Hailey had expected to spend the day in her cell. She'd been given books from the prison library, at least—doing research on flight and physics, which only raised a few eyebrows with the prison staff—but she was seriously bored. After the excitement of that morning, between the portals, the Summit, seeing everyone again… coming back was a huge let down.

When the guard came by after lunch to let her know Jefferson had suddenly arrived, she was practically on her knees, incredibly grateful for the break.

How am I gonna spend months… or years in here?

Hailey knew she belonged in prison, at least for now, and she wasn't going anywhere. Guilt still kept the chains around her legs—metaphorically, anyway. They hadn't bothered with anything while she was still inside, since the only people who ever saw her were guards, Jeremy, and Jefferson. There wasn't anyone to sell the image to, and all the guards knew by now that Hailey was a model citizen. Anything beyond handcuffs was just extra hassle for them to put on and take off.

She followed the guard through the now-familiar maze of halls back to the meeting room, where Jefferson waited. As soon as the cameras shut off, Hailey let out a huge sigh.

"Something wrong?" asked Jefferson.

Hailey shrugged. "It's been an interesting morning."

"...You already know?" He raised his eyebrows.

"...No?" A sinking feeling hit Hailey's stomach. "Why, what are you talking about?"

"A favor that will only make your time spent here more painful," said Jefferson with a sigh. "What about you?"

"If I've already broken the agreement and tell you, that doesn't mean you have to report it, right?" said Hailey. "Hypothetically speaking, of course."

Jefferson nodded. "Only if you intend to commit a new crime."

"Well, technically I don't think I even did that. I never left my cell, physically speaking." She explained briefly about the portals and the meeting, though she left the membership and the details a complete blank. Hailey wasn't about to out anyone. "So yeah… interesting."

"...Well, those would certainly make my life easier," said Jefferson, scratching his chin. "I feel like I'm torn between two sides of the country right now."

"You and me both," said Hailey, leaning back in her chair with a sigh. "So what's up? I didn't think we were meeting til tonight."

"I got an… interesting phone call this morning," said Jefferson. "From a girl currently known to be somewhere near Rallsburg… whose father is possibly the most wanted man in the world."

Hailey nearly fell out of her chair. The metal feet scraped against the concrete as she struggled to balance herself again. "Natalie called you?"

"Just as shocking to me, I can assure you," said Jefferson. "She wanted to get a message to you. Actually, she wanted to talk to you herself, but…"

"We… we saw each other this morning," said Hailey slowly.

"You did?" Jefferson frowned. "I wonder why she didn't tell you herself, then."

"Maybe… there were a lot of people there besides the two of us." Hailey winced. "And most of them weren't on her side. We didn't get a chance to talk."

"Ah." Jefferson nodded. "This is certainly a favor of a more personal nature."

"...What's going on?"

"She asked me to let you know that her boyfriend's family is being harrassed. She's worried for their safety." Jefferson frowned. "She said it as if trying to hide their identity, but it's quickly becoming common knowledge. I assume you know the Kincaids?"

"Kinda. I met Quinn once," said Hailey, nodding. "They're being harrassed? What for?"

"For harboring the awakened daughter of a mass-murderer," said Jefferson. "She's famous, and so, by extension, is her boyfriend."

"Oh god…" Hailey put her hands on her forehead. "They're on the news, aren't they? I thought I heard something this morning, but I kinda brushed it off."

"Yes." Jefferson sighed. "I told Natalie I'd give you the message, but I warned her you had no plans to leave prison before your sentence was up. I'll be contacting the local police to try and get protection for the Kincaids, and my firm has already reached out to Mrs. Kincaid to start on keeping the vultures at bay. We've worked with her in the past."

"That's… that's good. Thanks, Jefferson."

He smiled. "Of course."

"Is that it, then?" asked Hailey. She grinned weakly. "Because I've got a cell to clean, you know."

"Are you doing all right?" asked Jefferson, sounding slightly concerned.

"I'm okay. Just… just bored." Hailey sighed. "The Summit this morning didn't help either. I mean, I really want to know what's going on, but… I can't do anything about it, so…"

"So now you aren't sure whether you should have gone." Jefferson nodded. "I suppose Rika attended this summit as well."

"Yeah," said Hailey. "So be prepared for that when you see her."

"I daresay I'm immensely curious myself now," said Jefferson. "I can't blame you for attending, though of course, as your lawyer I have to advise against leaving your cell in the future—"

"Didn't leave it," said Hailey with a wink.

"...I'll be sure to mention pocket dimensions at your sentencing," said Jefferson exasperatedly. Hailey laughed. "There isn't much else for us right now. I've got another meeting with the prosecution between now and our appointment this evening. There's a few minutes though before I need to go meet with Rika. Do you want…"

Hailey held up a hand to cut him off, as weight in her stomach suddenly became an anvil. Just like the night before, she could hear the television through the door and in the other room. She'd been listening idly, just in case… and it had just switched to a breaking news report from Washington State. They always call it Washington State here… I mean yeah, they were first, but still… D.C. sounds better anyway.

"What is it?" asked Jefferson, color draining from his face. He knew exactly what Hailey's expression meant by now.

"Hang on…" she murmured. "They're still explaining."

"...Reports of an 'awakening' gone wrong this morning. Our reporter is live in the so-called pilgrim camp. Tiffany?"

"Thanks Greg. It was a nightmare here last night, and it only seems to be getting worse in the morning hours. It's nine AM, and just when everybody thought it was safe, the helicopters started flying in again."

Sounds of rustling. Hailey bolted to the door window, straining to see the television set. She could make out the camp, along with an overly-excited reporter shoving microphones in peoples' faces who obviously just wanted to be left alone. She wasn't there last night either… this is just disgusting.

"Can you tell us what happened this morning?"

"Somebody was… you know, reading from a Scrap, and they—"

"You mean awakening, right?"

"Yeah, duh." Hailey rolled her eyes. "Anyway, she started choking. That part's kinda normal, but then when Grey-eyes showed up, she didn't… I dunno how to explain it. But everybody started freaking out."

"Can you tell us anything else?"

"I dunno? The girl's brother kept freaking out, you know, shouting 'Meg, Meg, don't die' or something like that. Grey-eyes looked scared too. I've never seen her like that, and I've seen a ton of awakenings."

"Grey-eyes is the person who helps…"

The reporter started launching into a generic—and incorrect—explanation of magic from there, but Hailey had already stopped listening. Her heart was pounding so hard, she expected it to explode out of her chest then and there. Horrifying memories flashed through her brain, one after the other, each overlaid with Meg's face.

There was no doubt. It had to be Meg Bensen. All three of them had been there, and Beverly had… what? Messed up?

What happened?

Hailey turned to Jefferson. "I have to go."

"...What?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I know what you said."

"They'll—" Jefferson started, about to launch into the same concerned speech he'd given the night before, but Hailey only smiled. It caught him off guard. He cut himself off. "What happened?"

"Grey-eyes is in trouble. I have to help her."

"I thought no one knew her…" Jefferson trailed off, realizing he was way out of his depth.

Hailey nodded. "She's only got two friends in the whole world. I'm one of them, and she's in serious trouble. If I don't help her… a lot of people could die." Besides… Natalie asked me to come help anyway, and she barely has any friends either… after how everybody treated her at the Summit, Natalie really needs someone in her corner right now.

She cleared her throat. "I might be making a huge mistake, I know. But there's just too much going on. People are dying, my friends are fighting themselves, and I honestly might be the only person in the world who knows what to do."

Shake Beverly silly until she finally tells her siblings who she is, and finish awakening Meg with my page if Beverly won't do it herself. I just… oh god, am I gonna get there in time?

"Well…" Jefferson sighed. "That sounds like a far better justification to break out, I suppose."

"...Thanks?"

"May I ask one favor?"

"Anything," said Hailey sincerely. "You deserve way more than that."

Jefferson smiled. "I'm going to regret this, but… would you please make it appear I wasn't your accomplice in any way? Maybe take me hostage, I suppose."

"Uhh… okay?"

"I want to be certain this does not affect Rika's case. Yours will likely be tried in absentia, since I assume you don't plan to return…"

"I don't know," said Hailey with a shrug. "Someday, I guess."

"Well, I fully expect you to be sentenced to a significant prison sentence." Jefferson shrugged. "I might be able to persuade them to hold off, since you won't be present for the technical start of the trial, but we're in a grey area."

She nodded. "Lawyers and grey areas, huh?"

"Something like that." Jefferson glanced at the door. "I'm ready if you are."

Hailey nodded. She stood up and took a deep breath, then felt out wide with her magic for her bag—more than a hundred feet away, but still barely within reach. Hailey walked over to the door back to the cells and wrenched it open, tearing the lock out with a single pull. The door swung wide, and her bag zoomed right into her hands before any of the guards had a second to react.

"Help!" shouted Jefferson, leaping to his feet.

Hailey turned and grabbed him, as gently as she could. She grabbed out a small gemstone from her bag and hurled it at the thick glass window.

It shattered. Hailey rushed forward and ripped the bars free. The guards rushed into the room as she hurled herself through, Jefferson held tight to her chest. They drew stun-guns, trying to get a clear shot, but Hailey was holding Jefferson in front of her like a shield.

"Sorry," she muttered, as she felt him heave from the hard yanking motions she'd been putting him through. It's not like I even need a shield… I could just block the little taser darts myself.

It didn't matter though. Hailey was already into the yard. She was surrounded by high fences in every direction… but what did that matter?

Hailey could fly.

"See you around, Mr. Baux," said Hailey.

She let go of him and spread her wings wide, loving the feeling of stretching out muscles she'd barely been able to use for over a week. Warm light filled her face, and her golden-blonde hair shimmered in the bright afternoon sun. Hailey opened her eyes, while shouts and alarms went off in every direction. Sirens filled the whole city block.

Hailey grinned. Jess, this is insane.

She pulled out her lucky tourmaline stone and put it around her neck. Hailey wished she had time to change out of her prison outfit, but this would have to be enough for now. With a huge swoop of her wings and a burst of air, Hailey leapt into the sky.

Another burst, and she shot up toward the stratosphere. As Hailey rose, she dug into her bag for every tourmaline stone she could find. She'd have to go fast—faster than she ever had before. Faster than the flight across the Atlantic, faster even than the flight up to Lakewood. Hailey dredged up everything she'd ever learned about physics and air resistance and friction and flight theory.

Forming a perfect wedge in front of her and blocking as much as she could, Hailey propelled herself forward. She flew, away from the alarms, away from the White House in the distance, away from the life she was supposed to lead, with the wind roaring behind her and the sun sparkling above, while birds swooped out of the way as Hailey shot past, back in the wide blue skies once more.

Back where she belonged—but this time, Hailey was off to help the people who needed her most.