I couldn’t blame even a rational person for believing I was now deeply involved with the devil, or at least the enemy. I can’t even fathom what goes on in her head. This is a scenario she’s always feared, always warned me about. And here we are.

‘Thanks, Mom,’ I say again. There’s more to be said. And in a healthy mother–daughter relationship, more probably would be said.

But I don’t know how to begin. So I just keep humming that haunting lullaby that she used to sing to us when she was coming out of a particularly bad spell.

Chapter 49

49

The road is empty of life. As we drive, I see nothing more than a deserted world of abandoned cars, earthquake-damaged landscape, and fire-gutted buildings.

The similarities between our landscape and the Pit are becoming disturbing.

We’re halfway to the Resistance camp when I see a growing speck in the sky behind us. It’s a single angel.

I debate whether to speed up or stop. I pull over and hide among the dead cars on the road. My mom and I slide down in our seats. Paige has already moved ahead of us.

I watch through the rearview mirror as the angel nears. He has bright white wings with a torso to match. It’s Josiah.

I make sure he’s alone before I get out and wave him down.

‘Raphael sent me to tell you not to go to the Resistance camp,’ says Josiah as he lands. He sounds out of breath.

‘Why? What’s going on?’

‘You need to stay away from any concentration of people. The trial by contest is going to be a blood hunt.’

‘What’s a blood hunt?’ Just saying those words makes me want to run and hide.

‘Two teams hunt as much game as possible,’ says Josiah. ‘It starts at dusk and ends at dawn. At the end, whoever has the most kills wins.’

‘What kind of game?’ My lips are numb, and I’m vaguely surprised the words come out.

He has the decency to look uncomfortable. ‘Uriel insists there’s only one prey worth hunting. The only one that’s attacked back.’

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘Raffe wouldn’t do that.’

‘He has no choice. No one backs out of a blood hunt.’

I have to lean against the truck.

‘So Raffe is going to slaughter as many humans as he can? You too?’

‘Whoever wins the contest wins the trial. If Raphael wins, he’ll be in charge, and everyone who survives the blood hunt will be better off.’

My stomach feels like an acid volcano, and I swallow hard to keep it down.