“That’s why the other elders and I have decided that she should be banished from Crestwood,” Paxton says, ignoring my cries. His eyes are wide as though he truly believes this lie that he has made up.

The citizens seem so angry that I'm not sure there will be time for me to be banished.

Kill her! one man shouts out.

Who did she kill? another asks.

I stand in shock. This is a complete betrayal. Paxton must have wanted me gone so he figured out a way to do it.

The 300 or more people start to become so heated that four more guards move to surround me so no one will try to do something stupid (like grabbing me and strangling me in the middle of the street). Clearly my blood should be spilled, according to some of the people in the crowd.

My eyes find Gabe again as two of the guards start pulling me away from the street, but he’s walking away from me. I’m led to the headquarters building and dragged up the stairs to the second floor. I try to ask the guards - plead with them to let me go because it was all a lie. I knew it would do no good, but I’m in shock. I can’t believe Paxton would just lie like that.

I sit in front of the same desk that I had ransacked a couple of nights before, my wrists beginning to throb from the tight bindings around them. The guards that had pushed me in here are now gone but for one standing at the door. My back is to him as I sit in the chair. I try to turn to him and ask him what is happening, but he only stares straight ahead like one of those royal guards from Buckingham Palace. I try to find the thought funny - a soldier with one of those towering hats, no longer standing at attention, but instead greyish and rotting with the desire to eat anything that moves - but I can find nothing funny about it. I can’t even force myself to smile. Banishment is the worst thing that could have happened. I would almost rather be set in front of a firing squad and shot than to be thrown out into the wild, weaponless and scared.

I wait for at least ten minutes before the door behind me opens and Paxton walks through alone. I feel my jaw clench and blood rush to my neck and cheeks. I have never felt so angry.

“What was all that about?” I ask, trying to remain civil. He won’t listen to me if I’m yelling at him.