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Havenwood Six Years Ago

Riley couldn’t look Donovan in the eyes.

His little brother was dead and it was her fault.

It was late at night and she didn’t think they would make it. Andrew was walking too slow and she thought he was sick. Donovan was angry and making too much noise as they walked up the steep trail that would eventually lead to the cabin where Thalia would meet them.

James was supposed to come with them tonight. But James was dead.

She glanced back when she didn’t hear Donovan’s thrashing anymore. The two men weren’t there and she panicked. Riley backtracked and found Donovan holding Andrew upright.

“How much farther?” Donovan snapped.

“Thirty minutes. Maybe longer because we’re going slow.”

“He’s sick. Want to beat him to make him move?”

“Don’t, Donny,” Andrew said. “I’m okay.”

“You’re not okay. We should have waited until you were better.”

“We can’t wait,” Riley said. “If you’re not there when Thalia comes, she will leave and you’ll never get out.”

“I’ll take my chances in the mountains,” Donovan said. “If Thalia can find her way out, so can I.”

“Donny, we need the guide,” Andrew said weakly.

“It’s okay, baby,” Donovan said. “I’ve got you.”

So kind to Andrew, but he glared at Riley. “I’ll never forgive you,” he said. “James trusted you.”

Her chest was so tight it hurt. She turned away and continued leading Donovan and Andrew up the path.

Though late July it was cold at night. She pulled her jacket close. How many times had she done this? A half dozen? Leading others to freedom, only to return to Havenwood and pretend nothing happened.

She didn’t have much time. She had to be back before her mother or fathers woke up, or they would know. She had become so good at sneaking around, but her mother had recently started a sentry program in the summer—when people left—hoping to catch Thalia coming to the valley. Riley had to work around them, and so far their focus was on the road, not the trails leading out of the valley.

It took nearly an hour to reach the cabin. Thalia was already there.

“You’re late,” she said.

“Andrew is sick,” Donovan explained. “Can we stay here for a couple days?”

“No.” Then her voice softened. “It’s going to be hard, but we need to hike out of here. We can camp at a place I know until Andrew feels better, but we can’t stay here. Where’s James?”

Donovan’s face fell, then he glared at Riley. “He’s dead. He’s dead because of Riley.”

“What happened?”

Riley couldn’t speak of it, but Donovan did. “He fell into a trap. And she knew and didn’t help him. She let him die.”

“Calliope,” Thalia said.

“No, Riley,” Donovan spat.

Thalia looked at her oddly. Riley couldn’t explain. Her stomach twisted and all she could hear through pounding in her ears was James crying.

“Thalia,” Riley said quietly. “Please let me come with you.”

Thalia pulled her out of the cabin while the two men rested. “Calliope will hunt you down and everyone will be in danger.”

“But—”

“No,” Thalia said. “What really happened to James?”

“I made a mistake. James paid for it. I’m so sorry.”

“But Calliope doesn’t know you’re helping me, does she?”

“If she did, would you take me?”

“Just answer the question.”

Riley shook her head. “No.”

“Listen to me—if you leave, everyone you love in Havenwood will pay the price. Do you want that?”

What about me? What about the price I’m paying?

Instead, Riley shook her head again.

Satisfied, Thalia nodded. “Who’s next?”

“Cal.”

“I’ll let you know when.”

“Calliope has sentries. It’s getting harder.”

“You’re smart,” Thalia said. “You’ll figure it out. I’ll be back for Cal next summer, but I’ll come earlier if possible, the first time the trail is safe enough. You’re going to have to run back.”

No thank-you, no goodbye, no hug.

Just run.

Riley ran as fast as she dared down the trail, then circled around the valley to the southern edge, where the lake pooled. It was deep now because of the melted snow. She wanted to jump in and disappear...

But she had a job to do. Cal was next. She had to make sure he didn’t do anything to get in trouble, or it would be harder to get him out.

She headed back to their village when she heard the rooster crow. She was late.

She ran, then someone grabbed her when she reached the edge of the barn. She almost screamed, but hands clamped down over her mouth.

This was it. She was going to be punished. She would be sent to the pit for weeks...months...

“Riley,” a familiar voice whispered.

Cal? She turned around and he dropped his hands.

“It’s you,” he said with awe.

“You can’t tell. Please.” Her voice cracked and she was near panic. She didn’t want to be punished. She didn’t want anyone at Havenwood to suffer because of her actions.

There was a voice near her house, then another. Suddenly, Cal pushed her against the barn and kissed her. It was sudden and surprised her so much she couldn’t have pushed him away if she wanted. The kiss continued, and at first she wanted to scream, No, you’re my best friend! But then she remembered all the fun they had, laughing, how when Cal was twelve and she was ten they made pies with her grandma. When Cal let her cry on his shoulder after she was forced to shoot her horse. How he always seemed to be there when she needed someone to just...sit with.

“What is going on?” a male voice said and Riley jumped.

Cal stepped back and looked sheepish.

It was Evan, her mother’s newest partner.

“I—I’m sorry,” Cal said.

Evan frowned. “You okay Riley?”

She nodded because she couldn’t speak.

“I have to tell your mother,” he said.

“Please, I don’t want Cal to get in trouble.”

“He won’t get in trouble, you’re sixteen, you can make these decisions yourself. But you both broke curfew sneaking out so early in the morning. And we have a problem.”

Her heart skipped a beat. They knew.

“What problem?” she asked.

“We found the traitor. But you don’t have to worry about it.”

Cal’s hand tightened around her own. She hadn’t even realized he was holding her hand.

“Come on, you need to explain your absence to Calliope and then do your chores.”

He motioned for them to follow him, then turned and started walking.

Riley stared at Cal in the awakening dawn. “What’s happening?”

“Nothing good. But as far as everyone is concerned, we met behind the barn at four thirty this morning.”

“You’re next,” she whispered.

“You’ll come with me.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

Suddenly Calliope was in their path. Evan said something to her, and she looked at Cal and Riley. Riley froze. She knew. She had to know.

Then Calliope said, “I’ll talk to you two later. For now, you’re both grounded. Cal, go home. Riley, to your room. Do not leave until I say you can leave.”

She nodded, dropped Cal’s hand, and ran home.

By the time she got to her room she heard a commotion outside her window. She opened her curtains and stared down at the village center, where a huge redwood tree grew. Anton and Garrett were dragging a bloodied man along the path, toward the prison—the pit in the ground where Calliope punished serious offenders.

It was Brian.

We found the traitor.

Calliope thought that Brian had helped Andrew and Donovan escape, because they were friends. Brian worked with Donovan every day in the greenhouse. She picked up on a few words below, that he’d disappeared in the middle of the night and they found him on the road. Brian was sobbing.

“I didn’t do anything!” he cried out.

That was the last Riley heard—or saw—Brian.