“Well, on the bright side,” I dab a cotton swab on the slowly healing wound on Quill’s arm, “nobody is dead.”Beth looks up from where Kathleen is helping with the gash on her leg. “You can say that again. I think my wound should close up in another day. What about you, Isabel?”We all look in her direction. Anderson has been fussing over her for the past twenty minutes. He’s not letting anyone disinfect the bite on his arm. “Her swelling is going down,” he says abruptly, his voice tense. “Her open wounds are healing fast. Maybe another couple of hours.”I frown. That’s pretty fast considering how badly she was injured. “Once you’re done with her,” I look at Anderson, “let me take a look at you.”“I’m fine,” he says tightly.Irritation flickers through me. “I’m sure you are. But you are a part of this group, and you also got hurt. So, if you have a problem with me patching you up, then Quill can do it once I’m done with him.”His whole body is stiff. “Whatever.”I give up. G

The camping ground is a one-day journey from the village, and we end up reaching it around the afternoon the next day since we’re all tired. It’s Kathleen who spots it as we’re struggling with a very stubborn thicket that refuses to let us through.“Wait, what’s that?”One glance has us all ducking down. The camping spot is not an open ground, but the trees are definitely thinner around there. I can see two tents pitched up. However, they seem to be empty. My attention wanders around, looking for the enemy, and I see a familiar face.Jesse is sitting against a tree, his eyes lowered, a gag on his mouth. His hands and feet have been chained, and there are two men guarding him. My hands tremble. “He’s okay.”“If you call that okay,” Quill mutters. “He looks like he’s lost weight, and his color is off.”I swallow, my voice hard, “He alive and that’s what’s important right now.”“What about Rachel?” Beth asks warily. “I don’t see her anywhere.”She’s right. I look around, and th

I don’t hesitate in running back to where I left our things. Quickly putting on the bags and carrying the remaining two, I make my way into the stream and rush back.My body is screaming in exhaustion, but I feel as light as a feather. Jesse is alive!However, as I reach my destination, I slow down. Even if he is alive, I still can’t save him. I can’t ask the group to go back. Considering how badly we were injured the first time around, nobody is going to try a second time. And why should they? It’s asking for a death sentence.But I can’t leave Jesse like this.At this point, I don’t know what to do. Even I know I won’t be able to take on any of the enemy. They’re strong while we’re still learning the ropes.Confused and shaken, I make my way to the cave, my legs aching.I’ve barely entered when Beth throws herself at me, her voice panicked, “Where have you been?! It’s been hours, Taylor!”That’s when she notices the bags I’m carrying.She takes a step back, paling. “No. D

I don’t enjoy travelling by myself. The silence bothers me.I’m so used to Quill’s constant complaining, Beth’s laughter, and Kathleen’s random facts about plants, that walking in the silence of the forest by myself makes me feel beyond lonely. I even miss Isabel’s comments about the path we’re on or Anderson’s grunts.Sighing, I look around. I’ve been walking without a break since last night. At times, I’ve broken into a run. I’m tired but not to the point that I want to sleep just yet. My money has dwindled to very little, enough for me to be able to buy some bread at the village, but nothing more.The shortcut I’ve taken should have me at the village in another couple of hours. Or at least that’s what I anticipate. Yawning, I rub my eyes. What I wouldn’t give for a warm bed and food right now. Looking over my shoulder, I wonder how far Beth and the others have gotten. They would have to cross the village as well, but I should be in the hills by then. But first, I have to gather

Lowenstein shrugs. “It’s a spiritual test. You have to tend to the fire for a week, cleanse your heart, and only then, do you step into the fire once you are ready.”“A week?!”“Time passes slowly in the cave where the fire is kept,” he explains. “Two hours equals one day. It should take you less than a day. But you cannot take any food and water inside with you. You are to go by yourself.”“What is this fire testing?” I ask slowly.“Resilience.” Lowenstein watches me. “Inner strength. Patience, maybe? I don’t know. It’s a spiritual test. Nobody knows exactly how you pass it. But you will know. Everybody who has passed this test, well, only two individuals, they always said they knew when it was time.”“Time for what?”“To step into the fire,” he explains. “You have to tend to the fire for a week ‘till it grows and then on the seventh day, you step inside. If you pass, it will break the manacles of magic around you.”“This is really vague,” I feel hesitant. “It doesn’t really ma