When the tears were gone, Marie had little energy to do much else but remained curled in a ball on her cot. The day moved on without her. The others whispered about their plans, but Marie didn’t want to be a part of them; the discussion or the plans. Eventually she would have to join Charles and the others to leave Musical Land and wait in the safehouse because logically that was the safest place for her to be right now, but her mind was too riddled with guilt.

Her dad tapped on her door. “Marie?” He poked his head inside. His nose was bandaged. A nasty bruise covered most of his nose and left eye. Harriet got him bad. “You haven’t eaten all day. Are you hungry?”

Marie shook her head. Of course she wasn’t hungry. Her dad sent the message out this morning. Sam or Josef would come with every willing person from the clearing. Their army was coming, and they’d be here in a few more days. With either Sam or Josef, the war would begin. No one cared who the leader was, just that they brought everyone possible to fight a war. Marie’s heart sank. Continuing down this path would be a horrendous mistake, but what other choice did they have?

Her dad sat down on her bed. “You’ve got to eat something. We’ll be leaving soon. You need your strength.”

Marie partially uncurled, wiping her cheeks of the dried salt. “I can’t do it, dad. I can’t blow up the S.E.A. skyscraper. I can’t be a part of a war. I thought I could, but now...”

Her dad gave a sad smile. If it came down to it, she would willingly kill in order to save her dad, and she had a feeling he’d do the same. But she never wanted to be in the situation where she had to make the choice. After all, she did what she did to Billy in part to protect her dad, and the guilt was almost too much to handle.

“Come get something to eat,” her dad said. “We can talk about this.”

Marie uncurled and followed her dad, her stomach tying itself in knots as she returned to the room of her crime. It was still, but not peaceful. Charles and Alice were sitting on the floor against a wall with no windows, talking quietly. Alice looked awful, with bruises and bandages all over her face and hands. Charles had one of his hands resting on Alice’s arm, both of them whispering about something. Sophie was playing with her shorter hair, staring at nothing with the empty remains of her dinner to the right of her. Tom was pacing, the deeply troubled look still clear on his face. Dark clouds blocked out the sun making it seem so much later than it was.

Her dad led her to the microwave. Marie did nothing as her dad added water and microwaved some instant noodles for her.

Charles and Alice stood up, approaching Marie and her dad. “Eat your fill, Marie. We’re going to leave as soon as the sun sets,” Charles said.

Again, Marie glanced out the windows. She thought the sun had already set, but it was just the dark rain clouds covering the sky. Marie started breathing uneasily. “Sam won’t arrive for a few more days at least. Can’t we stay?” She kept telling herself it was Sam who was on the other side. It made the decision a little easier to swallow.

Charles shook his head. “We’ve got to assume the S.E.A. will know this address soon. It’s no longer safe. We’ve got to leave the city tonight.”

“What about the others?” No one said anything. Marie’s eyes bounced from Charles to Alice to her dad. “Are we taking them with us?”

“They’ve made their choice,” Charles said.

Marie looked down, tears threatening to come back. Her dad opened the microwave, filling the tiny apartment with a little light before he shut it again, plunging them all in a semi-darkness. Her dad pressed the container of noodles in Marie’s hands. She had no desire to eat. How could she?

“So we leave them here?” Marie asked.

“It’s what they want,” Alice said.

Marie set the container down. “Is it, though? Or is it the choice they’re forced to make.”

“Marie-” Charles started to say.

“No!” Her voice was sharper than she intended. “I can’t leave them here tied up for the S.E.A. to find. That’s a death wish for them, even if they don’t think it is.”

“This is the only way,” Alice said. “We have no other choice either.”

“Don’t we?” Marie asked. “Isn’t there something else we can do?”

“There’s nothing,” Charles hissed. “Albert is in danger. We are in danger. If we don’t get out of the city, all of us are going to die.”

Marie shook her head. “Is there any way at all we can give peace another try?”

“With Albert stuck in the basement and the S.E.A. getting more powerful every minute, what peaceful option could possibly work?” Marie tried not to let Charles’ edge get to her. She simply rubbed her forehead, trying to clear her mind and think.

“I don’t know, but we have to work together.”

“We’ve made a decision, Marie. We’re going to-”

“We all have to work together,” Marie said. “We get Billy, Harriet, and Edgar’s help.”

Charles gave Marie an incredulous look. “After what we did to them, you honestly think they want to help us?”

Tom shrugged as he moved forward. “Peace or war, both require difficult decisions to be made. Which one are you going to make? Destroy the skyscraper? Or beg forgiveness from your friends?”

Charles grumbled. “We tried peace. We’ve tried it for months.”

Marie folded her arms. “And I learned this morning that I can never fight in a war. I refuse to be that person again.”

“Did you see what Harriet did to Alice?” Charles asked, pointing at Alice’s face in the dying light. “You want to ask her for help?”

“You saw what we did to Billy.” Marie couldn’t hide her anger now. “Did you hear him screaming for us to stop! We are monsters, Charles. All of us. I have no doubt in my mind that we could go to war and give them a good fight. But I don’t want to! I refuse!”

“We had no choice!” Charles snapped.

“You cannot honestly think we did the right thing.”

Charles was breathing deeply, flexing his fingers. “They attacked us first, Marie. Never forget that.”

“And we attacked harder. And more brutally. It got out of hand, and now we’re stuck in a worse mess than before. And the only option you’re giving me is to make an even bigger mess, and I’m saying no. I’m not going over the wall. I will not be a part of this war.”

Charles glared, but Marie could tell there was a war going on in his own mind right now. Tom leaned against the counter. “It seems to me that if we’re stuck on what we should do, it would be beneficial to seek the help of those who are known to think outside the box.”

Charles’ lips disappeared as he pressed them tightly together. Then out of nowhere, Marie saw a tear trickle from his eye. Charles rubbed the corner of his eyes with his fingers and more tears spilled from him. Alice rubbed his shoulder, and Marie turned away. Somewhere outside, thunder began to rumble and the first drops of rain dropped on the windows.

Marie looked at the door to where they had their friends tied up in chairs. Marie picked up the container of instant noodles, a thought crossing her mind. “Has anyone fed them?”

Charles was sitting on the ground, covering his face, the tears streaming down his cheeks. Alice shook her head, not looking at Marie.

Sophie gave a sigh. “We’re all too scared.”

Marie looked at her noodles one more time. She didn’t blame them. If the choice came down between begging forgiveness from Billy, or learning how to build a bomb for the skyscraper, she would choose forgiveness, but the thought of it still filled her with dread.

Marie grabbed a fork and headed toward the room. “Be careful, Marie,” her dad said.

“Dad...”

“They might do whatever they can to save themselves,” her dad said. “They’re desperate.”

“Yeah, I know,” Marie said as she reached for the door handle. “So are we. I’m going to turn on the light, so I’ll have to close the door.”

“I’m coming with you,” he said.

Marie figured as much. She and her dad quietly entered before closing the door and flipping on the light. Marie stared at the floor as she got used to the bright light before looking up at the trio. The chairs were all back to back with each other, forming a triangle. Harriet had turned her head to look. Marie was surprised to see Harriet so tied up. Unlike Billy and Edgar who just had their hands tied to the chair, her feet were tied too, as well as a healthy amount of rope around her body to keep her in place. At first Marie was confused, then remembered this was Harriet. She probably tried to escape multiple times to warrant such caution.

Harriet watched Marie with mistrust. Billy was next to Harriet, his back toward Marie. Edgar was between Billy and Harriet, no emotion at all on his face. It didn’t even look like he noticed them walk in.

Marie twirled the noodles with her fork, her courage faltering. This was ridiculous. Would they see this more as demeaning than helping? Her dad gave her shoulder a squeeze. It was enough to help her move forward.

“I thought… I thought maybe you’d want to eat something,” Marie said quietly. “Then we could talk?”

She brought a forkful of noodles toward Edgar. Edgar didn’t move, just stayed staring forward, completely ignoring Marie. Marie tried not to be too disheartened as she moved to Harriet and tried to feed her the noodles. Harriet still had a face full of distrust aimed right toward Marie. The message was clear. There was no way Harriet was going to eat anything Marie gave her. Marie took a deep breath and moved toward Billy. Billy had his head bowed, staring at the floor.

“Billy?” Marie asked softly. “Are you hungry?”

Billy looked up, and Marie felt a spike of panic. Billy was glaring at her with a hatred she thought she was prepared for. “I’ll take my chances with the S.E.A., thanks,” Billy said before looking away again.

Marie’s chest deflated. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling like her apology was about as useful as a band-aid on a stab wound. “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to make it sound sincere. “I didn’t mean for it to get that far.”

“Well it did,” Billy said, glaring at the floor. “And you made your choice.”

“I was scared. I didn’t know what else to do. I shouldn’t have -”

“Just go away, Marie,” Billy said, his voice sharp. “Go to your safe house. Leave us be. It’s what you want.”

Marie collapsed on one of the beds in the room. She stared at the instant noodles in her hands, the tears rolling down her cheeks. “It’s not what I want.” She couldn’t look at them. She couldn’t even look at her dad. “I never wanted this to happen.” Billy said nothing, turning his head away from her so he couldn’t see her. “We contacted the clearing,” Marie said quietly. “They’re going to be here in a few days. I have no desire to go to war. I’ll stay here instead. I’ll make sure the S.E.A. knows you are… that you’re no longer on our side.” Her dad opened his mouth to object, but closed it again. He folded his arms, looking away. Harriet stared at Marie with a frown. “If we’re going to leave you here, I have to know you won’t die by the S.E.A.’s hands,” Marie said. “I want peace. After what happened this morning…” Marie swallowed, the memories still way too fresh. “I’m not fit for war. I will never do what I did to you again. Or to anyone who thinks like you.” Marie made a final wipe of her eyes as she stood up. Marie bent her head, too afraid to look at them again. She didn’t want to see the mistrust and the hate in the people she once considered friends. She reached her dad who gave her hand a squeeze.

“Marie?”

Marie stopped. It was Edgar. She partially turned, glancing at him. He was looking straight at her, and Marie was reminded of the time when she first looked at him. How dark he seemed. Now as he studied her, he seemed more curious than dark. “I’ve seen how you’ve treated me. Not just this morning, but ever since we met. I know how scared you are of me. I just need to know. In your perfect world where we all got along, would people like me still exist? Exactly as I am?”

Marie stared at him, feeling her mind slowly unfreeze from the usual terror Edgar brought about. He had a valid question, and Marie had to answer it. She glanced toward her dad, mainly for the comfort she gained from him being there before she looked back at Edgar. She lowered the instant noodles as she felt the sting of chastisement. She had always been scared of Edgar. It was something instinctual in her, even though it was wrong. He was a mystery to her, and mysteries were always intimidating. But it didn’t excuse her for how she treated him. He and Billy both helped save her life, literally, and how did she repay them?

“If we wanted true peace, we’d have to build it together,” Marie started out quietly. “And I would need you to help me understand how to help those who think like you. I… I guess my idea of peace is that we would all feel comfortable being who we are. And comfortable for other people to be who they are too.” Marie glanced at Edgar. “I’m sorry if, in my fear, I ever made you feel like you shouldn’t be you.” The mistrust in Harriet’s eyes softened, instead turning to contemplation. Edgar gave a small nod, and it hurt to see it. Billy’s shoulders still remained tense, his face away from her. “It wasn’t right. I simply didn’t know you.” Marie bit her lip. “I didn’t let myself get to know you.”

Edgar studied her, and Marie stared right back. Yes, it felt like he was searching deeply into her soul, but at this point, she had nothing to hide from him.

“In my left pocket is a piece of paper with my friend’s address on it,” Edgar said quietly. “If you want one more shot at peace, he’s our best chance. Go tell him your story. He won’t turn you in.”

Marie’s heart quickened. This was what she wanted. Another chance. She rushed over to him before she paused. She didn’t want to reach into his pocket. It didn’t feel right. Instead she untied him as quickly as she could. Edgar stood up, reached in his pocket, and took out the paper. He handed it over to her. Marie opened the paper to see the address scribbled in Edgar’s handwriting. “Thank you, Edgar.”

He gave a short nod. “He’s a good man. He won’t care that you’re in the underground.”

Marie doubted she could believe that, but it was comforting all the same. “So this isn’t Mr. Wayne?”

“No. Mr. Wayne might have listened too, maybe, but I didn’t have his address. This is the Head Secretary of the S.E.A. I’m a lot more confident this man will listen to you.”

Marie nodded as her dad stepped forward, looking uncomfortable. “This never should have happened. The city still isn’t safe for any of us, so I will ask you all to stay in the apartment until we get things figured out, but I see no reason to keep you tied up.”

Harriet nodded. Billy did nothing, but Marie’s dad still untied them both.

“Do you want to come with me, Edgar?” Marie asked.

Edgar thought about it before shaking his head. “I assure you, you’re going to be fine. I think you and the others need to see that too. Just make sure you get there safely.”

Marie gave a short nod as her dad finished untying everyone. Billy stood up, folding his arms, not looking at Marie. “I’m going to stay in the room.”

“Do you want some dinner?” Marie’s dad asked.

“I need to be left alone,” Billy said as he sat on the bed.

Marie turned away, almost nauseous. It was a constant reminder of the monster she had been.

Her dad was at her side, giving her a small smile. He knew exactly what she was thinking. Harriet, Edgar, Marie, and her dad left the room. Billy might escape. The thought had crossed her mind multiple times, but maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe Billy realized how cornered they were. Honestly, if he tried, Marie was no longer in the position to stop him.

There was no need to fill in the others about what had happened. All of them had gathered around the door. Charles pulled out his cell phone that made a dim light as he checked the address in Marie’s hand. Marie glanced out the rain covered window. “It’s about a mile away. If I go now-”

“Marie,” her dad started to say.

“Copy the address down. If I don’t come back, someone’s got to try again,” Marie said. Charles nodded.

“Everyone’s names and faces are plastered all over the city. You have to be careful,” Alice said.

Charles scribbled the address down on another piece of paper. “Do you even know this guy?”

“Edgar does. And I trust Edgar,” Marie said, not shocked when those words left her mouth. She nodded in Edgar’s direction, and he nodded back. She looked at Charles. “If I’m not back by morning, try again. And get everyone dinner. And… and can someone… keep an eye on Billy?”

“I’ll do it,” Edgar said. “He won’t escape. I promise.”

Marie nodded, knowing it was slightly ridiculous to think Billy would escape, but she couldn’t deny the horrible way they treated him.

“Marie, please.” Her dad grabbed her hand that held the cup of instant noodles in her hand. “Eat. Let’s come up with a solid plan first.”

Marie stared at the noodles, so completely caught up in everything that she forgot she hadn’t eaten all day. The prospect of leaving the apartment gave her a small desire to eat.

Her dad watched her as she ate. “I’m coming with you.”

“No,” Marie said before stuffing noodles in her mouth.

“I’m not sending you out there alone,” he said.

Marie pushed the noodles to one side of her mouth. “You’ll draw too much attention.”

Her dad instinctively touched the bandage on his nose. Harriet winced and looked away. He gave a sigh. “Marie, please. I don’t like this.”

“What do you want, dad? Do you want me to meet up with this guy and make one final push toward peace? Or do you want me to train on how to shoot a gun? Or should I start figuring out the exact chemical reaction that could level a city?”

Her dad shook his head. “Marie…”

Marie drank the last of the broth. “If I go now, I’ll have the cover of darkness. I’ll keep my head down. The army is coming in a few days. The S.E.A. will come sooner. We can’t wait. I need to try. Now.”

“What exactly is our plan with this guy?” Charles asked.

“He’s the head secretary,” Edgar said. “He knows everyone who works at the S.E.A. building, including those who would be sympathetic to our cause. We get him on our side, we get information on everyone who would help us.”

“He could try and stop the S.E.A. from hurting Albert,” Marie said.

“He could get any Officials and Junior Officials to turn on President Arnold,” Tom said. “Get them to overthrow President Arnold for us.”

“That’s a lot of lofty goals,” Sophie said.

“He’ll do it,” Edgar said.

Charles stared at Edgar. “You’re really that confident he’ll turn?”

Edgar nodded. “I am. I told him I might be in trouble, and he gave me his address. He assured me he didn’t care what kind of trouble it was.”

“Was this before or after you were revealed as a member of the underground?” Charles asked.

“Before.”

Charles paused, taking this in. “And you’re still confident he won’t care?”

“One hundred percent,” Edgar said. “Certainly as a scientist, you understand that term.”

Charles chewed on his bottom lip before nodding. “Yeah. I do.”

Marie’s dad rubbed his forehead before he reached over and gave Marie a hug. It was tight, and she could feel the hesitancy as he let her go. Marie was scared too, but she refused to wait here for the S.E.A. to show up. And she refused to go to the safehouse.

Sophie helped Marie put on a jacket. “Good luck.”

Marie gave her dad one more final squeeze. She opened the door and left the apartment, the rain soaking her clothes as soon as she walked outside.