For the second time, I stumbled out of the hillside and followed Geir down the hill to our camp in the dawn's light.

Yesterday, after I’d slept, we’d spent time smoking more fish, making a plan. I stretched my back and groaned. The pile of leaves was a bit better than the ground for a mattress, but today I’d need to come up with a different solution if I hoped to keep walking.

We only left the safety of the trees once night fell, the glowing rocks I’d placed our guides to the labyrinth of tunnels under the hill.

So far, we had traced the path of half the tunnels leading from the central cavern. But no luck.

Geir shook his head, face grim. "If nothing else, we’ll have to go back to the opening we found on the first day. Time is running out."

He was right, I knew it.

His brothers wouldn't wait much longer. I didn't know how they planned to attack, but from the stories he had told me as we scrambled through the tunnels, I had no doubt they'd find a way.

And I was running out of time, too. The first tingles of withdrawal had set in, taunting and teasing down my legs.

"You're falling behind, lazy legs," Geir taunted. "Thought you said you wanted to wash before breakfast.”

I did, desperately. I uncovered the banked coals from the previous day and carefully, leaf by leaf built up the fire while Geir stabbed at our next meal.

The fish hadn't made me sick, but I'd be glad when we found something else to eat.

“All right, I'll get these going while you scrub up.”

I glanced up at him then looked away. Water beaded across his chest, highlighting every muscle.

We spent so much time together in the last few days I no longer refused his helping hand as we climbed through the dark tunnels.

It didn’t bother me.

Or maybe it did, because instead of wanting to pull away when he touched me, I wanted to step closer, lean into the growing heat building in my chest when he was near.

I turned away, face hot, and made my way to the water's edge.

"No peeking!" I called over my shoulder towards the clearing and ignored his laugh.

I slipped my long coat off and spread it over a bush. Took the light and book out of the pocket and put it onto a nearby rock to recharge.

My pants were filthy, my shirt not much better. It wouldn't do any good to get clean only to put on these dirty things.

The top of a broad, flat rock stood dry in the middle of the river. Maybe I could spread my clothes there after I washed. and just wear my coat until they were done.

Thoughts of sun-warmed, clean clothing sent delicious shivers through me.

Who knew happiness could be so easily obtained?

Bit by bit I waded out into the river to get to the rock, my teeth chattering. Focus on getting clean, I reminded myself. I’ll be warm and dry in just a few…

I squeaked as a stone under my foot turned, spilling me into the icy water.

"Val!" Strong arms lifted me up and I threw my arms around Geir’s neck, desperate for his warmth.

He crushed me to him as with long strides he carried me out of the water back to the clearing next to the fire.

“What were you doing? You could have been hurt!”

I leaned back, secure he would never let me fall and watched his wild eyes as they roamed over me, as if desperate to reassure himself that I was there, in one piece.

We sat in front of the fire with me in his lap. “Just stay here and warm up, I can make a safer pool for you, take something out…”

I watched his mouth, letting the words wash over me, suddenly fascinated.

“Val, are you even listening?”

I ran one finger over his full lower lip, unable to stop myself.

He froze, the panic in his eyes banished, replaced by something else, something dark and hungry.

I rubbed the tip of my finger across his lips again, then wiggled, stretching up to put myself closer to his level.

“Val,” he croaked, “what-”

I was tired of being afraid. Tired of wondering what ifs. Tired of having to think and plan, to hide and stop myself, of always having to think about how to end it, how to live up to the expectations of my sisters.

I’d heard what couples did together, seen them sneaking off into the shadows. Impossible not to, in our small, closed-off campus. I’d known that kind of passion, that pleasure, wasn’t for me.

But now, everything was different. Everything had changed.

I pressed my lips against his, feather-light, curious as to his taste.

His chest under my hands shuddered as a wracking breath broke through him.

“What are you doing?” More a groan than a question.

Bolder now, I moved to straddle him, ignoring the sopping wet clothing between us as I knelt up to taste the skin under his jaw

I could feel his heartbeat through my lips.

“What are you doing?” he whispered again, even as his hand slid down my back to cup my ass, drawing me tighter against him.

And just like in my stories, the third time the question was asked, I was compelled to stop, to answer.

“I don't know?” I struggled for the words, to put in leaden words the spark he had ignited in me. “Every time you touch me, I want to be closer to you, and I don't know what to do about it.”

A terrible thought struck, and I leaned back to put distance between our chests. “But maybe you don't want to?”

The microsecond that passed nearly broke my heart.

“Not want to,” he groaned and then ground me against him so that I felt the hard length of him rest between my legs and I shattered, shocked at the unknown sensation.

“I want to do so many things to you.”

I stretched up, stopping with a whisper of space between our lips. "Then do them."

As if my words had lifted a spell from him, he moved, one hand snarling in my hair, cupping the back of my head, the other still at my waist, sliding down, kneading my ass.

Soft kisses turned demanding and I opened to his questing tongue, groaning as he bent me back.

“Void take it,” he muttered, his voice hoarse. “If these weren't your only clothes…” he growled but carefully slid his hand up under the hem of my shirt, the cool air making my wet skin prickle.

He tilted me further, his hand engulfing my breast, kneading and pulling at the tender flesh while he nipped down my throat, teasing me with his teeth.

I squirmed, panting in his arms.

And then he stopped, brought his mouth to my ear, licked the shell of it. “What did you mean when you said you didn't know?”

I blinked, mind hazy, dizzy from the flood of sensations. “I don't know? I've never done this before. At least I don't think so. If I did before it wasn't in the notes and…”

Gently he moved his hand from my breast and slid me to sit next to him, curled up with his arm around my shoulders still.

“All right.” He closed his golden eyes, controlled his breathing, and went on. “For now, let's not worry about what any of your clone sisters have done. Just you.”

I nodded. It would be easier.

“Are you saying, that you've never done,” he paused “what exactly before?

“Anything, I don't think. I haven't kissed anyone and certainly nothing further.”

His arm tightened around my shoulder.

“Is that wrong?”

“Of course not.” He kissed me, but this time softly, gently. “It just means we’re going to take it slow. There's no reason to rush.”

Bitterness washed through my mouth. Of course, there was a reason. But I couldn't tell him.

Not now. And if I could help it, not ever.

* * *

Two more tunnels explored and crossed off. One stopped in a small dead-end cavern, the other sloped down so steeply I felt sure it could only lead back to the sea.

“We’ll check it out if nothing else works out,” I decided.

Gier had been silent, methodical as we searched throughout the night.

But my thoughts scattered, bounced between those moments of bliss in the clearing, and the Companion’s room. We had to get inside. This had to end.

“Damn it.”

I looked up. Another rockslide blocked our path. But instead of turning away, Geir leaned closer to the rubble.

I frowned, then I caught it, the faintest whiff.

His nose wrinkled as he worked it out. “Is that...”

I nodded. “Machine oil.”

Geir scaled the pile of jagged rocks until he could prod the ones at the top. “There's no way through,” he called down.

My stomach clenched. “Then we’ll have to make one.”

I started climbing. I couldn't reach the exact places he had used, but I'd watched him, seeing how he tested each handhold. It couldn’t be that different than climbing the cliff, could it?

“Val, get back down,” he hissed. “It’s not safe here.”

I ignored him, kept climbing until my head brushed the rocky ceiling, then tapped one of the rocks wedged at the top. The smell of machine oil was stronger now. This had to be the way through.

“Can't we dig through here?”

He shook his head slowly. “We have no way of knowing how it’s piled on the other side. If we took the wrong rocks out, it could all come down in a rush and crush us.”

I could tell what he wasn’t saying. Faster, stronger, he’d be able to get out of the way just fine. But I wouldn’t.

We were too close for my annoyance at the truth to stop us now. I’d grumble later. “What if I stayed back? Maybe even past where the tunnel branched off? Would that be safe enough for you to dig through?”

Geir examined the pile for long moments, the rocks all that stood between us and the compound. Between him and his mission. He grunted acceptance.

“Call out when you’re safe and I'll get started.”

Once I was situated, rocks flew past the alcove where I waited. I shook my head. Now that he was back on track, nothing would stop him from getting the information he needed.

He had his tasks, I had mine

Reluctantly, I pushed the lingering memories of his kisses from my mind. I couldn't afford the distraction.

Sooner than I expected Geir called for me, his voice quiet down the tunnel. “Let's go.”

He reached down to help me, but I clenched my teeth, moved past him and through the small opening he'd made.

Once on the other side of the rocks, I could see what had happened.

The ceiling of the tunnel had come collapsed in the last quake, exposing the bottom of a maintenance shaft. The jagged opening poked through the rock like a broken bone through the skin.

Pale light spilled into the tunnel from the maintenance corridor door above. There was just enough space to squeeze through.

I started to climb then froze as his hands lifted me, lifting me until my head cleared the smooth flooring.

Holding my breath, I craned my neck to look down the corridor as far as I could in each direction in the half-light. Nothing. No one. It was far past time for any of the maintenance crews to be out working. Everything at that level should be deserted, only the emergency lights still shining from the panels.

“It's clear,” I whispered as he boosted me the rest of the way. With one powerful leap, he joined me, crouching on the floor, his hand on the hilt of the knife at his side, eyes sweeping for any enemies.

I stood up, stretched and got my bearings. “Like I said, it's empty. I think we should go this way.”

Without speaking we passed through the maze of maintenance tubes, relying on my bare memories of the few times I'd been allowed this close to the heart of the compound. The hiss and clatter of mechanicals sounded all around us and I relaxed.

Here, helping Tianna with her rounds, was the one place I'd felt comfortable in the compound.

We turned another corner and as if summoned by my thoughts, there she stood.

Geir stepped in front of me, orange lights glinting from the drawn knife blade.

I put my hand on his arm, squeezing lightly to get his attention. “She's a friend. Maybe the only one I have here.”

He looked down, a snarl of distrust still twisting his face. But he stepped aside.

“I had sensors set up when I found the damage,” Tianna said. “Didn't know what would come up from beneath.” She looked almost sad and I wondered what had happened in the compound while I was gone.

“I didn't expect to see you.” Then her hand raised, and I saw the needle gun she held.

“But now that you’re back, you’re coming with me.”

“What do you mean?” I sputtered.

She fired the gun, the needle shattering on the tile at my feet. “I’m serious, Val. Less talking, more moving.”

She hadn’t counted on Geir.

With a growl, he leaped over me, knocked the needle gun from Tianna’s hand before she could react, and loomed over her, his knife at her throat.

“Stop!” I shouted. “Something is going on. She’d never attack me without a reason. You say you're here for information? Then listen.”

The tip of his blade pressed into the notch of her collarbone.

“I’m listening,” he grunted. “For now.”

Tianna’s eyes bounced between us as if noticing Geir for the first time. “Who is he?” she whispered. “What is he doing here?”

“That’s a really long story.” And one that I didn’t quite have all the answers to myself. But she didn’t need to know that. “If you're threatening me with the gun, I assume something's gone terribly wrong, and we don’t have a lot of time. What happened?”

She slumped to the side, her arms drooping, letting the weapon fall to the floor with a clatter. Tianna looked as exhausted and terrified as I felt most of the time.

“It’s Abril,” she finally admitted.

A lump formed in my belly. “What's wrong? Is she sick?”

Tianna laughed bitterly. “No, illness would be something I could do something about.” She swallowed. “Stanton. He's punishing me. He’s taken her to the cage.”

“Oh, no.” I shook and this time I knew it had nothing to do with the pills. “He can't do that. You haven’t done anything.”

Tianna scrubbed at her face. “He can. He will. He's written you off, I think. Wherever you were hiding, he couldn't find you. Must have figured I'd given you a way to escape.”

“Don't be stupid,” I argued. “I'd never put anyone in that position.”

“I know that. But Stanton doesn’t. He hasn’t said anything outright, but it's clear he wants to make sure that I don't get too close to…" The sentence trailed off, and she glanced up, her face white.

I nodded. No one ever spoke to me about it. Time one more rule to be broken. “He wants to make sure you don't befriend the next clone. Make sure she’s even more isolated.”

She nodded. “I played with one of your older sisters, years ago, when I was learning Mechanicals. I think you’ve always liked it down here.”

Tianna sagged a bit more, and Geir lowered the knife so she didn’t cut herself. It was clear she wasn’t a threat, not anymore.

“It doesn’t matter what the truth is. By taking Abril, he knows I won’t do anything.”

“Wait a minute,” Geir broke in. “You're not the enemy, fine. But if one of you doesn't tell me what's going on, you will be.”

I stepped back, shocked. Maybe I should have explained things to him before, but I thought Geir knew at least the basics. Otherwise, why was he here?

“The General runs the Compound, at least, in name. In reality, he’s got a cadre of loyal followers to oversee things. In turn, Stanton oversees them.” I remembered his mocking eyes. “He’s not a nice man.”

“General Melchior, that’s who you’re talking about?”

I nodded, but Geir didn’t look any less perplexed.

“How is he even still alive?”

Tianna snorted. “I thought we were skipping the long stories.”

“You're right, for now.” I couldn’t miss the meaning in his look. “Enough backstory. What’s the immediate problem?” he demanded.

“Tianna has been my friend here. Her daughter is my friend, too. Abril is young, hasn't made a contribution to the compound yet.” I hated the words, but he needed to understand how things worked here. “Stanton can't punish Tianna, directly, she’s got too many skills the Compound needs. He’ll use Abril to keep her in line.”

“By doing what?”

“The Devourers,” I whispered.

Tianna nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “That's always the way. She was arrested for ‘subversive activities.’ Like that girl’s even old enough to have a subversive thought in her head. She’s in the cage now, with the young man who fought the guards when they came to take her.”

The horror sunk in. Abril, with her bright laugh, and funny smile, gone.

“That’s stupid,” Geir insisted.

“Shut up!” I hissed at him, cheeks hot. “You've never had to watch people thrown to the Devourers, listen to their screams, keep your expression neutral, pretend you didn’t care.”

“No, that part’s terrible.” He turned his back to Tianna, wrapped his arms around me. “That’s not what I meant. But Stanton’s strategy is stupid. If he’s trying to control Tianna, why would he kill her daughter? That means you have nothing left to lose.”

"Only if Abril were her only daughter," I answered, and comprehension filled his expression.

Tianna nodded. “I will have to stand and watch and not react as the bottom opens from the cage. And never do anything that threatens the plan. Or I know what they will do to Mara.”

She sank to the floor of the corridor, face buried in her hands. “I'd always ignored the whispers of the people who didn't think we should be here anymore. That whatever our grandparents had decided, that shouldn't have dedicated us to this life. I was loyal.”

"I know." I sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. She looked up in surprise at my touch. "I've learned a few things while I was gone."

And I held my oldest friend while she cried.

After a while, she pushed away. "Wherever you've been, you need to go back. There's nothing for you here.”

A thought struck me. “When you said I could help you, what did you mean?”

She looked ashamed. “I saw you come into the monitors, and I had a crazy idea. I thought if I handed you back to Stanton he'd give me Abril back. A trade.”

I shook my head. “You know it would never work. He doesn't need me, doesn't care. But he needs you.”

I thought of the times I'd stood at the execution grounds watching families stand tall as their loved ones were sent as a sacrifice, a warning, a punishment. Victims were left in the cage for three days, without food or water, until their terror permeated the entire Compound.

That's how I'd known so well where we were when we'd found the small opening in the rocks that looked out over the sea.

I'd fixed my eyes just at that curve of the dome so many times. The opening must be right below where the cage swung out to drop its victims into the water.

“We were right there,” I whispered.

“What?” Tianna asked.

I turned to Geir. “We can save them.” I bit my lip knowing what I was asking him to do. “You can save them.”

He nodded, trusting me. And I hated myself for it.

I turned back to Tianna. "What would you do to get Abril back? To make this stop? To keep Mara safe? Whatever your parents believed, is this the life you want for your children?"

Tianna looked bewildered. “There's nothing to be done. Nothing escapes the Devourers.”

“Really.” I looked at Geir and motioned with my hand for him to turn.

The long razor thin scars were clearly embedded on the skin of his back. Clear to imagine what had done that damage.

"We can do this. I have a plan. But we'll need a few things. And afterward, you have to help us. We're going to make it all stop."