The crowds roamed outside, awaited us, expected us, salivated for our blood. I spotted them outside. Not many. Just a few. But even a few people with rocks and debris could kill you. I glanced at Almyra, who had leaned forward. Her feet pointed at the door. Her eyes, glimmering bursts of justice, as if she somehow was responsible for what had happened, as if somehow, she was responsible for what the Achroites had done to the Naturals. I did not think she was.

But before she could even step ahead, I held her arm. “I won’t let you.”

“I am not in need of your permission to do anything, Cael.”

“I’m not going to let you go kill yourself in that mob,” I said. “I’ll go. You find Samuel and Mildred.”

“What for?” she said. “So I must live being in knowledge that I snatched you of your family?” She glared at me. The first time. Then I found out she had only glared another person like that before. And it blasted my heart. “So I must live being in knowledge of my causing your sister’s tears?”

Her eyes changed. Turned into dried out turloughs. And I was the reason.

“So you’re asking me to do nothing as they lapidate you?” I said. “That’s … I … I risked my life to save you.”

“You are not in need of repeating that.”

“I am,” I said. “Because what you’re asking me, I can’t do. I will not stand by as they kill you.”

“I shall not remain idle while they lapidate you either.”

“Then let’s both head out,” I said. “And make a break for it.”

“Be not stupid, Cael,” she said. “Should we do that, we shall both perish.”

“Then that’s what it’s going to take,” I said. “Because if you go, I go. If they want to lapidate you, they shall be forced to pass by my bloody corpse.”

And I could not decipher Almyra’s state of mind. Because on the one hand, she wanted to go. But then I spotted her other foot. And it did not point forward. But to me. Though not because of her, not because she wanted to preserve her life, or save herself, but because perhaps she didn’t want to sadden me. I had already lost Ashley. And now I would lose her if she went. Was that it? “Why do you care about me, Almyra?” I said. “Is it just because of my family?”

“I care about everyone.”

“Treating everyone nicely does not mean you’ll sacrifice yourself for every person you see.”

“You did for me.”

“Because you’re not every person I see.”

Almyra stepped toward me. “So then why did you save me?” she said. “Up to that point, I was only Almyra Bernhart, daughter of Bernhart Industries CEO. Your enemy.”

“Because I have to save everyone,” I declared. Thought it a half-truth though, which I had already practiced.

“You are not in capacity to fool me,” she said.

“Don’t turn the tables on me, Almyra,” I said. “This is about you. I know it’s not just because of my family that you care about me.” I lied. I did not know. I regretted the words, but delivered them as if I was saying the truth. Because deep down, I believed there was more, even if I didn’t know it yet, even if I had no idea what it was.

She muttered something but then closed her mouth. Because she did not know what to say. Because she had not practiced her answers. Which punctured my heart, ruptured my soul. Was I a liar for rehearsing half-truth answers? Was she being more truthful than I?

I had not thought about it until that point. Because that’s how the gravels worked. Sealed in your mind, asleep, until a trigger shot them into your brain, your conscience, and you drowned in a múnlach of your own making, gáilleog by gáilleog. Putrid mire that you could not avoid. A prisoner of your mind. Where do you flee, when your mind holds you captive?

“Let me go and I shall inform you.” She chuckled.

“Then I guess I’ll never know.”

“I’ll head outside,” Hunter yelled.

Almyra’s face paled. Her eyes, as old gemstones, that even though they did not look like it, they were more valuable than the news ones. Because they were heirlooms. “Do not.”

“I will,” he said. “Besides, once you two finish arguing they shall have razed the apartment.” He laughed.

“What about your—”

“I’ve got no family, miss.” His eyes, glinting blazes the Holy Spirit doused. “A top Achroite ordered my wife and children killed,” he muttered, trying to keep the tears from splattering against the floor. “Because my children muddied his shoes by accident. Though I supposed he wanted to keep appearances. Seem immaculate, like Ananias and Sapphira. And let other clot their hands.”

Almyra hunched. Her eyes, watery flames that sought justice and consolation. I guessed perhaps, she did care about everyone, as I. And Hunter must have seen Almyra’s face, for he said, “Don’t worry miss, it wasn’t your fault. One Achroite does not evil the others make.”

But in the Achroites case it was more likely, one Achroite does not holy the others make.

“Following Jesus means putting Him first, others second, and you last,” he said. “Not third. Last. And I … I had not fulfilled my mission. But I think God is granting me a chance now, to mend my mistakes.”

“What mistakes?” I blurted. “Your wife and children died.” I shut my mouth the second after the words came. Thankfully he did not pay attention to them.

“Let me do this,” he said. “For your sake. And for mine.”

Almyra hugged him. I did as well. “Godspeed, Hunter.”

“Godspeed, both of you,” he said. “I just hope everything ends well for you. May you clear up Samuel’s name.” His smile wavered at that last portion. But I would save Mildred and Samuel and my family. And deal with the consequences later. That was the only approach I could endure.

He had risked his life for us, for Almyra Bernhart, for the guy who had saved Almyra Bernhart. Not all was lost.

Hope still remained.

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