“You seem lost.” He smiles, but it’s fake. Again he fears what I am. In fact, his fear has multiplied.

“Where is he?” I ask, knowing I’ve crossed a line I’ll never be able to go back over.

“Where’s who?” he questions with pretend mystification.

I clench my hands into fist, wishing I could remember what happened at Lessons. “Where’s Monarch?”

His mouth grinds to a frown. “I see more rules were broken than I was aware of.” He pauses, eyes narrowing. “Good thing it’s taken care of.” Then he turns to the nearest Watcher, lurking near the wall, giving a short thick man a zap in the back with his Taser. “Find someone to fill this room, after you’re done with him.”

All the calmness drains out of me. Without thinking, I reach out, snatch the back of the Highers robe, and throw him against the wall. Everyone in the hall slams to an abrupt stop, fears swarming the air like a wind storm.

“I think you’re forgetting who you’re dealing with,” Gabrielle grits through his teeth.  “Maybe you need to be reminded.”

“Not now, Kayla,” Monarch whispers. “Not yet.”

My hand trembles and I blink back the water in my eyes. Then two Watchers seize me by the arms and pull me back. I try to wiggle free, but they tighten their hold. I never take my eyes off Gabrielle as they haul me away, down the hall. The Colony members scurry to the side, fearing for my death, but no one tries to help me.

The Watchers take me to a section of The Colony I’ve never been in before, one that weaves down, deep underground, where the sounds of traveling footsteps and voices can’t be heard. Water dribbles off the rotten ceiling, staining the brick floor brown. The lights blink in and out of consciousness.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask the taller Watcher.

His breath through his mask is my only answer. These two are afraid of nothing, boots trooping as the continue lugging me. The end of our journey is a single door, bright red, like blood. I’ve seen this door before, in my head, and somehow I know whatever’s on the other side of that door is potent. Because so much fear and chaos leaks from it, it screams inside my body.

I shut my eyes, knowing what I do next will either save me or be the end of me.  I let my weight fall slack, dragging their arms toward the ground. One of them stumbles and clips their boot on an uneven part of the ground. I quickly shift my leg around and kick his out from under him.  He releases my arms as he buckles to the ground.