point of acting out a charade now； even if I were that talented a liar？ Walter would never stand up for me
again。 I couldn’tsucker him anymore。
I met Jared’s gaze for one long second； then turned to hurry down the pitch…black corridor that was
brighter than his expression。
CHAPTER 32
Ambushed
The caves were quiet； the sun had not yet risen。 In the big plaza； the mirrors were a pale gray with the
ing dawn。
My few clothes were still in Jamie and Jared’s room。 I snuck in； glad that I knew where Jared was。
Jamie was sound asleep； curled into a tight ball in the top corner of the mattress。 He didn’t usually sleep
so pactly； but he had good reason to at the moment。 Ian was sprawled across the rest of the space；
his feet and hands hanging off the edges； one appendage to each of the four sides。
For some reason； this was hysterical to me。 I had to put my fist in my mouth to choke back the laughter
as I quickly snatched up my old dirt…dyed T…shirt and shorts。 I hurried into the hall； still stifling the giggles。
You’re slaphappy；Melanie told me。You need some sleep。
I’ll sleep later。 When…I couldn’t finish the thought。 It sobered me instantaneously； and everything was
quiet again。
I was still rushing as I headed for the bathing room。 I trusted Doc； but… Maybe he would change his
mind。 Maybe Jared would argue against what I wanted。 I couldn’t be all day。
I thought I heard something behind me when I reached the octopus…like juncture where all the sleeping
halls met。 I looked back； but I couldn’t see anyone in the dim cave。 People were beginning to stir。 Soon
it would be time for breakfast and another day of work。 If they’d finished with the stalks； the ground in
the east fields would need to be turned。 Maybe I would have time to help… later…
I followed the familiar path to the underground rivers； my mind in a million other places。 I couldn’t seem
to concentrate on anything in particular。 Every time I tried to focus on a subject—Walter； Jared；
breakfast； chores； baths—some other thought would pull my head away in seconds。 Melanie was right； I
needed to sleep。 She was just as muddled。 Her thoughts all spun around Jared； but she could make
nothing coherent of them； either。
I’d gotten used to the bathing room。 The utter blackness of it didn’t bother me anymore。 So many places
were black here。 Half my daylight hours were lived in darkness。 And I’d been here too many times。
There was never anything lurking under the water’s surface； waiting to pull me under。
My hands were stinging when I was done； the dry cracks on my knuckles burning worst of all。 I rinsed
them in the water； but it made no noticeable difference。 I sighed and climbed out to get dressed。
I’d left my dry clothes on the loose rocks in the back corner。 I kicked a stone by accident； hard enough
to hurt my bare foot； and it clattered loudly across the room； bouncing off the wall and landing with a
plunk and a gurgle in the pool。 The sound made me jump； though it wasn’t all that loud next to the roar of
the hot river in the outer room。
I was just shoving my feet into my scruffy tennis shoes when my turn was up。
“Knock； knock；” a familiar voice called from the dark entry。
“Good morning； Ian；” I said。 “I’m just done。 Did you sleep well？”
“Ian’s still sleeping；” Ian’s voice answered。 “I’m sure that won’t last forever； though； so we’d best get
on with this。”
Splinters of ice pinned my joints in place。 I couldn’t move。 I couldn’t breathe。
I’d noticed it before； and then forgotten it in the long weeks of Kyle’s absence： not only did Ian and his
brother look very much alike； but—when Kyle spoke at a normal volume； which so rarely
happened—they also had exactly the same voice。
There was no air。 I was trapped in this black hole with Kyle at the door。 There was no way out。
Keep quiet！Melanie shrieked in my head。
I could do that。 There was no air to scream with。
Listen！
I did as I was told； trying to focus in spite of the fear that stabbed through my head like a million slender
spears of ice。
I couldn’t hear anything。 Was Kyle waiting for a response？ Was he sneaking around the room in
silence？ I listened harder； but the rush of the river covered any sounds。
Quick； grab a rock！Melanie ordered。
Why？
I saw myself crashing a rough stone against Kyle’s head。
I can’t do it！
Then we’re going to die！she screamed back at me。I can do it！ Let me！
Fight or flight。
In desperation； I tried to unlock Melanie； to let her out。 I couldn’t find the door—my hands were still my
own； clutched uselessly around the objects I could never make into weapons。
A noise。 A tiny splash as something entered the stream that drained the pool into the latrine room。 Only a
few yards away。
Give me my hands！
I don’t know how！ Take them！
I started to creep away； close to the wall； toward the exit。 Melanie struggled to find her way out of my
head； but she couldn’t find the door from her side； either。
Another sound。 Not by the far stream。 A breath； by the exit。 I froze where I was。
Where is he？
I don’t know！
Again； I could hear nothing but the river。 Was Kyle alone？ Was someone waiting by the door to catch
me when he herded me around the pool？ How close was Kyle now？
I felt the hairs on my arms and legs standing on end。 There was some kind of pressure in the air； as
though I could feel his silent movements。 The door。 I half turned； easing back in the direction I’d e；
away from where I’d heard the breath。
He couldn’t wait forever。 The little he’d said told me he was in a hurry。 Someone could e at any
time。 Odds were on his side； though。 There were fewer who would be inclined to stop him than there
were who might think this was for the best。 And of those inclined to stop him； even fewer who’d have
much of a chance of doing that。 Only Jeb and his gun would make a difference。 Jared was at least as
strong as Kyle； but Kyle was more motivated。 Jared would probably not fight him now。
Another noise。 Was that a footstep by the door？ Or just my imagination？ How long had this silent
standoff lasted？ I couldn’t guess how many seconds or minutes had passed。
Get ready。Melanie knew that the stalling would soon be at an end。 She wanted me to clench the rock
tighter。
But I would give flight a chance first。 I would not be an effective fighter； even if I could bring myself to
try。 Kyle was probably twice my weight； and he had a much longer reach。
I raised the hand with the pebbles and aimed them toward the back passage to the latrine。 Maybe I
could make him think that I was going to hide and hope for rescue。 I threw the handful of small stones
and shied away from the noise when they clattered against the rock wall。
The breath at the door again； the sound of a light footfall headed toward my decoy。 I edged as quietly
What if there are two？
I don’t know。
I was almost to the exit。 If I could just make the tunnel； I thought I could outrun him。 I was lighter and
fast。…
I heard a footstep； very clearly this time； disrupting the stream in the back of the room。 I crept faster。
A gigantic splash shattered the tense standoff。 Water pelted my skin； making me gasp。 It spattered
against the wall in a wave of wet sound。
He’s ing through the pool！ Run！
I hesitated just a second too long。 Big fingers clutched at my calf； my ankle。 I yanked against the pull；
lurching forward。 I stumbled； and the momentum that threw me down to the floor made his fingers slip。
He caught my sneaker。 I kicked it off； leaving it in his hand。
I was down； but he was down； too。 It gave me enough time to scramble forward； ripping my knees
against the rough stone。
Kyle grunted； and his hand clutched at my naked heel。 There was nothing to catch hold of； I slid free
again。 I wrenched myself forward； pulling to my feet with my head still down； every second in danger of
falling again because my body was moving almost parallel to the floor。 I kept my balance through sheer
force of will。
There was no one else。 No one to catch me at the exit to the outer room。 I sprinted forward； hope and
adrenaline surging in my veins。 I burst into the river room at full speed； my only thought to reach the
tunnel。 I could hear Kyle’s heavy breath close behind but not close enough。 With each step； I pushed
harder against the ground； throwing myself ahead of him。
Pain lanced through my leg； crumpling it。
Over the babble of the river； I heard two heavy stones hit the ground and roll—the one I’d been
clutching and the one he’d thrown to cripple me。 My leg twisted under me； spinning me backward to the
ground； and in the same second he was on top of me。
His weight knocked my head against the rock in a ringing blow and pinned me flat against the floor。 No
leverage。
Scream！
The air blew out of me in a siren of sound that surprised us all。 My wordless shriek was more than I’d
hoped for—surely someone would hear it。 Please let that someone be Jeb。 Please let him have the gun。
“Uhng！” Kyle protested。 His hand was big enough to cover most of my face。 His palm mashed against
my mouth； cutting off my scream。
He rolled then； and the motion so took me by surprise that I had no time to try to find an advantage in it。
His hand locked on the back of my neck； forcing my face into the shallow stream of cooler water that
wound its way into the bathing pool。 It was too late to hold my breath。 I’d already inhaled a mouthful of
water。
My body panicked when the water hit my lungs。 Its flailing was stronger than he’d expected。 My limbs
all jerked and thrashed in different directions； and his grip on my neck slipped。 He tried to get a better
hold； and some instinct made me pull myself into him rather than away； as he was expecting。 I only pulled
half a foot closer to him； but that got my chin out of the stream； and enough of my mouth to choke some
of the water back out and drag in a breath。
He fought to push me back into the stream； but I wriggled and wedged myself under him so that his own
weight was working against his goal。 I was still reacting to the water in my lungs； coughing and spasming
out of control。
“Enough！” Kyle growled。
He pulled himself off me； and I tried to drag myself away。
“Oh； no； youdon’t！ ” he spit through his teeth。
It was over； and I knew it。
There was something wrong with my injured leg。 It felt numb； and I couldn’t make it do what I wanted。 I
could only push myself along the floor with my arms and my good leg。 I was coughing too hard to do
even that well。 Too hard to scream again。
Kyle grabbed my wrist and yanked me up from the floor。 The weight of my body made my leg buckle；
and I slumped into him。
He got both my wrists in one hand and wrapped the other arm around my waist。 He pulled me off the
floor and into his side； like an awkward bag of flour。 I twisted； and my good leg kicked against the empty
air。
“Let’s get this over with。”
He jumped over the smaller stream with a bound and carried me toward the cl