Yesterday’s events lingered in morning thoughts. Wisp and Fleana were already at class. Arin rolled over facing the small breakfast left out for her. She picked up the plate and began to eat her cold foreign food. It was gross.

I’m like a prisoner here. I need to run away . . . but if I leave I’ll become enemies of the Crimsons and Others. I’ll have nowhere to go. Arin placed the empty plate aside. When will Mila find a way for me to get home?

The door opened, surprising Arin. Wisp and Fleana stepped inside, covered in sweat from training. She casted her eyes away, not wanting their pity.

“Uh guys, can we talk?” Arin barely managed to ask; they nodded. “Do you guys think that Mila is acting . . . odd around me?”

“Mila is never this cruel, oddly enough he’s nicer to Others than you.” Wisp sighed in agreement.

“Do you think I should join the Others and help them instead? I think as the Plaque-Reader I should have a choice who to help.” Arin pressed on. They were quiet for a minute.

“At least Croun will be less aggressive, and he will at least give you some freedom,” Fleana stated. Wisp exchanged glances with her.

“Croun is only after you so you can become an Other. If you actually want to join him, I’m sure he’ll respect that and not harm you,” Wisp added.

“Do you know when the next attack is going to be?” She fidgeted. “I mean, I have brought a lot of misfortune upon you all. It would be best if I just leave.”

“Most likely in a few days but you can’t be serious on trying to hand yourself over! Remember Scolo attacked—”

“Speaking of Scolo, why is it that whatever he turns into is black and gold?” Arin interrupted not really caring about what else there was to know. Wisp frowned at the interruption.

“Well, every shapeshifter has two colors. His are black and gold, some other famous shapeshifters have blue and—”

“Thank you, Wisp, but nobody really cares,” Fleana snickered in a somewhat mocking tone. Wisp turned away embarrassed. “Hey, Arin,” Fleana whispered after thinking for a moment. “I think I know how to cheer you up.”

***

Leading Arin down a hallway, the two Crimsons giggled among one another. Sometimes they glanced behind them to make sure the miserable Arin was still following. She maintained a downwards gaze, keeping her broken hands stuffed in her pockets.

“Thanks again for talking to me guys, I really appreciate it. I mean it is so hard being the only Earthling here,” Arin rejoiced still avoiding eye contact. Wisp flashed a smile at her before looking back ahead.

“It’s nothin—are you okay, you look ill?” Concern rang in her voice. She began to walk backwards so she can look at Arin.

“Well, except for the fact that my wrist is broken and that the Others are probably going to hurt me, I’m fine,” Arin joked. They laughed carelessly.

“Actually, bringing you to Croun is our job,” Wisp smirked turning to face Arin. They stopped laughing.

“Oh way to go, Wisp! You blew our cover just when we were about to win!” Fleana shouted. She seized Arin’s broken wrist as she tried to comprehend what was happening.

“What? She was going to find out soon enough anyways!” Wisp replied. Arin stared at the two dumbfounded.

This can’t be happening.

“C’mon! Everyone is just around the corner.” Fleana’s jubilant voice was now icy and demanding. She pointed to another nearby hallway, probably where an ambush was set.

“You—you—you betrayed me? You guys are Others?” screamed Arin as Fleana towed her down the hall.

No, focus. Someone has to help me. I have to run. The Others are bad, I can’t join them. They’re liars and murderers and tricked me!

Before they could respond Arin punched Fleana in the jaw as hard as she could. Arin was released. While Fleana was stunned she sprinted away.

Wisp chased after their runaway Plaque-Reader. She was never going to escape. It was a mere moment before Wisp caught up, wrapping her thin arms around Arin’s chest. Taking her down.

“Get off of me!” Arin screamed, hoping someone would hear.

“Not until you stop resisting.”

“Never! You lied to me! I’ll never forgive you!”

“Stop, stop,” a brisk voice ordered. He too, like everyone else in Fynne, had a hint of a British accent in their voice. A small group of Others approached the three. “Thank you for letting us in this morning, security is so tight lately.”

Fleana’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Sure has been, all for her. Everyone hates her but yet they defend her.”

“Can we please hurry? I don’t want to get caught.” Wisp was scanning the hallways for any Crimson.

For some odd reason Wisp released her. Arin sat up, swaying back and forth; dazed.

I trusted you.

Arms pulled back, Arin sat on her knees. Head limp, not even the sharp command for her to look up could cause energy to return. The Other knelt in front of Arin, lifting her head up.

“How dare you disobey Croun. You’re lucky we aren’t allowed to hurt children. Let’s get moving.”

Arin was lifted onto her feet. Her first steps were painful, legs nearly giving out. Two Others guided her down the hall, helping Arin with her balance. As she was being coerced along, all she could think about was this stone-hearted betrayal. She would never trust a Crimson again.

Fleana deserves to be hurt. That dirty, unreliable person. I thought she was there for me. I should have known that they were spies when they said that the Others are better than Crimsons, but they aren’t! I’m glad Fleana is hurt, if I’m taken back with the Others I at least want to watch her suffer, Arin grumbled to herself. The lead Other drew his sword, pointing the tip in between her eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat, muscles tense.

“Take that back at once!” he barked.

“I—I didn’t say a thing!” Arin replied, horrified that she may be blamed for someone’s foul language.

“You thought something cruel, and I’ll make you pay for that!” He aimed it closer to her forehead. She tried to shrink back but couldn’t move.

“Y—you can read minds?” He nodded slowly.

“Every single one of us is given the ability to read anyone’s mind and to receive orders telepathically,” he explained. Arin felt her heart drop. The Others had no weakness. “You can thank Croun for that in person.”

“I—I’m sorry,” Arin muttered. The Other sheathed his sword, content by the apology.

“You better be,” he sneered continuing to their destination. When would they just teleport? Croun mentioned having to find a balcony for her sake. Her ex-friends stared at her for a moment.

The Others pushed Arin forward aggressively. Glancing back, she hoped someone was coming. Someone stood behind them. Mila leaned against the stony wall, sunlight reflecting off his face. She called out to him, crying for help. Desperate. Afraid. The Others whirled around.

“Take Arin back to Croun, I’ll hold him off.” The Others drew their weapons, positioning themselves for combat.

Mila laughed. The cruel howl frightening her. “Now hold on, traitors.” Mila straightened, folding his arms. He was in slightly formal attire, there was no way he could fight in a suit. “Now, I’m feeling very generous today. Normally I would have you hanged for serving as a spy. All of you deserve death. However, seeing that you are doing me a favor by removing the trash from my kingdom . . .”

Arin looked away, chest tight. He isn’t going to be of any help.

“I mean c’mon. Of course I knew you’re here. You probably only have a few minutes before everyone else arrives. Now respect this, you spies. Never return or you will die.”

Arin tried to rush forward, “why won’t you help me? You’re a wicked person! How could anyone like you be king!”

Mila gritted his teeth as Arin was pulled back. Cold metal was pressed against her neck.

“How stupid are you exactly? Don’t you know basic history? How you mundane humans hunted us for sport! You slaughtered us because we were too good for you. Drowned us, burned us! Your presence at our home will not be tolerated. Element or not you are a putrid dog. You don’t belong in our great home. You filthy humans took everything from me—us—and so you will not be tolerated here.”

Arin didn’t know what half of those descriptions about her meant, but she can only assume the worst. And what did he mean by hunting “us” for sport? She never heard of anything so awful.

The Others shoved Arin onto a balcony, knees shaking. Splotches of sweat ran down her forehead, this had to be a nightmare. Below her Crimsons were laughing and enjoying themselves unaware of what was happening. Behind her, the Other was searching for his peculiar device that allowed him to teleport. Before he could find it, Arin threw herself away from them and fell into the hallway. The leader pulled out his sword.

“I’ll show you for being so difficult!” he roared.

Arin tripped as she fled. All she could do is watch, the Other prepared to beat her. Turning away, eyes squeezed shut. No kick or punch ever came. Arin opened her eyes to find Coyasko standing over her.

“You’ll have to hit me hundreds of times before you get close to her.” Coyasko swept his sword at the Other. Startled, the Other jumped back, clutching his wound. Mila squinted Coyasko, raising his chin. Coyasko pulled his blade back to his side, the metal hardly red.

He fell back holding his wounded leg. Mila tensed in frustration. Others charged, swords aimed at his chest. Arin crawled away from the fight. When she was at a safer distance she watched. Hopefully Coyasko was strong enough to win. Hopefully this won’t end like it did with Ms. Holt.

Coyasko’s knees were bent, the blade pointed away from his foes. When two Others were close enough, Coyasko sprang forward, slicing his sword diagonally. They collapsed, both fell at the leader’s feet, clutching their chests. He stared at the two before looking at Coyasko.

“Get the kids out of here,” he instructed. The henchman spent no time loitering around. Rushing to the balcony, immediately teleported with the two using the odd sphere. Hopefully Arin would never see them again.

“You are wasting your time with her. You should have just dumped her.” Crimsons surrounded the remaining Others, shields up and sword ready.

“Let’s go.” He sheathed his sword and walked onto the balcony with his remaining accomplices. One pulled out a golden sphere and teleported away. Mila grumbled to himself, walking away. A few Crimsons followed him, glaring at Arin.

Coyasko knelt next to Arin, embracing her in a tight hug. “Looks like I made it on time, yet I feel late.” She buried her face in his chest, sobbing. He tried to calm her. Brushing her back, rocking her gently. Crimsons stood around them, silent.

A Crimson knelt by Arin. She hid her face from her, wary of all Fynnians. She grabbed Arin’s throbbing wrist, trying to examine it. “Be still. I mean peace to you.”

Arin remained still, trying to calm her breathing. Crying no more, she pulled her arms to her chest. Coyasko shooed the Crimson back.

“Don’t let Mila get into your head. He has a bad experience with humans like you . . .” When he noticed Arin’s lack of attention he lifted her off the ground. Coyasko gently rocked her in his arms, hoping to steady her breathing.

Another Crimson spoke, his voice an octave deeper than Coyasko, “I’ll alert the sentries about the day’s events.”

Coyasko began to carry her somewhere. “Arin, I need you to listen.” He took in a deep breath, whispering in her ear. “This war has been escalating ever since you arrived. More spies are coming, and the Others have become more persistent. You can only trust me for now. As the days go on, if you can trust someone with all of your heart then go ahead, but be careful. I can already imagine it, the chosen ones gathering because of you. The supposed five of them destroying the Others. We all dream for that, please just hold on and help us okay? It will be over shortly now that you’re here.”

She didn’t want to reply, silently hoping that Coyasko was right. Arin did not know that because of her the Children of Destiny will gather. She refused to believe that because of her, they will save the Crimson Kingdom once and for all. If true, then she may go home.