I sit across from Plath at the table after putting all of my bags in my room. He took me shopping for clothes and things I needed today, and it all felt oddly normal. There are no Hunters after me because the Constable think Plath is sticking to the plan. And he is. Sort of. He’s keeping me safe until they request my return. But he never plans on returning me. Then we’ll both be hunted and on the run. But for right now, we’re safe.

“This is weird.”

He raises a brow and takes a bite of his food. “Why?”

“Us getting along. The way things don’t seem so bad even though they really are.”

He takes a drink and scoots his food around with his fork. “Just wait until we have sex.”

I blush every shade of red. “You did not just say that!”

“Pretty sure I did.” He laughs and continues to eat.

“I love how you assume I will be having sex with you in the future.”

A grin plays at his lips. His eyes look seductively into mine. “I saw the way you looked at my body that night in the hotel room, and the way you’re looking at me right now.” He laughs when I blush again.

“How do I know you’re not the one they plan on getting me pregnant; how do I-”

Oh shit! My eyes widen, and I drop my fork. I was saying that to joke around, but everything I said and didn’t finish saying could very well be the truth.

Plath stands to defend himself. “Orion, I swear. I have no intentions-”

I throw my hand up in the air to stop him. “I want to believe you, but you are going to have to prove this one to me.”

He looks confused. “How the hell do I do that? You’re sexy as hell, and it’s only a matter of time before-”

“I’m getting on birth control,” I say matter-of-factly then rest my head in my hands. I hate that we even have to have this awkward conversation.

I look up at him, and he nods. “That’s a brilliant idea.”

“I need a fake I.D. again.”

“Okay.”

We both stop talking and turn to look when Nate comes in and motions for Plath to follow him into the hall. I tuck my hair behind my ears and continue eating.

“IF I DON’T go then Caym and the rest of the Constable will know I have ulterior motives.”

“Plath, please don’t kill anyone.”

“It’s my job.” He sticks a gun inside his jacket and extra ammo in his jean pocket.

I sit down on his bed and look away from him. “I could end all of this you know…”

He stands in front of me. “No.”

I nod and keep my eyes locked on the wall beside the bed. “I heard Nate say if word gets out about who I really am-”

He cuts me off. “It won’t.”

I look at him. “You don’t know that.” I close my eyes and dig my nails into my palms as I clench my hands into fists. “Just go.”

“Orion?”

I lie back on his bed and keep my eyes closed. “What, Plath?”

“I love you.”

He waits, but I don’t respond. I hear the door shut and sigh heavily. Knowing he’s out there killing Dwellers who finally figured out how to leave that hell rattles my bones. I can stop all of this. I’m sure the Constable will freak and kill all they can if I were to die and the Sphere be destroyed. But most everyone could run. They wouldn’t be stopped by the walls of the Sphere. They wouldn’t need the moon to be in the right position or the right time for them to leave the Sphere. They would be free. I would be free.

I cover myself with Plath’s blankets and inhale. His blankets smell like him. Sexy, dangerous, and like home - safe. I lie here and think about a way to fix all of this and the only conclusion I keep coming to that makes sense is:

I have to die.

“ORION,” I FEEL a strong hand that’s not Plath’s on my shoulder before I can walk all the way out into the dark hall to see if Plath’s made it home. “Orion,” Nate’s voice repeats.

I blink and rub my sleepy eyes as I look up at him. “Hey, where’s Plath?” My stomach twists in knots when my eyes adjust a little and get a good look at his expression. “Oh no! Is he-”

“He’s not dead.” He leads me back into my room and makes me sit down on my bed. “I just brought him back from the emergency room, and he checked out fine. But he doesn’t want you to see him like this.”

“What happened?” I scream, standing again, trying to push past Nate. Problem—he’s built like a cement wall.

He pushes down on my shoulders until I’m sitting on the bed again. “Calm down! He got the shit beat out of him, but I got there in time. He was outnumbered. He said it would only upset you to see him like this so it’s better if you just wait until morning after he’s had time to sleep it off.”

I look at Nate’s hands that are firmly holding my shoulders. There’s dried blood on his knuckles. I wonder if it’s Plath’s. I look up at him.

“Blood. What was the deal with all the blood?”

He looks confused. He loosens his hold on me but doesn’t completely let go. He’s smart because first chance I get, I’m going to find Plath.

I look down at the floor. “When I was at the Constable Headquarters… There was blood. It stained my shoes.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I look up at him again. “It pooled in. I was the only one who seemed bothered by it. Then it went away. My shoes were ruined. I think the white suits gave me another pair because two days later they were clean again.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Have you taken something?” He grabs my face and squeezes it a little. “How many pills did you take, Orion?”

I slap his hand away, which he moves back to my shoulder.

“Nothing! I haven’t taken anything! Dammit, I’m not trying to kill myself! I know I can’t! But what I’m saying is for real! It really happened! In that tiny meeting room where Plath was acting all important and shit. Caym even said we were standing in the blood of our victories. Then he said there were still more of the Fallen to find. Who are the Fallen? ”

“They are the ones that left the Sphere.”

Nate and I both turn to look towards the door when we hear Plath’s weak voice. He sluggishly walks in, and Nate lets go of me. I stand up so I can help Plath into bed. I cover him and sit next to him. I run my fingers over his bruised cheek and down his bruised jaw. He lifts his shirt to show me his black and blue chest. A tear falls down my cheek. He smiles weakly.

“It’s just bruises. That’s all. I’m fine.”

“You said you didn’t want me to see you.”

He laughs then winces. “I figured you were giving Nate a hard time so I thought I’d break my own rule.”

I lean forward and kiss his cheek. I run my fingers through his hair and stare into his mysterious eyes. I love how the eyes that I once only saw lies in now reveal so much truth. I love his eyes. I love him.

I hear the door close and notice Nate is gone. Plath touches the side of my face and half-grins.

“I look like shit.”

I laugh. “Yeah, you do.”

“You’re the only one who saw the blood, Orion. It wasn’t real. But being who you are, your mind was able to envision it.”

“But there was so much! I don’t understand.”

“There was so much because so many died.”

“But my shoes were stained with it for two days!”

He laughs. “No, they weren’t. You were just so bothered by it that your mind still saw it. Do you know why you never conformed to the ways of the Sphere?”

I nod confidently. “Because of my abilities.”

“That’s part of it. But mostly because you are the Sphere. You have this discernment to know that things aren’t right even though everyone lives in this illusion created by the Vespers that it is. Dwellers accused you of being angry and said you were mental. That wasn’t it at all. You were angry without even realizing why. It’s because this is not how the Sphere is supposed to operate—deep down you always knew that. You’re supposed to be in control, and you aren’t. It’s all way out of hand and too big to change.”

I could change it. I could stop it actually.

“This all seems so surreal.”

“I know.”

“So, I only imagined the blood?”

“You didn’t imagine it, Orion. You felt it.”

I lie down next to him and cover us both with the blanket. I run my hand up and down his chest until his breathing becomes even, and he falls asleep.