“Training? You want me to train?” I scoff at Alaric.

“Yes, Mackenzie; I think it would be best for you to train with our recruits. I know you’ll come around eventually, and I do not see the point in segregating you now with that in mind,” he replies. I look at him like he’s mad. I think he really might be, but how does he convince everyone else that he’s normal?

“I’m not doing it,” I say flatly, as I sit back down on my bed. I don’t take my eyes off him though, I don’t trust him not to attack.

“Just come and watch the training then, you don’t have to take part,” he suggests, his tone light. His face, however, is calculating as it watches me. What is he planning? “What else are you going to do? Sit here and mope all day?” That was my plan, actually. Mope, mope, and mope some more.

“I’m not sure, what do kidnap victims normally do for fun?” I ask.

“You’re my child, it’s not really kidnapping, is it? More like you’ve been grounded, don’t you think?” he muses.

“Fuck you. You’re not my father; I have three dads, and you are nothing compared to any of them,” I snap. I haven’t spoken to them since being taken, it’s so hard losing all contact with the parents I’m so close with. I don’t need to listen to him pretending to be a parent. He’s nothing more than a donor to me.

“You cannot deny what’s in your blood, Mackenzie Crowe,” he says smoothly, not seeming at all affected by my words. “Now stop being childish, and come at least to watch the training. I will have men drag you in there if I must, but I’d rather not. We don’t need to make a scene.” He steps back out the door, as if he just expects me to follow.

I want to stay put, to kick and scream the whole way if they try and make me go. But I know it’ll do no good, only tire me out. An opportunity to escape could come at any time, I can’t waste my energy. Sighing, I stand back up and follow him out of the room.

He’s already halfway down the corridor, not slowing for me to catch up. Cursing under my breath, I jog a little to reach him, so I don’t get lost in the mess of this place. He leads me from the building, and cuts across the grass outside to another building I haven’t been in yet. Inside the building is a large gym-like hall, on one side it has been set up like a classroom, with desks and a whiteboard facing them. There are currently five people sitting in the seats, but they’re facing away from me so I can’t see their faces. The other side looks like it’s for more physical training, with blue mats littered across the floor. There are rocks, and various other things lying across the ground too. For earth practice, maybe?

Alaric clears his throat, and one by one, the faces turn my way. The first two faces are unfamiliar to me, but the next three make my heart crash wildly against my chest, and my hands shake at my sides.

What the fuck. Why are Enzo and the twins here?

I look between all their faces trying to understand what they are doing here. Enzo’s face is a blank mask, nothing I can read there. Logan looks sheepish, and Locke looks downright guilty. I have no idea what they are planning, why they’re here, or who’s side they are truly on. The only thing I am becoming certain of, is that I cannot trust anyone. They could betray me like Mr Daniels did. I won’t let myself be fooled. Until it’s clear whose side they are on, I have to keep them at arm’s length.

“Why don’t you take a seat, Mackenzie? I am sure the person leading the class will be here momentarily.” Alaric gestures to the seating. Gritting my teeth to stop myself from snapping, I walk over and take one of the empty seats. I sit at the back, away from the others. “Fantastic, I have to be off now, but I will speak to you later. I’d love to hear what you make of your first day in training, sweetheart,” he says, and then turns and leaves.

“Sure you fucking would,” I mutter under my breath as I watch the door close behind him. I’m glad he’s gone, but the room I’ve been left with isn’t much better. What the hell are they doing here?

The seat to the left of me pulls out, scraping across the floor. I look up, seeing Enzo sitting down. His dark eyes are watching me intently, as he looks me over. It’s not an emotional look, more like a clinical assessment.

“Hey, Crowe. How are you doing?” he asks quietly, as he pulls off his leather jacket, letting it fall against the back of his chair. I try not to notice how his black t-shirt clings to him, but it’s a losing battle. He looks good, even though I’m pissed I can admit that.

“Just frickin peachy. It’s not just Mr Daniels here I have to worry about, you’re all here as well!” I snap back under my breath, but all the heads in the room have turned to watch us regardless. The two faces I don’t recognise are watching curiously, whereas Logan and Locke look tense.

“You need to understand, we’re all on the same side here—”

“Really? You’re going to give me that same bullshit he did, too? Just leave me alone,” I cut him off angrily.

“Kenz,” Logan says, standing, and moving to sit on the seat directly in front of mine. He twists it to face me though.

“Don’t ‘Kenz’ me. How long have you been a part of this?” I demand.

“We just joined, the three of us. Daniels has been looking to recruit us all for a while now, apparently. But when his cover was blown at the school, he came to get us. Gave us all the option to join and come with him, East said no…” he trails off with a guilty look to match his twin’s.

“You know what happened to him, don’t you? The state he was in when I went to check on him, it was awful. You can’t seriously be okay with this?” I question him.

“It’s not what I think that matters, Kenzie. East made his choice, and we made ours,” Logan says. I look across at Locke, who has looked away, and is staring at the door.

“What about you, Locke? Anything to say?” I ask, ditching the quiet tone. I don’t give a fuck who hears what anymore.

“There’s nothing to say, Kenzie. The rebels are trying to make things better for our kind, we want to help in that,” he answers, but it sounds forced. I frown. There’s something not right here. They can’t all surely be brainwashed like this? What did Mr Daniels do to convince them all?

The sound of the door opening makes me turn my head. I stand up, knocking my chair back onto the floor as I gape at the figure making their way into the room.

No. This cannot be happening. Not her, she can’t be one of them, too.

She walks across the room until we are standing face to face, she gives me a small smile. I can’t help but feel stabbed in the back, and in the heart, both at once. I stare at my closest friend, the girl I grew up with, and I feel sick.

“Hey, bestie. Are you settling in okay?” Kelly asks. She reaches out and pulls me into a hug. I stand there numbly, just letting her hug me. I’m too shocked to resist. I look over her shoulder, spotting Ryan sauntering into the room.

What’s next, my mum and other dads show up too? I shiver at the thought.

“Are you cold?” she asks quietly. Coming to my senses, I pull away and look at her accusingly.

“How could you do this?”

“Ryan’s been asking me to join for a while now. Now that everyone’s here, I have no reason to say no,” she answers meekly.

“Your freaking parents are on the council!” I snap. “Have you lost your mind…have you all lost your minds? What the freaking hell is wrong with you all? The rebels are criminals, they want to kill or enslave the humans. You know I went to a human school as a kid, Kelly. You even hung out with some of my human friends with me. Do you really think they’re worth less than us? Who even are you anymore?” I question her, watching as she steps back from me, looking shocked at my outburst.

“Don’t talk to Kelly like that,” Ryan growls, walking over and wrapping an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

“What about you then, Ry? You went to a human school too, had human friends? How can you look at yourself in the mirror?” I ask, glaring at him.

“Just because you got along with the humans doesn’t mean I did, Kennie. I never fit in with them, they knew there was something different about me, about our family. I once let slip about having more than one dad, and the humans, you wouldn’t believe how they reacted. As if anyone else’s relationship is their business, but to them, it was sick and wrong. They were awful; they don’t understand us or our way of life. They wouldn’t accept us for what we are if they knew, so why should we accept them?” he questions.

“You don’t know how the humans would react. Sure, maybe some of them would react badly. But there are good humans too, just like there are good and bad marked,” I say, trying to make him understand.

“Crowe, maybe save the family drama for another time. Ryan is supposed to be leading the training,” Enzo says in a bored tone.

“You cannot be serious.” I look at Enzo disbelievingly.

“Yes, I am, actually,” he says. He then gestures to the other two recruits in here. “They didn’t come here to listen to your drama or negativity, take your damn seat and let Ry get on with the training.”

“I can’t believe you, I can’t believe any of you…” I say, trailing off as I back away.

“Just sit down so we can get on with this,” Ryan says, in a calmer tone than before.

“Screw you, screw all of you!” I shout, turning away as I run to the door, I pull it open and rush out, running as fast away from the training room as I can.

I’m not sure where I am heading until I get there. I stand outside the building nervously, before entering. As I make my way inside the building, I’m surprised how nobody stops me. The guards standing outside of the steel door are watching me intently when I get to them.

“Give me five minutes, please?” I plead, they don’t answer, just ignore me. I feel like screaming.

“Let her in to see him,” Mr Daniels’ voice comes from behind me, making me jump.

“Are you sure, sir?” one of them asks, as he looks behind me nervously.

“Yes, I’m fucking sure. Don’t question me, Jacob,” he snaps. Jacob moves to the side, opening the door for me to enter. I rush in, not bothering to say thanks. After what he’s done, he doesn’t deserve it. Seeing East’s face, as he looks up at me, makes me feel like I’m home, and everything’s okay. He stands and pulls me tightly into his arms, and I cave, letting the tears fall from my eyes.

“It’s okay, Kenzie, it’ll be fine. We’ll find a way out of here,” he says soothingly, as he rubs my back.

Easton Black, the guy I’d fallen for when I was a kid, is the same person as he always was. Good, gorgeous, and he knows right from wrong. No matter who else has turned, East hasn’t. East is my refuge in this place, the only one I have left. I lift my head up, pressing my lips to his, and he holds me tighter as he returns the kiss.

East is still himself, and he’s still on my side. I repeat it in my head, like a comforting mantra over and over. The words make me feel safe. I pull away and take a seat on his sorry excuse for a bed, and he slides his hand in mine when he sits down next to me. He doesn’t say anything else, just holds on tightly. A silent show of support and comfort, knowing words couldn’t possibly make things better.

And in this moment, I think I love him for it.