Shaking. Someone was shaking me, and I had no idea why. I forced my eyes open despite the exhaustion pulling my lids closed. I saw nothing at first until I looked to the side and saw a face. "Dr. Morton?" I struggled to understand what was going on. “What time is it?”

"Shh. We have to go. Stay quiet." His expression was harsh but not in an angry way, more in a way that was full of all sorts of worry. I imagined I wore that expression most of the time now.

"Go where?" My head pounded, and I fought through the haze of exhaustion and sleep.

"Trust me. I'll explain everything later."

"You expect me to just go with you blindly?" I was a prisoner, so it wasn’t as though I could really make my own choices, but leaving my bed was a choice I could make.

"Yes, if you want to see Bailey." There was no threat in his words, nothing menacing, but it still chilled me.

"Where is she?” Nothing else mattered until I found her. “Where is Bailey?

"With Kayla. You have to come.”

"With Kayla? Bailey is with her?” Why? Was he going to listen to me? Accept my offer? Then why was he waking me up? Nothing added up. “Why is Bailey with Kayla? Where are they?”

"Come on. Please." He tugged on my arm. “We don’t have much time.”

I nodded, needing to believe him because I had no other choice. "If you are lying...” I let my words trail off.

“It’s not a lie.” He helped me down from the bed and looked at me. “Put this on.” He held out a long black cloak.

I did as he asked as the thought of what might be happening dawned on me. Escape? Were we all getting out? Adrenaline mixed with fear flooded me. I wouldn’t be able to relax until I knew Bailey was safe.

“Come on.” He took my hand and led the way through the door.

The hallway was dark, nearly pitch black, so I had to rely on Dr. Morton to lead me. Normally when the door opened light flooded in. Were the lights out on purpose? I couldn’t focus on it, nor could I wonder too long about how the doctor was able to navigate the dark hallways so easily. The floor was cold underneath my bare feet as I hurried along beside him. I strained my ears for any sort of noise, but the only thing I heard were a few beeps ever so often and the sound of fans, or computers. I stayed quiet. Silent. I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart and keep my breathing even and low, but it took more energy than I had. Fear and confusion swirled through me as I struggled to find answers to so many pressing questions. Where was Bailey? Had she and Kayla left already? Were they waiting for me? Where were we going?

Dr. Morton stopped short, pulling me back against him. “Stay quiet,” his lips brushed against my ears as he spoke, tickling me with the stubble on his chin.

I was already silent, but I froze. The sound of footsteps came from somewhere far off. The footsteps sounded louder and louder until I knew whoever it was had to be nearly upon us. Then the footsteps stopped.

My chest clenched, and I grabbed onto Dr. Morton’s arm, desperate to brace myself for whatever was coming.

“Were you trying to give us a heart attack?” Dr. Morton asked the darkness.

“I was trying to make sure you were ready,” a male voice answered.

“We’re ready.” Dr. Morton sounded far more confident than I felt.

“Quinn?” Kayla’s voice broke through the darkness. “Are you here?”

“Kayla.” My throat burned as I spoke, and tears welled behind my eyes. It felt like years had passed since I last heard my sister’s voice.

“We’re getting out of here.” Her voice was so strong, so resolute. That was Kayla. Always strong. Always ready. It was hard to believe she was really there and her voice wasn’t a figment of my imagination.

“Mama,” Bailey called out. “Mama.”

“I’m right here, baby.” I started to reach out in the darkness but quickly let my hands fall to my sides. If I couldn’t see, how could I possibly protect her?

“Take her.” Kayla somehow found me in the dark and pressed Bailey’s soft skin into my arms.

“No. You hold her.” I shook my head, even as I pulled Bailey against me.

“No,” Kayla pressed. “She wants her mother.”

“Can you see?” I asked, suddenly worried my eyesight was the problem. Had they done something more to me than I thought? Had too much time cooped up inside a windowless room gotten to my senses?

“No. But I followed your voice.”

I held Bailey tight. “Who else is here?”

“We can talk later.” Another girl replied. There was another girl. “Right now we have to go.”

“I agree.” Dr. Morton put his arm around my waist. “Let’s move.”

I held onto Bailey tightly as I let Dr. Morton lead me through the darkness. It was unnatural to put so much faith in someone who wasn’t my family, but Kayla was there. She had to have known more than I did. I had so many questions, and then I was hit by a realization. Kayla was there, and I never even hugged her. I’d barely reacted to the news that I had not lost my sister forever. Had I lost all sense of decency? No. And I couldn’t do anything about it now. We couldn’t stop. We were getting Bailey out. I had no idea where we were going, and I was increasingly disoriented. My empty stomach rumbled. I barely ate anymore. It took more energy than I had. Now my stomach was a liability, and I regretted skipping so many meals.

Morton pulled back on my borrowed cloak, and I stopped short again. He didn’t need to remind me to be quiet. Like everyone else, I was already silently awaiting a fate I still couldn’t predict or envision.

The sound of ticking broke through the near deafening silence. I listened closer, trying to figure out exactly what it was. I wanted to know what it was. I needed to know, but I couldn't open my mouth to ask. Staying in the dark—both literally and figuratively—was my only choice.

"Move. Now." A male voice spoke calmly. Far too calmly given the darkness and the loud ticking that had to be signifying the countdown of something. 

"How long did you give us?" Dr. Morton asked, his hand wrapping around my arm.

"Not long,” the calm voice responded.

Dr. Morton’s hand tightened on my arm. “Then let's go.”

A door creaked, and cool air hit my face. Dr. Morton’s hand released my arm, and it returned to my waist. “Be careful. Stairs,” he whispered.

I tried to move quickly, while carefully taking each step. That proved harder than expected. My foot slipped, and I held tight to Bailey. Dr. Morton stabilized me, and we continued down the stairs.

There was another sound of creaking, and I blinked as a faint light illuminated the space in front of us. I didn’t have time to think, as Dr. Morton ushered us into a narrow opening. The ground beneath us was slippery and wet, and the ceiling was so close I had to hunch over to avoid hitting my head. Drops of water fell from above onto us, and I figured out where we were: a drainage pipe.

We walked through the water for several moments until I heard another creaking sound, and we stepped out into the night.

A loud explosive noise came from behind us as he we hurried away from the building.

“Ignore that. No one was hurt,” a man wearing a blazer ordered. “Let’s go.” A bright light moved through the dark sky. “Avoid the search lights and head north.” The man continued. “Don’t stop moving no matter what happens.”

No one said anything. We continued forward, moving just short of jogging. Dr. Morton held onto my arm and practically pulled me forward.

Bailey lifted her head, but returned it down as if lifting it took more energy than she had. I held her tightly, hoping she couldn’t feel the fear surging through me. I slowed down to catch my breath.

“I can carry her,” Dr. Morton held out his arms.

I didn’t want to let Bailey go, but I knew I would be able to move much faster without holding her. The priority was to get her to safety. I nodded and let him take her from my arms.

As if that was a signal, everyone picked up their pace and started to run.

“Mama,” Bailey called to me. The night was cool, and I hoped the light cotton gown she was wearing was enough to keep her warm. I wanted to give her my cloak, but it would be far too big. Dr. Morton’s arms would be warm I assured myself as I struggled to keep pace with the group.

“I’m right here,” I reassured her. Bailey’s voice was enough of a motivation for me to push through my exhaustion. My legs were weak. I had done such minimal activity in the past weeks, and once again I was regretting my decision to limit my food intake. I was weak, and that made me a liability.

“I’ve got you.” Unfamiliar arms wrapped around my waist and picked me up.

I started to argue, when Kayla touched my arm. “It’s okay, Quinn.” She patted my arm. “Mason won’t hurt you.”

Mason. This was the man Kayla was Corded to. We were moving too fast for me to study him, but he held me gently enough given the circumstances, while also making sure Kayla was close.

A loud siren filled the previously silent night. Bailey whimpered, and my chest clenched.

“Pick up the pace!” The man in the blazer yelled.

Mason ran faster. I watched Dr. Morton running in front of us, glad Bailey was slightly ahead. Selfish or not, I would rather anyone else get caught but her. She had to make it safety—wherever safety was.

“Turn up ahead.” The man with the blazer bellowed out more directions.

The group hurried faster, as more lights filled the sky and sirens wailed in the distance.

The man stopped and pulled at the corner of a cloth. An oddly shaped vehicle came into view. “Everyone in. Now.”

Mason practically tossed me inside, and the engine roared to life. Within moments the vehicle lurched forward, and we were moving.

“Everyone stay quiet. This is going to take some work.” The man with the beard was in the driver’s seat. It was too dark to see much of anything, but I saw Bailey in Dr. Morton’s arms right in front of me. That was all I needed to see. I had no idea what kind of plans the man with the blazer had, but so far he hadn’t steered us wrong. Dr. Morton handed Bailey to me, and I cradled her in my arms.

He drove over a gravel road making the vehicle bump up and down. I was in the third row of seats, which made it impossible to see out the front, but there was just enough moon light to see the shadows out the window. Mason sat beside me with Kayla on his other side next to the window.

We drove into complete darkness. I waited, knowing there had to be an end to the darkness, but it continued. We rode in silence save for the sound of the engine and tires traversing the bumpy, rocky road beneath us. Bailey was quiet, but when I closed my eyes I could hear her breathing.

The darkness continued on, and my eyelids grew heavy. I shouldn’t have been so tired. The adrenaline and fear should have been enough to keep me awake, but eventually I slipped into a deep sleep.

“You have to tell us where we’re going.” Kayla’s voice came from somewhere that sounded far away.

I blinked, and there was moonlight. I was outside. I was in something moving. Then everything came back to me. Leaving Central. Running. The vehicle. “Bailey.”

I looked down, and Bailey was still curled up on my lap. “Thank you.”

“You okay, Quinn?” Dr. Morton turned to look at me from the row of seats in front of me.

“You have to stay quiet and out of sight.” The bearded man was still driving.

“But we left the city hours ago. It’s safe now,” Kayla leaned forward in her seat.

“It’s never safe,” the bearded man snapped.

“Kayla? Do you trust him?” I knew Kayla would do anything for Bailey—she wouldn’t lead her into trouble.

“I don’t know Denver very well, but Mason thinks we can trust him.” She leaned slightly into Mason.

Denver. That was the name of the man in the blazer. I turned to Mason. I studied him, trying to get a read. He looked nothing like Ethan, the only other man Kayla had ever shown any interest in. Well, boy really. Ethan wasn’t a man yet when he left home. If he had been, he probably wouldn’t have left.

“We can trust him.” Mason turned to look at me. “I promise.”

“Be careful with promises.” Benjamin had promised to protect me. I’d promised to give Bailey a life better than the one I had. So far none of those promises had been kept.

Mason cracked the barest hint of a smile. “You two are clearly sisters.”

“I thought the same thing.” Dr. Morton glanced back. “Looks aren’t where the similarities end.”

“Do you know each other, Dr. Morton?” I looked between him and Mason. I still didn’t quite understand how or why we’d been able to escape. How did this group connect?

“Maverick.” Dr. Morton gazed right into my eyes. “Please call me Maverick.”

“I can’t,” I responded immediately.

“Sure you can. Especially now…”

“All of this chit chat can wait.” Denver called from the front. “We aren’t home free yet.”

“I thought we passed the last check point.” A girl called from up front. In all the confusion I’d almost forgotten the girl who’d run with us.

“The last official one. You never know when we are going to run into an unofficial one.” Denver looked straight ahead. I couldn’t see him much in the dark but I imagined he was gripping onto the wheel tightly.

“Better safe than sorry.” I heard my father’s voice in my words.

“Kayla.” Bailey stirred from my lap. It was still shocking to hear her little voice. What had sparked the change in her language development? I knew in theory it was a good thing, but I didn’t trust anything that happened inside the prison we’d escaped.

Kayla reached across Mason and took her little hand. “If it isn’t my favorite niece.”

Maverick chuckled. I had to start thinking of him that way, otherwise it would be too much like being back in Central.

“You can have a favorite even if you only have one.” Kayla released Bailey’s hand and leaned back against the seat.

Bailey scrambled up to wrap her arms around my neck. I held her against me, inhaling her scent.

“Is that so?” Mason put an arm around Kayla. “I hope I’m your favorite then.”

“You are.” She leaned into him in such a natural way. “Even if I don’t quite know what you’re my favorite of.”

“Your daughter is beautiful.” The girl in the front turned around.

“Thank you.” I smiled even though I doubted she could see in the dark.

“What part of be quiet don’t you people understand?” Denver snapped.

“Fine. We’ll talk later.” The girl turned back toward the front.

“Bailey seems okay.” Kayla leaned over Mason.

“I hope she really is,” I whispered. I was afraid revealing my fear about her talking would make me sound crazy. I was already convinced I was crazy.

“We didn’t do anything to her.” Maverick turned around. “She is fine.”

“How would you know?” Denver shot back. So much for him being quiet. “Were you responsible for the infants?”

“She isn’t an infant,” Kayla nearly rose to her feet.

“Infant can be a blanket term for children.” Denver looked at Kayla in the rearview mirror.

“Please use the word child.” Kayla huffed. I wasn’t sure why his words had bothered her so much.

“Kayla is big on word choice.” Mason kissed the top of Kayla’s head.

It was strange watching someone be so intimate with her. How had so much changed so quickly?

“You can rest.” Maverick turned around. “You look exhausted.”

“Sleep is the last thing on my mind.” I didn’t want to admit I’d slept already. Would that make me seem like a reckless mother? I already felt like a complete failure in every way.

“Because Bailey is always what is on it.” He tapped his head. “I know that. But now you have someone here you trust.” He nodded to Kayla.

“He’s right.” Kayla smiled ever so slightly. “I’m here.”

“I am sure you need rest too,” I argued even though for all I knew she had napped too.

“Who doesn’t need rest?” Denver yelled back. “Maybe that’s what needs to happen. Everyone else needs to sleep so you all shut your mouths.”

“I could hold her for you.” The girl called back. “I mean if everyone else wants to sleep.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I have her.” I didn’t want to insult the girl, but I wasn’t giving Bailey up. I needed her close. Plus it didn’t seem safe putting her in the front seat.

“It’s going to be okay.” The girls’ voice was soft. “At least as okay as it can be.”

“I hope you are right.” There were so many pressing questions, yet there were no questions as important as the two words I owed her. “Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me?”

“For going after Kayla. For caring about her enough to do that.”

“I did it for more than her.”

The meaning of her words weren’t lost on me. She didn’t have to say the words for me to know. We were all in this together. She was right, somehow everything would be okay. There was no other choice.