Monarch built me to be the strongest, the fastest. He built me to endure the vampires. He built me for a reason—so I could find a cure and save the world. He also built me not to be a coward. Sliding out from under the blanket, I pick up my bag and turn off the flashlight. I pause as I pass Aiden, taking in the shape of his lips, jaw, the way he winces when he sleeps.

“Good-bye.” I whisper so softly there’s no way it can be heard.  Then I slide the boulder aside and step out into the night, making sure to close it securely behind me.

Leaving in the middle of the night might seem like a terrible thing to do, but Aiden would never let me walk away alone. And staying with them would only be risking their lives. With the Highers after me, it’s too risky. So I set out through the darkness to go find Sylas—to go find my memories—to find a cure.

The vampires’ shrieks ricochet the night, shrill and ravenous. But I’m not afraid. How could I be?

When they’re the ones that fear me.

Epilogue

From the top of the cliffs, I watch them prowl the night, keeping on high ground, out of the vampires eyes. They move quietly, hunting for the one that knows the answers to the questions they seek. I can make out which figure belongs to him. It’s darker and stands taller than the rest. He moves like air, like I used to before I turned back and secretly I envy him.

I sneak quietly behind them, keeping my distance, making sure I’m the one that finds him. Making sure he understands I make my own decisions—that I’m in control.

They hop from rock to rock, finally ducking down between the cracks of the cave, slipping into blackness, and with a deep breath, I follow, my boots grazing the side of the rock, making me wince against my human mistake. But we all make mistakes. It’s how we fix them that makes us who we are.

When I reach the bottom, there’s only one way to go. I lie flat on my stomach and slink into the narrow cave, my feet clumsy and graceless. A fire burns from the middle of the cave, but no one surrounds it.

I circle around it, wondering where they disappeared to.

“I thought you came looking for me.” The touch of his breath brushing against my ear makes my stomach twist with nervousness.

“I didn’t have a choice,” I turn to face him. “You’re the only one I know who can help fix it all now.”

Sylas’s black eyes smolder in the light of the fire and he holds out his hand. “Then let me help you fix it.”