His face falls as he takes the blame I throw at him and carries it. “I know. I… I thought she was stronger. That she could win and be an ally once she saw this. I could tell she’d be the type of person who’d help my fight, but I began to realize that she didn’t have the strength to win. I’d hoped that there would be no competition this year, that I would have more time to train her or figure out how to stop this whole thing, but…”

“But you chose yourself.”

And me. He chose me.

I turn back and grip the vine I cut.

“It won’t help,” he says.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

I pause. The truth in those two words breaks me.

“Let me show you,” he says.

When I don’t move, he grips my arms and pulls me away from her.

My hand trails across her warm arm, brushing her perfect, pink nails. “They’re not dead, at least.”

Roman swallows. “Worse. As far as I can tell, the magic keeps them alive and young while constantly feeding off their blood.”

“We need to do something.”

“I’ve tried.”

Roman turns and heads deeper into the tangle of thorns and bodies, and I consider not following him at all, but leaving’s not even an option anymore. Not with Willow ensnared here. Not without her. I squeeze her hand. I’m not sure if she can feel it, but I hope she knows that it’s me, and I’ve found her, and I will not let her rot here.

I step around her and end up face-to-face with a boy stretched out in an X with so many vines holding him in place that they look like a suit of leaves. I almost don’t recognize him without his glasses. Barry. A rosebud grows from the exact spot the arrow hit his throat.

I close my eyes for a minute and take a deep breath. I know Lucy must be here too. I can’t stop picturing how young she looked. She was probably close to my age, but she seemed like the kind of girl who should be home sitting on the stool of a kitchen island, eating raw cookie dough while she bakes with her mom. I swallow. I don’t want to see her.

I keep my eyes on my feet as I move after Roman, but watching bloody rocks and gems slide under each step isn’t any better. I look up and try to focus on Roman’s back instead.