“Gemma!” Alex shouted from behind her, and she turned to see him running down the embankment toward the docks. He must’ve seen her struggling with Sawyer, so he was charging at them.

The sky above them suddenly exploded in bright red and blue lights as the fireworks began. The booming sound of them seemed to startle Sawyer for a second, but his grip on her never wavered.

“Please, Sawyer, you need to let me go!” Gemma shouted at him, but he ignored her.

“Let her go!” Alex yelled, appearing at her side.

“I can’t,” Sawyer insisted, his words barely audible over the crackle of fireworks.

That was all Alex needed to hear. He hauled off and punched Sawyer, hitting him so hard in the face that Sawyer let go of Gemma and fell backward to the dock.

“Thank you,” Gemma said, unsure how else to respond as she watched Sawyer hold his bleeding lip.

“What?” Alex turned toward her. Between his earplugs and the fireworks, he must not have been able to hear anything.

She kissed him once quickly on the mouth, since she knew he could understand that. But she didn’t have any time for more, even though, honestly, she thought it was pretty hot the way Alex had just come over and hit Sawyer.

But she did feel bad for Sawyer. She wanted to run off with Alex and find Harper, but she paused and turned back to Sawyer.

“Go,” Sawyer said. He sat up and wiped the blood off his lip with his arm. “Get out of here before the sirens find you.”

“What?” Gemma stepped back, surprised to hear him thinking for himself.

“The sirens will be here soon,” Sawyer said. “They knew I had you.”

“Wait. Are you you?” Gemma asked. “Can you think for yourself?”

“I think so.” He stood up slowly and rubbed his head.

“What’s going on?” Alex asked, but Gemma held up her hand to silence him. She couldn’t explain now, when he couldn’t hear.

Besides, Gemma didn’t know how to explain this anyway. Something about Alex hitting Sawyer must’ve cleared his head, but Gemma wasn’t sure if it was temporary or not. But his eyes had lost their glassy quality, looking a clear, brilliant blue.

“I can’t remember the last few days very well, but I know…” Sawyer furrowed his brow. “I don’t want to listen to the sirens anymore.”

“Then come with us.” Gemma beckoned him. “You don’t need to stay with them. You can escape with me.”

“No, if I leave…” Sawyer shook his head, his smooth features looking pained. “Penn will kill me. I can’t ever get away from her.”

“She’ll kill you if you stay,” Gemma warned him. “You need to leave with us, right now. We’re going to find my sister, and we’ll find a way to break free from the sirens. But you have to come with us.”