Burning, my marks are all burning. Vaguely aware of the sounds of screaming, I finally realise the tortured sounds are coming from my own throat. Twitching where I lie on the ground, I look up at the bright, shining plane of light above me. There are people gathered around in a circle, all dressed in marked, ceremonial robes. Their hoods are up and covering their faces. The pain radiating from my marks is unbearable . . . .

“Kenzie?” a voice says softly, but it’s not coming from here.

A person steps forward towards the plane of light, and everyone standing around seems to lean forward in anticipation.

“Kenz, wake up,” the voice speaks again, but it sounds closer this time.

My body thrashes around on the cold, hard ground. I need to stop them.

“Kenzie!” a different voice shouts, shaking me. My eyes flare open, and I look up at the people standing around me. I’m lying on my bed in Mr. Daniels’ cabin. How did I get here?

The person with their hands on me is Logan. His forehead is creased in worry, and there is blood on his shirt. I look up and notice a few of them have blood on them. Enzo is the worst; his shirt looks soaked in it.

“Are you guys okay?” I croak. I try to sit up, but a pain slams through my stomach. I cry out from the pain and retreat down, my hand clutching at my middle.

“Shit, don’t move, Kenz!” East says, resting a hand on my shoulder, as if to enforce my lack of moving. No worries there, buddy. I am not going anywhere.

“What happened?” I ask, my head feeling confusing. There were people in a circle, or was that a dream?

“You were stabbed, Mr. Layan is the main suspect. Enzo saw him fleeing the scene, and he hasn’t been found anywhere since,” Mr. Daniels explains. I try to get my head around that, a few images flicker through my head, but it’s all still too distorted.

“Any reason nobody has healed me?” I ask, gesturing down at my stomach wrapped in bandages. I look across at the medical equipment. Someone gave me stitches?

“We tried,” Enzo answers through gritted teeth.

“We think the dagger used to stab you was laced with marked powers,” Locke says, sitting at the foot of the bed.

“How?” I ask, having not heard of that being possible before.

“We believe the dagger is one of the original artifacts we have from Ariziadia,” Mr. Daniels answers. “We healed you the best we can, and we used human medicine combined with it where our powers wouldn’t do the job. You will heal, but it will take a few days,” he adds.

“Fuck it hurts,” I mumble, resting my head back against the pillow.

The door crashes open, and all the guys move as one turning to face the entrant. They all visibly relax upon seeing who has entered.

“Why the hell did nobody tell me you brought her here?” Kelly screeches.

Silence from all the guys.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for where you could have taken her, since Enzo ran off to get Kenzie after my vision,” she explains, moving across the room to me.

“Hey, Kells,” I greet her, trying to manage a smile through the pain.

“You look awful,” she says, reaching down to give me a hug. I wrap one arm around her back, returning the embrace.

“Thanks, just what I wanted to hear,” I reply sarcastically, as she pulls away. She gives me a rueful smile and steps back, glaring at the men standing around me.

“Not one of you thought to call me?” she questions.

“We were busy,” East says, gesturing to me.

“I could have helped,” she replies, narrowing her eyes on him.

“We already had a few healers here, what more could you have done?” he asks.

“Guys, can you cut it out? You’re here now, Kells. Thank you. I’m guessing your vision was of me being stabbed? You sent Enzo?” I ask. I look up for him, but notice Enzo must have crept out of the room at some point since Kelly walked in. Because he’s sure as hell not here now, unless he’s gained powers of invisibility. The asshole just left?

“He was there when I had my vision, I told him you were in trouble, and he was gone off to find you. I’ve never seen anyone run so fast,” Kelly answers.

“He didn’t run fast enough,” East mutters, glaring at the open door. A hand rubs up and down my leg comfortingly. I look down and smile at Locke, who continues to rub his hand across my leg.

“He ran straight to her, he couldn’t have gotten there quicker if he tried,” Logan says, resting a hand on East’s shoulder, but he shrugs it off.

“Fuck off. He should have called us. I was closer, I could have gotten there in time if he had called,” he replies.

“She wouldn’t have been alone in the first place had you not been kicked out from class for stripping,” Locke snaps, standing up.

“You helped come up with that plan!” East shouts back at him. Locke opens his mouth to reply when a loud bang hits against the wall, grabbing all our attention.

“Enough! All of you, fucking get out and don’t come back until you start acting like adults,” Mr. Daniels snaps. His fist has dented the wall. That must have hurt. “Kelly, you may stay,” he adds more softly. She nods and sits down on a chair next to the bed.

“Hey! I didn’t do anything,” Logan complains.

“Blame your brother for your removal,” Mr. Daniels says dryly.

“Fuck’s sake,” he mutters, moving to leave the room after East and Locke.

“Would you mind leaving, too? I just want to be with my bestie,” I say softly to Mr. Daniels. He frowns, but nods and leaves at my request, closing the door softly behind him.

“Why did you want to be alone?” Kelly asks, after a tense moment of silence.

“I had a dream while I was unconscious, but it was confused. I think it may have been a vision,” I admit.

“And?” she asks, knowing there is more.

“I want you to try and see if there is more,” I ask.

“I can’t right this second, I’m wiped out from the vision of you being stabbed earlier. That really hurt,” she mutters.

“You felt it?” I ask.

“Yeah. It was weird, in the vision it was as if I was you. I felt everything, and I mean everything. Gods, Kenzie that really fucking hurt, and the smoke was horrible. I could feel you choking on it as Enzo came in,” she explains.

“That is weird. I’m sorry you had to feel that, Kells,” I say, grabbing her hand.

“It’s okay. I’m glad I did, Enzo got to you in time. You’re gonna be okay,” she says, a tear rolling down her face.

“Don’t cry,” I say, hearing the thickness in my own voice.

“My best friend almost died, and I felt it. I think I’m entitled to a few tears,” she replies, more tears chasing the others.

“But, I’m fine, honestly. I’ll be okay, you said so yourself,” I reply, squeezing her hand.

“I know,” she says softly. “But, I’ll feel better once you are back on your feet. I’ll try and look for your future later, but you know how unpredictable visions are,” she says.

“I know, but it’s worth a shot, right?” I ask.

“Worth a shot,” she affirms, sitting back in her seat and stealing a blanket off the bottom of the bed.

“Getting comfy?” I question.

“Might as well, I’m not going anywhere,” she answers, smiling at me. Her phone starts ringing, and she hands it over to me, as I give her a questioning look.

“I told Ryan,” she says, and I groan, glaring at her as I answer the call.

“Hey, bro,” I say, and I hear a big sigh of relief on the other end.

“Kennie, shit I was so worried. Are you okay?” he asks me, sounding stressed.

“Yeah, well kind of,” I reply, trying not to move too much on the bed as my stomach is killing me.

“Has no one healed you yet?” he asks, picking up on something in my voice, I guess.

“The blade was laced with marked powers. They can’t heal me completely, but I will get better soon,” I tell him, and I hear him hit something.

“Shit. I should have been there or something. I have to go, Kennie, and I’m going to sort this all out,” he tells me, and I frown, knowing there isn’t much he can do.

“Is the council going to send your team out after Mr. Layan?” I ask, my voice comes out funny, and I grit my teeth from the pain in my stomach as I shift position.

“Not exactly, but don’t worry about it,” he says, making me want to worry about him even more. I rest my head back as everything starts to get a bit blurry. A roaring sound fills my ears.

“Here, let me,” Kelly says, her voice sounding faded as she takes the phone from me. I can faintly hear her whispering to Ryan just as I fall asleep, but I’m already too far gone to catch the words.