I understood now how the mansion had been so isolated. Though the house was visible, distinct figures were not. We spotted shapes moving in the windows, but couldn't tell what they were doing. Sounds didn't carry this far, either. Dense hedges surrounding the place absorbed the noise before it could reach us—high hedges forming a maze.

"We'll all go through the maze," Cyrus said at my elbow. "I know the way to the other side, and Nolen and I can easily hide there until you come back."

"But how will she find us?" Nathan hissed through the darkness. "We need a rendezvous point."

I held up my hand. This wasn't the time for them to start arguing. "I'll remember the way. We'll meet at the end. If there's trouble, if someone discovers us, it's every man for himself, okay?"

"No!" they both whispered in unison.

I shushed them. "Do you want someone to hear you? Listen, I can take care of myself. I'll be invisible. It's you I'm worried about."

"I'm not going to leave here if you're in trouble. That's asking too much!" Nathan shook his head vehemently. "I won't do it."

"Listen to me!" I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I have blood ties to both of you. You can keep track of me that way. If something happens that you lose me, or I can't communicate, you'll know it's too late. Promise me that if you can't hear me, you'll leave."

The pain that flashed through Nathan's eyes was visible despite the darkness that surrounded us. He nodded once in agreement.

"Then let's go," Cyrus said softly, motioning toward the wall. "Carrie, I'll boost you up."

We'd found a spot where the barricade had broken near the top, so the climb wouldn't be too difficult. The drop on the other side might be another thing entirely, so I braced myself mentally as I placed one foot into Cyrus's cupped hands.

Carrie!

I looked at his upturned face, his features sharp with desperation in the faint moonlight. I touched his cheek. "Hey, we're not going to the firing squad. Boost me up."

It wasn't the death drop I'd anticipated on the other side. In fact, the wall seemed to be taller on the side we climbed. After landing, I stayed low, crawling to hide behind a nearby tree. It wouldn't provide great cover, but it was nice to have something tangible between me and the guardhouse.

Cyrus followed, then Nathan. I beckoned to them, but Cyrus shook his head, motioning toward the maze. Apparently, we'd done all the planning he thought we needed.