I'm awake before the other three, much to my satisfaction. The conversation from last night still replaying in my head. I was a fool to put any trust in them. To think they would try to pawn me off after I did what they needed. I shake my head. I live for the adrenaline and danger. I don't think I'll ever be able to live a normal life again.

Crawling out of my tent, I see the sun has just started to light up the world, but it hasn't peaked over the horizon yet. I stretch, my joints popping, before putting on my crampons and heading for the dead Shell. All of the ice damage from the previous day is completely gone, with every damaged tree having been completely healed and the ground looking as untouched as everything else around me. How is that possible? Surely, those three didn't repair everything.

Whatever. I walk up to the Shell and peer into the hole my sword had made. Now that everything has frozen over, I realize how strange it is. It's a perfect circle about three feet in diameter. No way Nebula could have caused that. I scratch my head in confusion as I reach down and pull the sword. To my surprise, it comes out as easily as it exits my scabbard. There is no blood on the weapon, and the dark gray blade looks untouched.

"Huh." I swing it around a few times, but nothing feels different. I shrug and sheath it, turning toward the camp only to find Azu right behind me, "Holy Shit!" My heart leaps up my throat, and I jump back. How long has she been there?

Azu rolls her eyes at my reaction, "For someone always on guard, you are surprisingly easy to sneak up on."

"Yeah? Well, I'm not a freaky superhuman, something you people have made painstakingly clear."

Azu sighs, and for the first time, she has an emotion that almost looks like remorse on her face, "Listen, I do not agree with how Zack handled that conversation yesterday."

"Ah, right." I start to pace in front of her, my hands moving erratically as I talk, "Which part? The one where he told me I was part of the team, and you guys won't turn your back on me? Or the part when he does the exact opposite that night and tells me I am expendable and just a quota? Seems like quite the contradiction to me." I stop in front of her and shove my finger in her face, the anger I felt from last night roaring back in even greater force, "And as this was happening, all you did was watch and listen. But now you want to try to pity me? Fucking sure. Whatever. I don't want to talk to you or the rest of this backstabbing group of losers."

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I move to walk past her, but suddenly, I'm weightless and flying back, the MULE getting smaller. I gasp as my back slams into an ice pillar, the air leaving my lungs and the cold of the tree tearing through my body suit. Azu appears before me as I slump to the ground, her eyebrows furrowed and a look of disappointment on her face.

"You may not want to hear what I have to say, but you will listen. Zack struggles to understand those weaker than him. He was taught at a young age that those without strength are worthless and without merit. Even so, he fights his nature on a consistent basis. He does care if you live or die. He cares more than anyone in this forest or in the city, hell, probably in the whole world. He just does not know how to show it."

Now Azu is the one who's pacing, a look of frustration on her face, "It is hard for me to explain why, nor is it my place to tell you. And Hearon was only trying to help you understand. You are a secondary." She stops and crouches down to meet me at eye level, "You are supposed to die out here, Silen. We are supposed to let you die. Do you really think that command would be okay with letting a Titanian know secrets about our trade that not even the civilians are privy to?"

I open my mouth to argue back, but nothing comes out. I was sent here to die? I break her gaze and stare at the ground. Now that I think about it, I've never heard of a secondary that came alive that actually went into the forest and everyone besides Azu and her group have never even looked at me. Almost as if I didn't exist. I'm also an outsider who knows so much about what's beyond the mountains. "My god," I whisper to myself.

"Now you understand. All of the comforts you have been gifted were at Zack's expense. He even made a deal with Bell. That's why I can't let you die. None of us can." Azu stands, her hands on her hips.

"Why would he do that? We barely know each other."

Azu looks away, an emotion I can't quite place flashing across her face. "You two are very similar. Way more than you realize. I do not know the whole story, but I think he wants to give you the same chance to live that he was given. Maybe he is hoping you will reach your potential, whatever that is. But one thing is clear: he sees something in you none of us can."

"Yeah? Well, if you want us to understand each other, then maybe he should talk to me face to face and not have his women do it for him."

A flash of anger crosses her face, "I am not his woman. I am my own person, and what I do has nothing to do with him. Maybe if you would get your head out of your ass, the two of you could get along."

I scoff, "Sure. I'll do that when he comes to me of his own free will, but by the look on his face, I highly doubt that will be happening any time soon."

Azu turns and sighs as Zack stares at us from the edge of the camp, his face distorted into a scowl. I move past Azu, ignoring both of their burning gazes.

"What were you two talking about?" There's an edge to Zack's voice as he glares at me. Not too far away, Hearon watches us closely. Maybe expecting a fight to break out, not that it would be much of one.

"None of your business. I'll stay in my lane if you stay in yours," I growl back and walk past him. The rage I felt has now been redirected from Zack to the entire team. They recruited me to die. Even if that isn't the intention now, it was originally. They lied to me and decided the best way to hide it was to lie even more. How can I just let that go? This was the exact same thing Mirin did. Ugh. I start breaking down my tent as a barrage of emotions slams into me. Betrayal, anger, even sadness. With a heavy sigh, I pack my things and head over to the MULE, starting it up and getting prepped for the rest of the day.