The knife bobs with Daniel’s throat as he swallows, bringing me back from my internal argument. “I. Said. Back. Off!” The volume rises with each word I squeeze past my gritted teeth.

Daniel jumps back. The movement flicks the switch in my head to fight and I lunge forward, lowering the knife and moving to shove it up underneath his ribs.

“Jax! Stop!” A hand comes down on my wrist and I spin, bringing the knife from my boot up with my left hand as I turn. Flint’s wide-eyed face is enough to break me out of my frenzy and I force my left hand to release the knife before completing the arc into Flint’s stomach. My hand still lands there though, too much momentum to stop completely. I relax my right arm and Flint releases it.

“Sorry,” I mumble. I retrieve the knife I dropped and return the other to sit next to the rest of the seller’s wares.

“She’s crazy!” I cringe at Daniel’s words. “Something needs to be done about her. Dane’s let this go on too long. Loony bitch just attacked me for no reason.”

“You provoked her,” says Matt from somewhere off to the side. “I saw it.”

“Stay out of this, Bird Boy.” Daniel practically hisses. “Go back to your birds.”

“Did you?” asks Flint. “Provoke her I mean.”

“No!” Daniel flings his arms up. “I was just explaining to her that guns were for hunters and guards only and then trying to help her find a more appropriate birthday present for her brother.”

“Why were you trying to buy a gun, Jax?” Crap. Crap. Crap. Flint knows Jace almost as well as I do and my present excuse is not going to get by him. He studies my face waiting for an answer, but, too worked up to think of a new excuse, I just look away. “Nevermind. Daniel, go find something productive to do. Jax, come with me.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

He ignores my protest and moves to grab my arm.

I smack his hand away. “You don’t want to do that right now.”

“Fine then. Go home.” He points a finger at my nose and narrows his eyes. “I’m going to take care of Daniel, but you, me, and Jace are going to sit down and have a talk later.”

Does he think I’m some disobedient child to be ordered around? I scowl at him.

Flint runs his hand through his hair. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that…just tell Jace I’ll be over in a couple hours.”

“Will do.” Just not right now. Or anytime soon. Forcing my mouth into a reassuring smile, I give him a mock salute and then walk off.

Once out of his sight, I quicken my steps, close my eyes and let out a long, slow breath. I should have stopped walking for my little stress release because, since I can’t see where I’m going with my eyes closed, I collide with Emily and land on my butt in the dirt.

“Oh goodness, I’m sorry,” she says. She puts out a hand to help me up but quickly retracts it as I get back to my feet on my own.

I brush the dirt off the back of my pants. “It’s okay. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“Did you hear about the alien ship that was spotted East of town? One of the hunters thinks it may have even landed for a while.” My stomach drops. “Wasn’t Jace out hunting today?”

“Uh, yeah, he was.” My mind searches for the right words, the ones that will get rid of her and get me back on my way. “But he came home early today. Wasn’t feeling well.”

“Oh no,” says Emily. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Nope, there’s nothing at all you can do for Jace right now.” Bad choice of words.

Emily’s brow furrows. “Is everything okay?”

Why is everyone asking me that today? Am I that obvious? I’m saved— if you can call it that— from answering by a commotion up the street. Three soldiers are jogging in our direction. They brush right by us and Emily steps closer.

“Jax, are you okay? you’ve gone a bit pale…” She places a gentle hand on my shoulder. For once, it’s not the touch of her hand that sends my stomach dropping to the ground, it’s the direction the soldiers are heading— East, toward my house. Of course, I don’t know for sure that’s where they’re going, but…

“Crap.”

Emily looks from my face to the soldiers. “What’s going on? Let me help you.”

I shake my head. “I think the only person who can help me now is about to be taken into custody.”

“Jace?”

“Nope.” I take off toward my house at a run. Emily calls out behind me, but I ignore her, my mind set on figuring out my next step. I need that alien in one piece in order to get my brother back and I will do whatever it takes to keep him that way.

FIVE

Please be wrong. Please be wrong. The chant repeats in my head with each pounding of my feet as I run back to my house. I dart in between houses, through yards and around people. Maybe I can beat them there?

No such luck. By the time I near my house, I can already see the soldiers milling about. My feet skid with my sudden stop and I take a detour behind the row of houses across from mine. I travel through backyards until I am directly across from my front door, which is wide open and flanked by two soldiers.

Great. Just great. How the hell am I supposed to get around them? My luck doesn’t improve. Daniel exits between the soldiers, his hand around Lir’s upper arm, just as Flint rounds the corner and jogs closer.

“I told you that girl was crazy,” says Daniel, shaking Lir’s injured arm roughly. “I knew a trip over here would be…what’d you call it?…productive. She’s brought one of those things in here. And where’s her brother? That twit is probably in on it. They’re working together to—”

“Shut it, Daniel.” Flint’s words are quiet, but the tendons in his neck strain against the collar of his uniform as he clenches his teeth and his hands are in fists at his side. “I will take it to my father and we will find out what’s going on. I’m sure Jax has an explanation… leave Jace out of it.”

Daniel steps closer to Flint, sneering. “What is it with you and that idiot and his nutso sister? Not even you can protect them from this. You know the rules. No outsiders without permission and this erk’s about as outsider as you can get. Why I bet Dane’ll even let me be the one to pull the trigger if I ask nicely.”

Lir chooses that moment to break out of Daniel’s grip and start running, heading right toward my hiding spot. The alien may be quick, but he’s no match for the five soldiers that have him surrounded, especially injured and with his hands bound in front of him. One of the soldiers easily trips him, sending Lir to land face first on the ground. He struggles to his knees, but Daniel moves forward, stepping onto Lir’s back, slamming him to the ground. Before I can move, Daniel brings the butt of his gun down onto the back of Lir’s head.

Daniel stands, raising the barrel of his gun to point at Lir. “Let’s just go ahead and take care of this problem now.”

“No!” I step out from behind the house, raising my hands slowly. “I need him.”

Daniel turns, bringing his gun around to point at me. “So I was right. You’re a traitor on top of being crazy.” He grins. “Dane’s going love this.”

Flint steps forward, pushing Daniel’s gun toward the ground as he does. “Knock it off Daniel.” His eyes meet mine. “What the hell is going on, Jax?”

I focus on Flint, ignoring everyone else. He will understand. He has to. “Flint, they took him. They took Jace.”

“Who?” Flint’s eyes widen and his gaze travels back to Lir. “The erks? What the hell?”

“I’ve got a plan. I’m getting him back. But I need his help.”

Flint’s eyes narrow “You’re trusting the erk? Why? Do you really think it’s helping you?”

“He is helping me.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Something you’re not right now. He and I have a deal. I get him to the city and he gets me inside so I can get Jace. Just let us go.”