“I think everyone ended up in The Colony because people were afraid,” he continues, not noticing I’ve stopped. “I think it all terrified them so bad that they were willing to turn over their freedom just to live.”

I snatch the shining object from the mirror and catch up with him. “Yeah, but if the Highers were part of the virus, then how did they end up with control over The Colony.”

Aiden stares at the shiny thing in my hand. “What is that?”

“I don’t know,” I say, holding it up, watching it spin and sparkle. “But it’s so shiny and … not dark.” Our eyes move to the sky, dark with smoke and ash. “I wonder if it’s what the sun looked like,” I mumble.

I go to put the sparkly necklace back and catch sight of a pile of bones on the seat—human bones.

“I hate seeing that.” I set the necklace down on top of them.

“I think I would have rather died then been infected.” Aiden stares over my shoulders at the bones.

“Me too.”

We continue on with our journey, passing by building after building with no sign of life.

“Maybe I should start checking inside them,” I suggest after a while.

He considers this, eyes locked on a large triangular building stacked of fractured glass. “It seems kind of dangerous. You know that’s where they hide out during the day.”

“That’s why I’ll go in.” I step for the building, but he pulls me back. “We’re never going to find him if we just wander up and down the streets.”

“I told you I can track him down,” he says. “It’s just going to take some time.”

“By time also means giving people time to find us,” I say. “And darkness is coming quick, so we’re running out of time.” I go to move again, but he draws me back. “Aiden, this is getting us nowhere.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but then snaps it shut, dropping his hold on me as he pulls out his knife. “We’re being tracked.”

My ears instantly perk.  “I don’t hear anyone.”

His breathing is loud and erratic and I notice how unsteady his hands are. “That’s because they don’t have a heartbeat.”

Before I can respond, he’s running up the street, staying in the shadows that the buildings make. I chase after him, drawing out my knife.

“No vampires are out yet,” I hiss. “Whoever it is has to have a heartbeat.” Unless they’re me.

“No.” He shakes his head, peering into a store filled with shredded t-shirts and hats. “That’s not true.”