"G, what are they doing here? Who do they want revenge on? Me? Aaron?" I ask, my heart wildly beats against my chest.

"You," G says and she pulls out a knife. Lachlan steps in front of me using his body as a barrier to keep me safe. She has tears in her eyes and her hands shake. "Lachlan, step out of the way. I don't want anyone to get hurt but Rowan has to. I'm sorry."

"I thought you didn't know who I was," Lachlan gasps not budging from his protective stance.

"I lied," She admits. "I know who all of you are, Aaron told me."

"Aaron wants me dead?" I ask.

She shakes her head as more tears pour down her face. "He wanted you broken. I used the information he gave me to kill you. What happened was your fault."

"Muijiza, please. You don't want to do this," I beg as I look at her from behind Lachlan.

"No...I don't. But I have to. I know that it truly wasn't your fault. I know that you have the best intentions for humanity but my people...my people...they need blood."

"You'll have to kill me first," Lachlan says and she gives him a pitying look.

"Oh, Lachlan. You know that can be arranged," She whispers. I go to cry out something but it's too late. She throws her arm back and flings it forward sending her knife flying at Lachlan's abdomen. Before I even know what happened Lachlan has stumbled back, his hands grabbing at his stomach. Rook goes to attack her but before he can she hisses, "Run! My people won't think I'm a traitor now. I wish you all the best of luck. I hit Lachlan where it won't be lethal, he'll be fine eventually. Go! Go find safety. Harmonia was already attacked."

"Harmonia was attacked?" I shriek as I support Lachlan who's still looking down at the knife that is hanging out of him in horror. She nods, still crying. She truly didn't want to hurt us. She's on our side.

"Yes, but I don't think they killed anyone. They might have injured some of them or burned a few homes but they were mainly just looking for you. Still, you should hurry," She says her eyes flickering at the horizon where the crowd of people comes closer. "Goodbye, brave Rowan. May we meet again."

She runs towards her people who are still far but coming closer every second. Rook grabs Lachlan, slinging Lachlan's arm around his shoulder. He supports most of Lachlan's body weight and we're able to jog to the forest with Lachlan grunting every step. My heart breaks seeing him in so much pain, but others could be hurt worse and there's nothing I can do for his pain but pray that he survives. In the middle of the forest, there's a huge oak tree with the side opened out like a door. But who opened the hypertube for us? It could have been G, or Carnelian if he can somehow see the trouble we're in. Earth forbid it was Aaron trying to lure me back to Harmonia. We get into the hypertube and it starts moving. Lachlan extends a bloodied hand to me and I take it trying not to cry. The knife still hangs out of him.

"Are you okay?" I ask. He nods.

"When I get a doctor I'll be okay. Let's just get there quick," He says with a wince. I brush his hair out of his face. Sometimes I wish he wouldn't hide his pain. The door to the hypertube opens and we're about an hour away from Harmonia. Rook supports Lachlan as we go as fast as we can. Lachlan bleeds a little more with each step. We could leave him here but he could bleed out before we can find him again. I won't risk that chance. After the stressful hour that seems like forever we finally reach Harmonia and what we find is worse than we imagined. Smoke is filling the valley from all the burned structures. People run around with tears streaming down their face, calling out loved one's names. It's chaos and I think some of G's people might still be here. I gag on the smoke and push forward.

"Where do I take Lachlan?" Rook asks.

"Anywhere. Anywhere safe." I look around and see a bubble in the treetops unmolested and unmanned. I point up and Rook shakes his head.

"We can't get him up there," He says and I look at Lachlan.

"We can. It'll just hurt like hell for him," I say caressing Lachlan's face. Lachlan swallows and nods.

"I can do it. I'll go through the pain to be safe if you promise me one thing. You'll stay with me," Lachlan wheezes. His breath is becoming shallow and his face is turning pale. I can't argue with him or he'll die before we even get there. I nod, agreeing to stay safe with him in the tree house.

We stumble into the acrid fog that makes our vision bleary. I walk as fast as I can with Rook and Lachlan until a woman who loudly sobs rams into me. I topple to the floor and get hit in the head by another pair of feet. I try to rise but someone trips over me again. I'm disoriented in the fog and try to look around, my face connects with another pair of unforgiving feet. I don't know where Rook and Lachlan are or if they're trying to help me up but I try to take one last powerful buck up to my feet. I'm met with no success. Another person trips over me and I cry out.

I fear that I will be trampled but I feel a gentle soft hand pull on my arm and I've risen to my feet. I brush my hair out of my swollen and bruised face to look at Lark. I want to pull her into an intense embrace but there's no time. I look over my shoulder to see Rook supporting Lachlan who looks near death. I can't lose him. I won't.

Lark has a determined look on her face and she pulls all three of us towards her. We grab onto each other in any way we can and Lark leads the way. We pass dozens of new burnt structures that symbolize our new safety, our new chance at peace. It didn't last long.

"Where are you taking us?" I ask.

"Someplace safe," She says. "Ash, Rosalba, Fern, and a few others are already there."

I feel Rooks hold on me relax a little bit. His fiancee and child are safe. Luckily, the people I care about most are safe too. As we walk we pass a crying child and I stop long enough to grab her hand.

"Come with me. I'll keep you safe," I say. The little girl follows us taking a chubby fist and getting a firm grip on my shirt. We all follow Lark and she leads us to the already burnt Elders Hall. She walks down the hall and opens a door that leads to a narrow staircase. We all pile in and there's a single candle lighting the entire underground basement. The rare open flame is enough to illuminate the whole room. Ash, Angel, Mom, Fern, Iris, Rainbow, Zander, other children, and a few others that I don't recognize are already in the basement.

"Rowan! Where the hell have you been?" Mom says and she tries to pull me into a hug but I pull away.

"No time to explain. Lachlan needs help," I say and I realize my hands are shaking. They lay Lachlan on the floor and my mom, having the best knowledge of medicine, examines him. Her eyebrows twist into tight knots as she looks at the wound. They cut his shirt off of him and I trace slow circles on his bare shoulder and whisper to him, "focus on me."

Lachlan tries to steady his breathing as my mother slowly pulls the knife out of his abdomen. He groans and I press my cheek to his. He burrows his face into my hair and I whisper sweet nothings to him as Lark looks away. My mom uses all the spare clothing she can find to stop his bleeding. He doesn't bleed nearly as much as I had expected and my mom has a cotton bandage wrapped around him in no time. He isn't supposed to move but I help him to a seat as Rook kisses Ferns brow and subtly rests his hands on her stomach for a moment. I look to Lark and pull her into a tight embrace. I kiss her cheek, maybe a bit too long to be subtle, but I couldn't care less right now.

As I go to hug my brother the door busts open, falling off its hinges, and two people walk into the room, guns raised. I gasp, unable to decide who to defend first. Rook has shoved Fern behind him, half in front of Lachlan. Mom stands in front of Ash who stands in front of Angel. All the children cower behind Iris. Quickly, I push Lark behind me to protect her from any incoming bullets.

Before anyone can act, two gunshots go off. To my relief and horror the two men with the intention to kill us fall to the floor dead. I look to see Lachlan with his gun in hand. I can't believe he didn't follow the rules! We had to give up all weapons when we came to Harmonia. It's wasn't really a rule I guess. Everyone was completely willing to put violence and destruction in the past. Well, look at us now. Look at the fact that Lachlan's disobedience may be the only reason we're all still alive. It all happened so fast and we all look around at one another with shaky breaths.

I'm the first one to talk and I say, "We can't stay here."

"She's right. The basement isn't safe anymore. The door's broken," Ash agrees.

"No," I say shakily but resolutely. "I meant Harmonia. We can't stay here. Ever. It's time to make a completely new civilization. A new start. Flee. All of you. Get as far away as you can, don't look back...may we meet again." I repeat the words G said to me. "Lachlan, Rook, come with me. Lark, I need to speak to you before I leave," I say helping Lachlan to his feet.

"Ferns coming with us," Rook protests and I nod, granting my approval.

"We shouldn't split up," Ash says. "Why can't we all stay together?"

"It'll be too obvious. We have a better chance of getting away in small groups-"

"But-"

"Ash, it's going to be okay. In a few days, we can set up smoke signals and hopefully find a way back to each other again," I say.

"But what if-"

"Ash! Don't argue. Not now, we don't have the time. Take mom, Angel, and Lark with you wherever you go," I say and the others start to leave. We say quick goodbyes until it's just Lark and I left in the basement. Lachlan, Rook, and Fern wait outside for me while Ash, Mom, and Angel wait for Lark. I pull Lark into a passionate kiss as we've never kissed before. When I pull away Lark is breathless.

"I love you," I say before she can say anything. "I always will, no matter what. I promise we'll be together again soon."

She kisses me quickly and says, "I love you too, Rowan. I'll see you soon." She tries to give me another causal peck on the lips but I engulf her into another passionate kiss. Little does she know it's a goodbye kiss because I know what I have to do. I know what I have to do to stop war and violence for those that I love. We say I love you one last time and I embrace her tightly before we leave the basement. I watch sadly as my Lark leaves. She's so beautiful. So perfect. I will be with her soon, I remind myself. We head to our own groups and start to walk away from Harmonia. Lachlan grabs a fallen branch to use as a walking stick and I lead the way.

"Where are we going?" Fern asks as we reach an area away from the chaos.

"Mira's garden. I have some unfinished business I have to take care of," I say. Fern gives me a look and she knows what I'm about to do. I have to save humanity. I have to save my people. I have to save my friends. I have to save myself.

I know what I have to do.