“When I saw it, it gave me an idea.” She presses something cold into my hand. “I’m sorry,” she says, and I turn a vial of dark blue liquid in my hand.

“A potion?”

“The remembering potion. When I saw the river, it hit me. The Plinor has special properties that make it a perfect antidote for a potion gone wrong.”

“Bri, slow down. What are you talking about?”

She meets my eyes, finally. “Rue, I didn’t ever mean to make you doubt me. I-I should have tried this a long time ago. I hope it works. I was so scared that I’d make it incorrectly…”

“Oh, Bri, look, I’m sorry for what I said. I’m just… Nothing is as it seems lately. Every time I turn around, someone I think I can trust is someone I can’t. There’s so much lying.”

“You have a lot you’re juggling. I just want to be sure you know I’m in your corner. I’m in this, all the way. The best way I know how to be. But I’m going to keep learning how to be better at this. Ride or die.”

“Oh, shit, Bri! You got it right!”

“Got what right?”

“Nothing.” I squeeze her shoulder. “Thank you, friend.” The moment is warm, and damn, did I need it. I turn the vial in my hands.

“I really hope it works,” she says. “I found some albino quello root in that Loyalist lab, so I’m ninety-nine point ninety-seven percent sure it’ll work.”

“Nah, it’s cool.” I tuck the potion in my pocket. “I’m gonna take a little walk alone. I should be leaving soon anyway.”

“Oh, okay. You sure? I can walk with you. Zora and I were going over some devices that could be useful once it comes to fighting. The geolocation device on her armor is really intriguing.”

“Nah, y’all go ahead. I need a minute alone.”

She presses a tear-shaped glass in my hands. “And here’s the water from Plinor. Remember, anything goes wrong, take it within sixty seconds. Just in case!”

“Thanks.”

She smiles before taking off, and I pull the memory potion back out. Its glass shines. I pull out the stopper and hold it to my lips.

Drink, Rue.

But my hand won’t move. My pulse rattles like a drum. How much more remembering can I take? Every memory haunts me, shakes my steps. For the first time in I don’t know how long, I feel like I know what I’m doing. I’m this close to victory.

Drink.

I can’t.