Kate has been blowing my phone up lately and so has my academic adviser. I have ignored them both. I feel bad for avoiding them after all they did for me, but it’s for the best. I had to leave, severing relationships like ripping off a Band-Aid. Quick and without warning. Plath said it’d be easier that way.

“The mountains are amazing.”

“Colorado is one of the most beautiful places on earth.”

A few moments pass in silence while I marvel at the beauty of Louisville, my new home for the moment. But as beautiful as it is, I want to go home to Dandux.

“How do we get back to our Sphere?” I ask as Plath drives towards our new apartment.

“Why do you want to know? I thought I made it clear that we can’t go back. It would be suicide,” he says as he keeps his eyes on the road.

“I was thinking that maybe we could sneak back.” He lets go of my hand and rubs the back of his neck.

“That’s a horrible idea, Orion.” He looks at me for a brief, intense moment and then looks back at the road.

“I don’t think it is. I think it’s a damn good one. I bet I could find Nikolai there.”

“Are you still stuck on finding him?” His words drip with frustration.

“He killed Sage! I will kill him if it’s the last thing I do.”

“He is not someone you want to mess with. Just leave it alone, okay?”

“I can’t leave it alone!” I cross my arms over my chest.

“You don’t know him or what you are up against. If you did, you would not be so eager to try to kill him.”

“I don’t have to know him to be able to kill him. If you know him so well, then you should know where to find him. You should also know his weak points. Please help me with this!” I beg.

“I will not help you with something that will get you killed.”

“Well, we need to go back anyways. I need to at least tell my family that the Constable is planning something horrible.”

He laughs. “And what will you tell them when they ask you what it is?”

“I will tell them that I don’t know. I will explain to them what you told me about not having a way to tell me what it is.” I look at him, and he is still laughing.

“They will think you are crazy.”

“They might believe me. I have to at least try.” I’m annoyed that he thinks this is silly.

Plath pulls into our parking space without saying another word about it and grabs the few groceries we picked up from the back. I unlock the door, and we both go in. I sit on the counter and watch him put the groceries away.

“So, it’s final then. You refuse to help me with this?” I ask, my eyes begging for him to change his mind.

He puts up the last object and stands directly in front of me. “Yes, I refuse to help you get yourself killed. It’s not safe to go back there, and it’s not safe to find Nikolai. I’m not discussing this anymore.”

I pout and say, “I think I liked you more when you wanted to kill me.”

He laughs and kisses me. “If you can come up with a good plan, that will actually work, I may consider helping you.”

“Seriously?”

He smiles. “Yes.”

I spend the next few hours coming up with a plan, while Plath cooks us something to eat.

“IT’S BEST IF we find Nikolai and kill him before we go back to the Sphere. I want him dead more than anything. When we sneak back into the Sphere, I want to go to Dandux to talk to my parents and Felix. I also need to tell Sage’s parents what happened. As hard as it will be, they deserve to know.” I also plan on marching myself up to the Constable right after I expose their lies. I leave that part out, though. Everyone who lives in the Sphere deserves to know there is a world outside of our own and that the Constable have been lying and hiding a big secret.

Plath doesn’t say a word until I’m done explaining my plan. He takes a drink and looks at me. His expression is hard for me to read. “Are you finished?” I nod.

“Let me make sure I understood you. First we find Nikolai, kill him, and then go to Dandux to warn your family and give Sage’s family closure?”

“Yes, and then we can come straight back here.”

He looks thoughtful for a moment and then says, “First of all, your plan is a load of shit. It isn’t even a plan. It’s a list of events, not well planned at all. Second of all, I don’t think we will have to look very hard for Nikolai. He is most likely searching for us. We just have to make it easy for him to find us.”

I feel a nervous pull in my gut. “Okay. How?”

“Just sit and wait. You and Sage killed a lot of the Hunters on his team. Even worse, you altered the mind of one of them.” He smiles and continues talking, “He is probably looking for you himself. I doubt he sends any more of his team to get slaughtered.”

“Okay… That sounds easy.”

“It won’t be easy to kill him though. The best time to kill him would be when he least expects it. It’s best if you act like you’re scared and make him feel like he has already won. Don’t let him see how strong you are.”

“You are talking like you won’t be there to help me?”

“I won’t be. I will be close, but he won’t come if I’m with you.”

“Why not?”

“He just won’t.” His expression is serious.

“I don’t get it. It sounds like he is the king of whoop-ass.” I laugh.

“I was supposed to be the leader of the group. I was the strongest, most focused - you get my point. Nikolai is much older than I am, and I wanted more training before I took a leader position, not while I’m in my twenties. He knows that I know his weaknesses because we trained together. He doesn’t want to pick a fight with me. I can assure you.”

“So, when are you leaving?” I ask, sort of doubting this whole idea and shocked he is allowing me to go through with it.

“Whenever you are ready. I can assure you it won’t be long, and he will be here. You just have to promise me you will kill that bastard.”

A wicked smile forms on my lips. “You don’t have to worry about that. How is he going to know you are gone?” I ask as I stand from the table.

He stands up as well and starts picking up the mess from dinner. “I can guarantee we are being watched right now. If they see me leave, he won’t hesitate.”

I look up at him and say, “You said they?”

“Yes, I did. He probably has Hunters watching us, and they will notify him when you are most defenseless.” I shudder a bit as I think how badly this could end.

“You are seriously going to let me do this?” I ask him skeptically. He is being too easy. This isn’t like him.

He laughs and immediately looks frustrated. “Hell no! You mean after everything I just told you, you are still willing to go through with it? I figured you would back out of it! You are so stupid!”

Now I’m pissed. I thought he was being serious. How could he joke with me like this?

“Yes! Do you not realize how important this is to me? How could you lead me on to believe you were going to allow me to do this? You are an insensitive jack-ass!” I grab my messenger bag and start loading my pistol.

“What are you doing?” Plath asks as he tries to take my gun away, but I already have it loaded pointed at him.

“I’m doing this whether you like it or not!”

“Are you seriously pointing your gun at me?” He yells in pure shock.

“I’m not letting anything get in my way! Not even you!” I scream.

Plath backs away from me, and I put the gun safely down at my side. I feel bad for overreacting like that, but I won’t let anything get in the way of me killing Nikolai. I wouldn’t kill Plath. I just need him to realize how serious I am about this.

I’m doing my best to keep my voice calm and say, “Plath, I would never shoot you. The safety was on the whole time. I just wish you could support me in this.”

“Why would I support you in doing something that could get you hurt or killed?” He leans against the wall; his expression hardens, but his voice is calmer somehow. “You know what, Orion? Go! Go get your stupid ass killed. And you think I’m selfish for not wanting you to go! You need to take a good, long look in the mirror so you can see the correct definition of selfish.”

I hesitate and almost don’t leave. But I have to do this. I place my gun in my boot and throw my messenger bag over my shoulder. I pull the hood of my jacket over my head and look at Plath, who refuses to look at me, before walking out of the door.