads. Their bodies are covered in brown, matted fur. I'm careful not to move, even as they brush past us, sizing us up with their curious stares. Though saliva drips from the corner of their mouths, their gaze holds no malice. The wildness I expected to see in their eyes wasn't there either. Jax slowly reaches for his knife, but I stop him.

The group stares at us, parting to reveal the tallest beast among them. It walks like a man, unlike the others who get around on all fours. With its sharpest claw, it begins writing in the soil.

Save us.

Proxy bad. You must run.

"What about the Outsiders?"

The beast seemed to consider this for a while, pausing so long that I'm sure it didn't understand me. Then, it begins to write again.

Trust no one. Be your person.

Slowly, the beast unfurls a small, white piece of cloth in its hand. It's a false immune number. "Anyone say they help you? Don't believe them. Remember, we know everything and everyone here. If someone does you wrong, we fight."

"Then, have you seen anyone leaving our camp?" Jax asks.

The beast shakes its head and retreats into the shadows with the others. Together, they form a brooding mass of bodies and gallop into the trees.

The walk back to camp feels twice as long. When we reach, I want nothing more than to fall asleep again and pretend this is all a nightmare. If I had kept watch, things would've been different. Except now, that they won't be. Leaning at the far end, Jax fishes a box from his bag. I toy with the drawstring of my rucksack, needing a distraction from the four walls surrounding us. A thick, suffocating silence now lingers in the air.

Jax tugs on my arm. "I got this for you."

I settle across him, fidgeting while feigning interest in my worn boots. He hands me the black box adorned with a delicate silver ribbon on top. I take my time to admire the glistening exterior, shimmering under the Sun's rays. A box like this would've cost him a few wins in the ring.

"Don't open it yet," Jax's expression is suddenly severe as he places his hand on mine. "I'm giving this to you just in case...I don't make it. I want you to have it first." He reaches up to run a hand through his hair. My chest tightens, and I watch his cheeks grow ruddy, and his eyes transform into a smoldering shade of obsidian. "Jax, don't do this to me. What if—"

"That's why I'm giving it to you."

I look down once again, my lips quivering slightly. Sucking in a deep breath, I try to gather my thoughts. Jax reaches out, tilting my chin up to meet his face. "Aria, I've lost more than I was prepared to give."

"But, you're always trying—"

"It's not about that. It's about fighting and winning, but what happens when you lose...everything you've been fighting for?" He lowers his voice. "What if I lose you too?"

I feel my face heat up, and I'm sure we both know the answer to his question.

We'll die a little more each day.

There'll always be a void that won't be filled, no matter how hard you try. It's the same as when my parents passed. I just never let it show.

The chilly air whips against my damp cheeks, making me shiver. Jax reaches up and gingerly wipes my tears away, pulling me into his embrace. The silence is thick and heavy. My body trembles despite the warmth. Through the makeshift window, the clouds begin to gather near Eorius. It's still dark, so we'll have some time until the artificial Sun starts moving again.

But just for this moment, I don't want to think about it. At least, I try not to.

He lets me go, keeping his eyes locked on mine. They're glowing bright yellow now. The air buzzes with heat and electricity, drawing us closer together. His eyes light up with a spark, which I always notice when he's ready to fight. "Aria, look at me," he gently tilts my head back to face him. "You can have this too."

His lips descend onto mine. He leans into me, sliding his hands down the small of my back. Each kiss is soft and gentle, sending tingles down my spine. His warmth envelopes me as my hand tangles his hair. Every time our lips meet, I feel his hope. I feel his fear. It's the fear of losing the fight. He slides my hand to his chest, and I gasp at the rapid thrumming of his heart. "It's yours. Just don't break it."

I wrap my arms around him and revel in the moment.

When I open my eyes again, flashes of lightning start spreading in the sky. A roar of thunder pulls us apart. As the first cracks appear in the building, we pack our bags and slip through the door.

A portal opens beneath Eorius, and the world dims by a few notches. A black expanse descends from the sky like a swirling cloud, drawing blood where it meets my skin. Now, there's no choice but to get inside. With each step, I feel my heart pounding harder in my chest. My hands are balled into fists. My pulse ricochets in my ears, and my fingernails dig into my palms. Jax takes a few steps back and examines the glowing panel before us.

He takes my hand and leads the way into the portal. A burning sensation ripples through me and cuts into my arms and back. We're surrounded by grey clouds and electric blue bolts of lightning. The fall seems almost endless, and somehow, I lost Jax along the way. Low rumbling noises nearly rip my eardrums apart. There's a brief rush of air before I slam to the ground. My head throbs and my muscles protest from the impact.

A faint light appears from afar, but I still can't see much. My movements are slow while I stumble to my feet. Squinting, I can barely make out some massive steps in front of me, some higher than others. Even the smallest one tortures my muscles since it's almost as tall as me. I latch onto it, my arms protesting when I try hauling myself up. My fingers grow numb. With a final grunt of effort, I swing my legs up. I've barely made it one step when a cage descends from above and traps me inside.

A hooded figure leers at me, the downward curl of her lips laden with disgust while she moves like a phantom of the netherworld. Her eyes are like a serpent with her pupils drawn into thin slits, the shadows cutting runnels into her hollow cheeks. "Don't worry. This is just target practice." Her knives slice through the air. I hold my breath while the blades ricochet off the metal bars and slide across the floor.

"Who are you?" I croak.

She lowers her hoodie, carefully watching my expression. Her head is shaved, leaving only a middle section of jet-black hair. One side of her stubbled scalp bears the insignia of the Outsiders. The diverging arrows are unmistakable, like a permanent brand on her skin. "I'm sure you know what I am. First, let's play a little game before you get to the depot. Trust me. You'll be grateful that it's all fun and games now."

Soon, the place grows awfully quiet. Nothing else can be heard aside from a distinct, rattling noise. A shadow appears out of nowhere, moving like a rising wave.

Once it reaches my boots, it becomes semi-solid, covering my feet and slowly working its way up my body. I pull out a knife and work my way through the stretchy substance. It takes forever to saw through the rubbery material. When I finally succeed, there's no time to celebrate my small victory. The next wave of misery looms ahead. It's stronger and faster, consuming me and crawling up my body. The more I try wiggling out of it, the tighter it squeezes until I can't feel my legs anymore. Only a sliver of light fills the space now, so it's not enough to make out anything in the distance.

What if I made the Outsider think that Proxy is here?

Biting back a smile, I reach for one of the knives we took from the Proxy worker right before she loaded the paralyzed subject onto the trucks. My thumb skims over Proxy's insignia forged onto the metal. Feigning weakness, I lean against the corner of the cage and close my eyes. I'm waiting and listening to the sounds of the Outsider's footsteps. Hers is lighter than mine, like someone tapping on a window sill. It's almost imperceptible to untrained ears.

I know her gait is steady, but the same can't be said about her arms or the pathetic way she aims her weapons. My other senses are on fire. Every noise spikes my heart rate, keeping me alert and focused. The smell of copper fills my nostrils, and the subtle vibrations in the ground tickle my fingertips.

She's here again. Instantly, my fingers tighten around the knife while I make a mental note of the path she takes. Left, right, then she stops and doesn't move again. Aim it like you mean it. The knife leaves my hand, slicing through the air easily until I can't hear it anymore. There's a gasp, followed by a careless stumble. This is where she falters. The farce of toughness falls away like a ripped veil.

If she's inexperienced enough, the panic will get to her head. Her footsteps are unsteady now, one leg exerting more force than the other. She's flustered and afraid. I've felt all that before, and I hope it's enough to skew her aim. My eyes are still closed because I work best this way. She unsheathes her knives, the blades kissing each other in a show of faux bravado. It's a rookie mistake. The moment she does that, I know exactly where she is.

Wincing, I drag myself in her direction and angle my trapped legs in her direction. She inhales sharply and throws the knives, and the first one grazes my leg. The second blade rips clean through the slime and frees me from the gnarly substance.

Pressing my hands to the metal bars, I finally open my eyes to a flimsy lock that has seen better days. The Outsiders must've thought decent ones weren't necessary, especially with the cage drilled to the ground. There's nowhere to go.

Reaching my arm through the cage, I bring my knife down on the lock. Hacking at the stubborn metal, I continue stabbing it until there's a click and the door springs free. Now, I'll need to find my way out, and my only hope is to keep running.

I observe the girl from a distance, watching as she moves with other Outsiders. While the others speak in hushed whispers, she keeps her head down and pulls the cloak tighter around her petite frame. One of them gestures to a growing rift in the wall. He lets out a long sigh before throwing his stash of identification bracelets inside. One by one, the others follow suit, but the girl hesitates. Sliding Proxy's knife out of her coat, she throws it inside the gaping hole. Fire rises from it. The flames engulf the entire wall in a vision of red and purple.

"It's real. Proxy is here," the girl says. One of the Outsiders lowers his hood once more, revealing a scar from his forehead to his chin. "Then you fix this. Did I tell you to open all the portals?"

The girl shakes her head, quivering as she watches the glowering man standing before her. He doesn't say anything else as he steps inside the rift. The others follow him until the girl is left alone on the other side. Though the flames are dwindling, she still stands there like she's waiting for the other Outsiders, only retreating when it's clear they won't be back for a while.

The moment she's gone, I slip inside the hole.

On the other side, I'm greeted by a flight of stairs leading to a broken statue of President Finley. Sunlight filters from a circular window overhead, illuminating the mutilated sculpture. Half his head is missing, and a massive chunk of his body is now reduced to rubble. I swallow the lump in my throat and shuffle along aimlessly.

There's no Eorius to follow and nowhere to hide. Black blades of grass scrape against my ankles. The ground is softer than the ones at the Sanctuary, and the trees are thicker here, their branches twinning together like a cursed forest in a fairytale. A lonesome trill escapes the crimson bird perched above me. It holds me captive with its silver gaze and cocks its head to the right, flying further into the forest.

The bird leads me through the area, stopping every few branches while it waits for me to catch up. It beckons me further into the trees before piercing the canopies with its massive wings. As voices waft through in the forest, I slink into my hiding spot among the trees, squeezing in the small space between the mammoth-sized wooden pillars.

An Outsider steps into the clearing and heads toward someone sprawled across the grass. Effortlessly, he flips her over and starts slicing away at her identification bracelet. A crooked smile crosses his features, revealing a nasty snaggletooth. He expertly maneuvers his knife around, cutting the wires that connect the band to her wrist. A bead of sweat slips free from his hair.

Gritting his teeth, he hauls her over his shoulder and marches back into the vegetation. For a moment, I forget to breathe, nearly giving myself away with a small gasp. I slink back into the shadows. I hold my breath as he draws nearer. Then, he emerges from the shadows and heads straight for me. His silver eyes seem to burn through me as I stare into them. They're smoldering and unforgiving. He has a scar running from his temple, fanning out at the side of his head.

The corner of his lip curls in a snarl. "So, we meet again."