“What was that about?” Ethan snaps at Gilbert.

We have all been brought to the same room where we were questioned a couple of days ago. We sit, waiting for Gabe to take us away. Ethan seems like he wants to tear out Gilbert’s throat. I’m not as angry as I should be, mostly because I’m still trying to figure everything out.

“I was just trying to buy us some time,” he says and looks at me. “Besides, you admitted to it.”

“I didn’t actually steal anything,” I say. “I was just trying to…” I let out a deep breath and look away from him, “to fix the situation. I thought that if I could take the blame then we wouldn’t all get kicked out.”

“Fine idea that was,” Gilbert says.

“It’s more than what you did,” Ethan says. “At least she was thinking about someone other than herself.”

“And what did you do, Ethan? You just sat there, quiet as usual. I didn’t see you try to do anything about it.”

“Maybe that’s the problem,” I say, though I didn’t know I said it out loud until both of them are looking at me, waiting for an explanation. “Just that, maybe we were trying too hard. He saw the desperation and wanted us out regardless.”

“Nah,” Gilbert says. “He seemed pretty set on getting us out of here. Something’s fishy if you ask me. Wakes us up in the middle of the night, gets us out of here before dawn - before anyone in the town might think to question the reasoning.” A door opens on the other end of the room and Gabe stands ready to take us out. “Isn’t that right, Gabe?” Gilbert sneers.

“What?” he says. He looks like he hasn’t gotten any sleep in days.

“Something weird is happening,” Gilbert says. “You know we didn’t steal anything, don’t you?”

“Not right now,” Gabe says. “You can say what you want to when we’re in the car, but for now, keep quiet.”

The rain pelts us hard as Gabe leads us to a large SUV parked just inside the town gates. Streams flow into the storm drains next to the sidewalks and I have to sidestep a few puddles before we’re inside. Gabe drives, Gilbert sits up front, and Ethan and I sit in the back seat. Even though the heat is on in the vehicle, I can still see vapor every time one of us breathes.

“I’m not going to need to cuff any of you, am I?” Gabe asks. He gets no argument from us.