I stand when I hear twigs snap in the distance. I can’t see shit. It’s way too dark. I nudge Felix in the side with my foot.

“Wake up,” I whisper in a panic.

He slowly sits up and rubs his eyes. “Wha-” he stops when I put my hand over his mouth and point in the distance. He stands up and moves close to me.

I tap his shoulder, and when he looks at me, I point up towards the tree. He shakes his head, and I nod. He shakes his head again so I grip the front of his shirt tightly. I point sternly at him with my index finger then up towards the tree again. He starts to shake his head again, but this time I point to my eyes then to his. He looks up towards the tree and sighs. I let go of his shirt and motion for him to go first.

As we climb, I remember that Felix is deathly afraid of heights. I could climb faster if it weren’t for my side hurting and being weak. I slip on a branch, and I’m hanging by one hand. Shit! I do my best to swing myself a little to reach the next branch. I don’t look down until we’ve reached as far as we can go. I find a sturdy branch to sit on, and Felix does the same.

I look at Felix. “Don’t. Look. Down. You got this, Felix. It’s going to be just fine. Just breathe,” I whisper.

I close my eyes for a second and breathe in and out, concentrating on the air filling and leaving my lungs until the pain in my side decreases. I open my eyes and look at Felix. He closes his eyes and hugs the tree. He puts his forehead against the bark and curses quietly over and over.

“How far up are we?”

I look down again, and the moon shines on the ground just enough for me to see just how high up we are. If we fell, we’d die for sure. I look at Felix.

“Not too far up,” I lie with a slight smile.

I look down when I hear footsteps beneath us. Felix looks at me fearfully. I shake my head and put my finger to my lips. He nods then closes his eyes. I watch as Hunters swarm the area beneath the tree. One, two, three... Eight... Twelve… Dammit.

I take a deep breath and hold it in. They look around then continue to walk. One drags behind and looks up, right at us. I’m not sure if he can see us or not. I press myself as close to the tree as I can get. Felix is already close to the tree so I don’t say anything to him. His eyes open, and I concentrate on them instead of the Hunter beneath us. I let out the breath I was holding, and my heart starts to beat fast, and my breathing becomes labored. I hear the footsteps move further away and look down. He’s gone. They’re all gone. I let out a sigh of relief.

“Gone,” I whisper.

Felix nods. “Can we get down?” he whispers back.

I shake my head. “Morning,” I say quietly.

He looks like he’s going to be sick but doesn’t argue.

THE SUN STARTS to come up, and every part of my body is stiff and aching, especially my side. Felix looks down, and his breathing immediately becomes fast and heavy.

“Felix, you have to calm down. You can’t climb down safely freaking out like that!” He doesn’t answer. He just clings tighter to the tree. Oh hell. I look at him until he looks at me. When he does, I compel him to climb down. Once we both make it down to the bottom, he looks up at the tree then at me, confused.

“How did I…” his voice trails off as he looks up at the tree again.

“You left me no choice. Damn, you need to toughen up, Bro.”

I stretch and wince when I feel my stitches pull. I lift my shirt and feel that ‘oh shit’ feeling when I see how swollen it is around my stitches. It’s getting infected. I pull my shirt back down and look at Felix who looks pissed.

“You used that mind control bullshit on me?”

“You wouldn’t have come down if I didn’t. You can’t be mad at me for that.”

I start walking in the direction the Hunters went. If my suspicions are right, they are probably headed towards Dandux to see if that’s where we went. Felix follows and scoffs.

“I would’ve come down eventually.”

I laugh and pretend to hug a tree. I make my face look like his did as he clung for dear life.

He rolls his eyes and laughs a little. “Bitch.” He walks faster so he’s beside me and not behind me. “Who were those people last night?”

“Sphere Hunters.” I look over my shoulder at the mention of them. “Ruthless bastards. They’ll slit your throat before you even realize what’s happening.” I try not to think about Plath, but I can’t help it. He’s the worst of them all.

“Oh. Have they been after you before?”

I nod. Only every damn day of my life since I left the Sphere. I push a branch out of my way as we walk. “When we get there, we need to find a way in where we won’t be detected. I have no clue how, so we’ll just have to hope for the best.”

“Wow, I feel so confident now.”

I cut my eyes at him. “Got a better idea?”

“No. But ever since you and Sage disappeared, Dandux and all the other towns are guarded hardcore.”

“I figured. That’s why I said we need to find a way to get in undetected. Are you familiar with where they guard the heaviest?”

He nods. “The whole perimeter of the fence that surrounds the town. There is no easy way in.”

“Of course there isn’t.” I look down at my clothes. “I need to wear something else. This is too obvious.”

“And how do you plan on finding something else?”

I shrug. “Not a clue. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

We walk the rest of the way in silence. I’m hungry, thirsty, tired, and sore all over. I’m sure Felix feels the same, but if he does, he hasn’t complained.

I look at him and notice how much he’s changed. He’s taller; his hair is shaggier and not cut perfectly like it always used to be, and his jaw seems squarer. He’s not built like a bodybuilder, but the distinct muscles in his arms shows that he’s taken the time to work out. I’ve never noticed how much he looks like dad until now. I clear my throat at the realization that I will never see my parents again or have the chance to apologize to them.

It is what is, Orion. Get over it.