"Who are you?" Rook asks, stepping in front of us pulling out a large knife. Who would still be here?

"Stop!" I protest. I step in front of Rook and take a good look at her face. She is so familiar. They all are. They're familiar because I've touched them all, I've felt them all. I've been inside all of their minds. Her milky blue eyes have no pupil because she has lenses. The bright blue of her eyes are a big contrast against her dark skin and hair. "What is your name?"

"Muijiza."

"You shouldn't be here. Why are you here?" I ask, Carnelian and Rook are behind me, watching cautiously.

"I'm here because of my people," She says and we both know what she's talking about. "I'm looking for the one you call Rowan."

"Muijiza, I'm so sorry about your people. I never meant for anything to happen to them," I say trying to blink black tears. I feel such guilt!

"I'm guessing you're Rowan," She says, her eyes narrowing at me. I nod. "Thought so. Aaron has told me much about you."

I gasp. "The Ecopan talks to you?"

"Yes, and he told me everything."

"Oh, did he? I wonder what story that is," I scoff.

"I'm aware that Aaron is dishonest," She says and I see a flash of a grin. "Ecopan told me everything because he thought he could turn me against you, then kill more of your friends, or at the very least make your life hell somehow...but I'm not a fool, and I knew who was truly responsible for my people's deaths, and it wasn't you."

"I'm sorry... how are the rest of your people?" I ask.

"Probably dead."

"What?" I gasp. "But most of you made it across the desert!"

"When we crossed the desert the people of the trees made it very clear that we were not welcome, they executed as many as they could get a hold of. The rest of my people are probably trying to start a new civilization. I have no doubt they will fail," She says.

"I'm so-"

"Sorry? I know you are. But like I said before, I know you aren't responsible for what happened, the Ecopan is."

"You want to help?" I ask.

"Yes."

"Did he tell you why he was doing this to Rowan?" Carnelian asks.

"I asked but he was vague. I gathered that he is trying to break you. Anything he can do to make you suffer, and see the consequence of your actions. I'm not sure why, but he needs you as the Ecopan now, and he thinks killing off a few thousand people is justifiable to get you."

"But why now?" Rook asks. "Rowan already told us her theory, but it still seems like a stretch."

"Ecopan and I have the same goal, to save as many people as possible. Except I have humanity so I take human suffering into consideration. I still can't help but think that if he just told me why he was doing this, I might agree."

"Maybe he knows you won't agree with him," Carnelian suggests.

"That's what I'm thinking, but then if I become the Ecopan I wouldn't do the same things as him, so why would me agreeing now matter?" I ask.

"I might be able to answer some of these questions, but let's get a move on. We can discuss it later. Right now we need to get as far into the inner circles as possible," Muijiza says. She is so emotionless, so cold, that I can't help but pity her.

"How is your name pronounced?" Rook asks.

"Just call me G. That's easier to say. My name is Muijiza, pronounced, me-you-jee-za, which means miracle in Swahili."

"Swahili, I think I've heard of that language in some history vids. No one speaks it anymore though. It's what they usually spoke in Africa-" Rook says but she cuts him off.

"Not just Africa!" She rolls her eyes. "Plenty more countries used Swahili as a first language in the prefail days. And plenty more civilizations speak Swahili as a second language now. Swahili is a common high school course in Mahali Salama. And I happen to be fluent, all though our universal first language is English."

"Aaron made everyone speak English after the prefail," I explain to Rook and Carnelian. "It made communication easier."

"But he's a super computer, he can translate anything," Rook says. I love Rook, but this isn't his setting and he seems so unintelligent in this situation.

"Yes, but the people aren't," I explain to him. I feel bad for putting him in this position, dragging him here with me. I have so much respect for Rook and hate to see him put in a position that makes him look weak. I should have never brought him here, or Carnelian for that matter...it isn't too late for them to turn back.

"And we use Swahili to name our people," She continues. "My name means Miracle."

At sunset we're almost to my old house. G pulls a gun from her waist band and starts looking around acutely.

"Did you hear that?" She asks. We all snap to attention, but see nothing.

"What?" I whisper. "I don't hear anything."

"Be quiet. All of you!" She snaps. For several minutes we stand there in the dark, waiting for something we all fear to come. I start to get a pounding head ache and I hear a humming noise.

"We should go," I warn her. She shushes me. Any time we start to speak, trying to say she just imagined it, she shushes us and continues looking ahead into the darkness. After ten minutes of silence and stillness I hear a small scurrying sound.

"What the hell was that?" I ask, but a part of me already knows. We wait even longer, then I shout, "Aaron don't do this!"

Now that he knows he's caught he finally makes his move. About ten security bots charge out of the dark alley way, their threatening steel bodies barreling at us. Unlike the friendly looking cleaning bots, security bots are designed to look intimidating. The rugged metal on their bodies inspired fear throughout the streets of Eden.

"Run!" Rook cries. "We're almost to the house." Carnelian And Rook start to retreat, but G And I reluctantly jog behind. As the only two people with a real understanding of the Ecopan, we know there's no running.

"No, there's already security bots waiting for us at every turn," I shout.

"Then what do we do?" Carnelian asks as if I'm I'm crazy. "Let then kill us?"

"Can you shut these bots down?" I ask.

"When we get to your house," He says.

"We don't have time for that." Suddenly, I dive to the side of the alley and jiggle one of the door nobs, thankfully it's unlocked. "Come on!" I beckon.

They all barrel in behind me, panting and afraid, the security bots follow closely behind. I slam the door behind me and find that there's no lock. I throw my whole weight against the door to keep it shut. I look around at the building we dived into and realize we're in an apartment building, but in the laundry room.

"Push that laundry machine in front of the door!" I shout. The laundry machine is connected to the wall with thick wires, Rook cuts them quickly with his knife. All three of them help push the huge machine and block the door. When the door is barricaded we only have a minute to catch our breath and calm our hearts.

"Carnelian!" I pant. "You have to deactivate the bots, now!"

The piercing sound of the thwarting security bots can still be heard through the door. Carnelian quickly gets to work turning them off. After what seems like forever, he's done it.

"Okay, they're deactivated. What now?" He asks. "They could be back up again any minute, our best bet is to stay here for tonight."

"It's a bikking hotel!" I tell them. "There's a million entrances, we're not safe here. Ecopan knows we're here. When those bots come back on line we need to be far away from them."

"Do we try to make a run for it? To your house?" Rook asks. I bite my lip, thinking. I can't afford anymore loss. I can't put anyone in danger.

A little late for that, Yarrow points out. Her words make my decision for me.

"How long will those bots be down?" I ask Carnelian.

"Maybe a few hours, maybe they'll reactivate right now. I have no way of knowing," He says and I see the realization in his eyes.

"My house is about half a mile in. We have to make a run for it," I say. We all take one last deep breath, then push the laundry machine out of the way. I rest my hand on the handle. "Ready?"

They nod, bracing themselves for a fight. I fling the door open and find that the bots aren't moving, they're still inactive. I don't let that calm me, and run full speed towards my house. Rook follows closely behind, Carnelian lagging behind him. To my surprise, G is just as fast as me, and runs right beside me. It reminds me painfully of Mira.

The house is finally in my sight and I continue sprinting towards it. I see that several bots were waiting outside it. Suddenly, the bots come back to life, moving towards us.

"Scatter!" G calls. I dodge to the left, hitting the stone wall. I reach up letting my fingers dig into the ruts of the brick wall. I start to climb.

"The door should be open!" I cry to her as I climb. She dodges to the right, and a bot follows her. Carnelian and Rook are having trouble reaching the door. I've already made it to the top of the wall. I climb down and land in the familiar courtyard.

I thought the last time I was here would be my last, and the time before that. I miss my lifelong home, but I also hope this is my last time here. This place wasn't just my home, it was my whole world for almost seventeen years. Yet, I bite back my emotion and walk into my old home as if it's an annoyance.

I walk to the other side of the house, and look out the window. G finds a way through the bots and comes barreling in through the door.

"Are you okay?" I ask. She nods, joining me beside the window. It's hard to make out what's happening through the dark. Rook makes a break for it, flinging himself inside. Now Carnelian is the only one left. He tries to dodge to the left, but one of the bots catches him. It's malicious arm sticks out, then inside him. It's cold steel hands are like claws and they claw into his stomach. I see a look of horror on his face, and somehow he's even more pale.

"Carnelian!" I cry. I throw myself at the door but Rook manages to hold me back.

"No, Rowan! Lachlan won't forgive me if you're hurt. Let me go, I'll save him, I promise," Rook says. I break away from his grip on me.

"Hurry!" I watch another robot claw into Carnelian's back. Rook rushes out of the door, grabbing Carnelian, and somehow they manage to get back inside the house. We clear off the counter and lay Carnelian down. On his back is a deep gash, but not crucial. In his stomach though, there's a huge wound. I grab as many towels as I can quickly find and start giving his wound direct pressure.

"Rook, are you okay?" I ask because I see blood on him too.

"One of them scratched my back, but I'll be fine," He says. "Focus on him."

"Carnelian, can you look at me?" I ask. He does and the panic on his face makes my heart break.

"This city brings nothing but death," He whispers, tears rolling down his face. "Am I going to die, Rowan?"

"No! No, you are not going to die, Carnelian. I promise," I say, knowing he might. Carnelian might die. Oh Earth, what have I done? How many promises will I fail to keep?