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"Don’t you mean Juniper?" I back up as the bloody water swims for me

One of the vampires lets out a shriek, then the rest cackle like coyotes

"Dammit Kayla" He jus--just let "

He’s right behindhim pull ain, heus into the pool of water first

Ileinto the wall I draw out my knife "Tell me how you know it? Tell me how you know that name?"

He rubs his shoulder "I know it because I knew you in The Colony"

"But I don’t know you" I point the sharp blade of my knife at his throat "And even if you did know me, only two people know that na increases as I say these words aloud

"Which one?" His voice is gentle

"What does it matter?" I sound choked

"Because it does"

My grip loosens on lue

"Kayla," he whispers my name softly "I’m so sorry"

"It’s fine" I blink away theme a sympathetic look, he slowly moves my knife away from his throat and opens his ar?"

He frowns, like I’ve slapped hi my head "Tell me how you know all this stuff about me? I mean we’d have to be close"

He drops his ared "Because we’re--we used to be, friends"

"Then why can’t I reone for that long?"

He takes a cautious step towarda skittish animal "You can’t res"

I suddenly realize how nervous and ju, like most of The Colony ain composure

"Are you sure you want to hear this?" He asks "Because, I feel like I have to warn you--the truth can be really ugly sos about the people you knew--about yourself--that you ht not want to know But it’s your choice Like I said before, everything’s your choice now" He holds his hand out "Either you can coo out there and run away fro confident, but his hand shakes, fearingI’ll choose to run and leave him

But I already knohat I have to do I’m not a coward and Monarch said he wanted ht And this feels right So as ugly and horrible as the truth ht be, it’s still the truth--it’s still real

I don’t take his hand, but step for the door "Takeout a breath and opens the door We go back to the crowded roo by Greyson on our way His face has a purple luht wherewith his face?" I trot down the stairs "I didn’t do that, did I?"

He frowns "It’s called a bruise and yeah, you did it Sometimes what you do in here has different consequences from in The Colony, so you have to bebelow his eye and down his cheek "So is that a bruise?"

He traces his finger along it "No, that’s called my freedom"

Chapter 18

In a sht of people, I meet a man who calls himself Cedrix The walls of the rooher is trapped These walls deafen all noise and it relaxes me a little Two chairs stand in the middle and a wooden cabinet curves the corner It reminds me of the hospital a little, only less sterile and without beds

Cedrix is a tall man, with dark skin, and brown hair cropped short He’s alsoa hand, which doesn’t , people aren’t supposed to have bruises or white lines i their skin

"That’s Cedrix’s freedo at Cedrix’shand

"Your freedom seems painful," I say to Cedrix

Cedrix sone It reestures at the chair "Whenever you’re ready, Kayla, take a seat"

I give him a funny look "Do I know you?"

He nods "You do"

"And why a in the chair?"

"You want to re at Aiden "You haven’t explained this to her?"

"I was afraid I’din my direction "Because I know her"

Cedrix shakes his head as he plops down in a chair "Then I guess you can wait outside"

Aiden nods quickly, see anxious as he turns for the door