When I get to their quarters, they start explaining everything to me. Zaera’s return, the cut political ties, and the plans to kill all of us. I don’t know what to say. Maybe there’s nothing to say. They have me read all the articles Yve gave them. It seems like none of us know what exactly we’re going to have to do about this. I should have believed her. She may have GAD, but she rarely worries without reason. It’s just that she’s sometimes a little over the top.

“We have to wait to see when they’re going to do this.” I hear Yve say. I turn around quickly and see her lean against the corner. I’m relieved to know that she’s still here. I don’t have to tell anyone that she’s gone missing, thankfully. But I do have to let them know that we need to go to the courtyard.

“Where were you today?”

“I made myself throw up so I could come back here and give them these papers.”

“And you couldn’t go back to training?”

“I don't really think I was allowed to." She looks at Milo and Tris.

“Are you better now?”

“Yeah, I think a nap did me well.” She looks down at the floor. “We can’t sit around and wait. Well, at least I can’t.”

“You need to act normal,” Tristayne cuts in. “If you keep pushing your luck, they’re going to keep an eye on you. On all of us.” She bites her lip.

“I know how to keep them from listening in on our conversations.” Milo and Tristayne look stunned when she speaks English. They haven’t heard her speak it in a long time. I’m not taken aback. That’s because I hear her use it all the time. “Speak English. Most of them only know Ayhirian… anyone who speaks English only understands simple conversational English.”

“We’ll still have to be careful,” Tris says back. “There may be a mole.”

“There won’t be,” she tells him. “If anyone found this stuff out they’d immediately stop helping them. Or give them the wrong information. We have to be careful, but it will be easier to do this from this point forward.” We all nod in agreement. She’s absolutely right. I suddenly think of something.

“Hey,” I look at Milo. “They have that graduation party, and I think—”

“No,” he stops me. “We said you stay with us.”

“We have to act normal. If we don’t go, they’ll think something is wrong.” I sit down on one of the chairs in the living room. “If you want to keep up the act of making it seem like nothing is wrong, we have to go.” Milo and Tris look at each other. Arguing silently with each other. Milo doesn’t think it should happen, but Tristayne wants to say we’re correct. We have to go to that party.

“Fine,” Milo finally says. “You go straight there, and you come back when they break up that party. Do you understand?” Both of us agree.

“Don’t worry. The guards are apparently going to be on high alert."

“Good.” He grumbles. Before Yve can go back to her room, I stop her.

"There's something else you guys should know about."

*********************************************************************

I remember the last time we did this. It was a nightmare. The seven of us stand in a line and just stare at what's in front of us. Last time they set up a guillotine and cut the girl's head off. But this time she's tied to something that vaguely resembles a cross. The situation is troubling. I think what bothers me the most is the fact that she's human.

"Male trainees and trainers, please lower to your knees. All Ayhirians, please lower to your knees." A man calls out to all of us. Everyone looks around at each other in confusion. When no one does it, he yells it at us. Everyone does as they're told.

I look at all the women left standing. Yve. Why are they doing this? We watch as guards walk around and bind all their wrists with ropes. They create an intricate web of lines to all of them. I hear a whimper behind me and glance back. It's Ross.

"Keep your head down." I whisper to him. He jumps and looks at me. Last time this happened, all the trainees who were younger than ten didn't have to watch this. Evita and Ross didn't have to see this. I want to spare them these memories. The guillotine was gruesome enough. I have no idea what they'll do to this girl.

"We are tired of seeing young women, human women disobeying our laws. It is evident that none of you watched last time we had to inflict our punishment. Now you must watch. If you are standing, do not look down. Watch and see what your fate will be if you choose to make this mistake once more." When he's finished, he nods to guards around him. They go to the girl and untie her.

Two take her hands and press them to the wood of the cross. I see some carrying hammers and nails towards her. Crucifixion? It can't be. They wouldn't. I don't think that's all they will do. I watch as a majority of us on our knees look down. I don't want her to have to be alone in this. I'll watch with Yve. It's like she can sense it, though.

"Sailor," She whispers to me. "Don't watch this. Please." I look at her. She's pleading with me. I grimace and look over at Evita who is staring wide-eyed at what's happening in front of us.

"Evita, look at me," I tell her. "You can't watch this. Keep your head down." She nods sadly and looks down. The rest of us follow Yve's request. I hear the hammering of the nails and the screams of the girl. I notice a guard come up behind Yve and force her chin up.

"Keep watching." He tells her. When she lifts her head back up, I can see tears in her eyes. This is our fault. An innocent girl is dying because of us. What made them choose her? Is this to prove a point? I look back down and listen to the man speaking again.

"If you are human, a human punishment will be used on you."

"You can't do that!" Someone screams at them. Whoever yelled is pushed to the ground. The ropes pull all the other women to the ground. Yve nearly face plants into the hard dirt. She musters up all her will and pulls herself up, forcing everyone else up.

"We'll now introduce you to," I hear swords being drawn in the front. Yve sniffles beside me. Please don't cry. "The flayed woman."