The sun completely descended by the time I exited Gordon and Nikketa’s tent. Outside, there was a large pot hanging over an open fire. Tallis was leaning over the pot, glancing around to see if anyone was watching. Once he thought no one was looking, he took a sip of the steaming soup, wincing as he swallowed.

“I’m ready to go now,” I interrupted with an air of impatience. The stern Chief spun around, coughing as he fumbled to cover up that he had been sneaking some of Nikketa’s dinner. Seeing him flustered made me laugh.

“How was he?” Tallis asked before straightening and walking towards me, all while ignoring my chuckles.

I brushed my fingers through my long dark hair. “He’s dramatic, that's for sure. I persuaded him to try it on for size. But I'm sure he’ll brood about it a bit more.” I wrapped my arms around myself as I looked around. Various flames illuminated the camp in a haunting glow.

“You should probably eat before we go. Nikketa doesn’t take kindly to people that ignore her dinner invitation,” Tallis informed me, surveying the area.

“Nikketa seems like the type of woman that’s able to handle a little disappointment. Besides, I’ll be back tomorrow. I can eat then,” I rushed out, praying that he wouldn’t make a big deal of me coming back. I looked around the dirty camp and cursed my impulsiveness. I wanted Cy and Mav to revoke Garden duties, but would spending time here be worth it?

Tallis’ eyes widened in surprise as if the notion of me ever returning was something he hadn’t considered. His lips quirked up as he wiped some of Nikketa's stew off his chin. “So you’ll be back then?”

“That's what I said, isn’t it?” What was it about this Scavenger Chief that annoyed me so? “Gordon said you don’t have a school teacher. What kind of leader doesn’t make sure his people have the opportunity to learn?”

Tallis paused then, all playfulness gone from his expression.

“The kind of leader that worries if his people have enough food. Or the kind that has to fight off infected Walkers, spending the evenings alternating between searching for freshwater and guarding camp.”

I considered his statement for a moment while placing my index finger against my bottom lip. Yes, it was sad. But these days, everyone faced hardships; it was simply the state of the Empire.

“Even the Walker Zones have makeshift schools. Round up your children. I’ll come by for an hour or so a day in the evenings.”

Tallis broke out in bright laughter that made goosebumps flash dance across my sweaty neck. His serious expression morphed into mischievous joy.

“Your ego is both concerning and inspiring,” he choked out through bursts of chuckles. “You want to mold the minds of my people? Fine. But you have things to learn, too.”

I took large strides towards the Walker Dorms. Annoyance thrashing beneath the surface of my cool, indifferent expression.

“What could someone like you possibly have to teach me?” I asked over my shoulder. Tallis grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. The movement whipped me out of my forward momentum, forcing me to fall into his strong arms.

“There is much I could teach you,” he said in a tone that suggested he meant more than Scavenger lessons. His white eyebrow arched playfully, and I took in his amused expression which appeared bright against the dark forest. We stood so close that I could make out the intricate scarring on his naked torso. I felt his hot breath on my cheek.

At that moment, I forgot that Tallis was a Scavenger or that we were in the woods. I forgot everything but the sound of my racing pulse as his arms flexed tighter around me. I licked my lips and cocked an eyebrow.

“I think you need a lesson in boundaries,” I replied while pulling out of his grasp. For a moment, he just stood there as I walked away. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that his mouth was slack and his hooded were eyes fixed on me. I swayed my hips, smirking to myself as he shook his head before running to catch up with me.

We traveled in silence until the lights of the Walker Dorms were visible in the hazy night. My stomach growled, reminding me that I missed dinner, and I regretted not grabbing some of Nikketa's stew.

“I’ll be here in the evening to walk you to camp tomorrow. Can’t have you getting lost again,” he said in a coy whisper.

Before I could argue, Tallis was already strolling back into the thick trees. As his deep voice hummed a haunting song, the leaves on the trees surrounding him seemed to dance along to the melody.

* * *

I missed dinner, and there was barely enough luke-warm water left for a five-minute shower. But it wasn't enough to completely wash off the smoke-filled Scavenger camp from my skin.

Day one at the Walker Dorms, I decided that forcing someone to take a chilled shower was a special brand of cruelty. As the water trickled upon my sore shoulders, I looked down at my calloused hands and frowned. The harsh dirt and grime of the Gardens ruined my manicure. I wanted nothing more than to take a nice bath and soothe my muscles. Short showers and crude amenities were now the bane of my existence.

To my absolute dismay, Becca was already fast asleep in her bed next to the window by the time I settled in for the night. Most nights, I made a point to fall asleep before her to save myself the headache of her loud sleeping habits. Like each night before, my roommate’s loud snores filled the tiny bedroom. I tossed and turned on the sad excuse of a mattress, attempting to find a comfortable position. After a few minutes of shifting, I fell back with a sigh, frustrated that I couldn't even position my pillow in a way to drown out her loud snores. God, I missed my goose feather bed. Destroying it the night Cyler and Maverick kicked me out broke my heart. Yet I simply couldn’t live with myself knowing that their little Walker would have it in my absence.

“Oh Kemper,” Becca moaned in her dreamy state, and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Lately, her dreams had become more graphic, and I wanted nothing more than to claw out her vocal cords in her sleep.

After an hour of trying to force myself into exhaustion, I got up and unlocked the door to our small, cramped room.

Curfew was no laughing matter. The only time I saw Kemper be ‘stern’ was while telling me that skipping curfew would earn me more chores. Although scrubbing toilets didn't seem appealing, I decided that it was preferable to this. Besides, what more could they take from me? I didn’t have a family, a home, or a fulfilling career. I guess the clothes on my back were still up for grabs, but they’d have to pry them from my cold, dead, fingers.

I made my way down the dark tiled hallway and into the kitchen where I snuck a small slice of Ashleigh’s chocolate cake. I might hate the girl that stole Jacob's heart and gained favor in my brothers’ eyes, but even I couldn’t deny that her baking skills were amazing. I think what made it taste so good was that it reminded me of Mom’s. It tasted like home.

Even though I loved the taste, it would be a cold day in hell when she’d hear that from me. Everyone worshiped her, which is why I avoided the bakery. I didn't want to subject myself to yet another forum for everyone to gush over how wonderful and perfect she was.

I stuck my fork into the moist cake and sighed in contempt before taking a bite. The rich chocolate flavor burst over my tongue. Why, oh why, must it taste so good? I thought, licking the sweet icing from my lips. All the good things in this world gave me hell.

“I wasn’t expecting to see anyone here,” a low bored voice echoed throughout the kitchen, startling me. I turned around and saw Huxley frowning, his bulky frame taking up the entire doorway .

“What are you doing here?” I asked as incriminating chocolate crumbs tumbled from my mouth. I cringed at the state he had caught me in. Instead of answering, Huxley rolled his shoulders back and strolled towards me. He pulled up a metal stool and sat down, grabbing the fork from my fingers and spearing a piece of the cake before answering me.

“I’m on Guard duty tonight. Heard there was cake here and decided to stop by for a bite.” He placed the fork in his mouth, closing his eyes briefly as he savored the rich treat before handing the fork back to me. “The real question is, what are you doing awake and out of your room? You know Kemper doesn't play around when it comes to curfew.”

I sighed dramatically. “Kemper takes everything way too seriously. And if you must know, since being kicked out of my own home, I’ve been forced to room with quite possibly the most obnoxious sleeper in the entire Empire.” Huxley stared at me with one raised eyebrow before rolling his eyes. He was never one to enjoy my theatrics.

“Hux. It’s bad. All she does is moan Kemper’s name in her sleep.”

At that, Hux let out a short burst of laughter, before closing off his expression again. It was like talking to a rock. A big, scary, intimidating rock.

“I’ve got to get out of here—and soon,” I told him.

Huxley stood, walking over to the sink to get himself a cup of water, then returned to sit back down next to me. “You and I both know you won’t be back in the manor anytime soon.” He took a sip of his drink, then swiped his finger on a stray dollop of chocolate frosting on the wooden table and plopped it in his mouth.

“I haven’t been welcome in the manor since my parents died,” I said. I frowned at the memories that flashed through my mind. Cyler and Maverick’s grief. The relieved looks on their faces when they told me they were sending me off to school. The lonely holidays, birthdays, and lack of visits.

A long and uncomfortable silence stretched between us. Although I didn’t expect him to say anything, sometimes I craved comfort or, at the very least, understanding. I wanted to know that someone else saw the injustice in all this.

“I don’t want to talk about our feelings and shit. Ok? I just wanted some fucking cake,” Huxley began before taking another bite. He chewed slowly and rolled his eyes in exasperation. “But…fuck, I can’t believe I’m saying this… did you ever apologize, I mean really apologize? Not that bullshit ‘oopsie-daisy’ shit you pulled as a kid either. A real, honest, apology?”

For a brief moment, I gaped at him.

“Of course I did!” I replied once the shock of him putting more than two words together wore off.

“Are you sure? Because you never apologized to me.” I shivered as hot coals gathered in the pit of my stomach. Guilt was an emotion I rarely felt, but when I did, it was all-consuming. Huxley had always been the emotionless one in their group. Oh, how I wished to approach a situation with level-headedness. He was direct. Fearless. Hux buried his grudges deep, so asking for an apology meant that this was big—monumental almost.

“Hux—I—I,” I stuttered. I felt unsure of what to say. Out of all of them, he was the last person I expected to have this conversation with. He stared off into the distance for a moment, and I wondered if our conversation was over.

“I don’t blame you, Jules.” He took another long gulp of water before continuing. The pause felt like holding my breath. My feelings felt trapped beneath my ribcage. “At that moment, it wasn’t you and Jacob. It was my mom and that Eastern Scavenger.” Huxley’s expression slipped into a dark frown full of pain, guilt, and regrets. His eyes seemed far away, stuck in his mind's eye and reliving the horror he saw that day. My heart broke for him, but I masked my pity into a look of annoyance.

“Stop blaming yourself, Hux. You’re gonna fuck up your entire life if you go through each experience looking for a reason to punish yourself. God, you’re so helpless and predictable.”

Huxley didn’t smile, but I saw the slight rise in his brow, and I knew that he was no longer trapped in that night. I wanted to feel pity for him, to hug him, to say I’m sorry for what happened to him. But at the end of the day, Huxley needed someone to kick his ass. We’d never get to a good place if I showed him compassion. He wasn’t that kind of guy.

“Thanks for the cake,” he said before stealing another bite. He looked at me again, but this time his expression didn’t burn with the pain of what happened.

"Yeah, do me a favor, Hux. Don't tell anyone I'm eating this."

"Your pettiness never ceases to amaze me, Jules," he replied with a huff before walking out of the room.

I knew he’d never offer me verbal confirmation of my forgiveness. Yet as he left the kitchen, it felt as though he took a chunk of my guilt with him.