My thoughts were transported back to a time when James was the one being punched by Victor. Only that time, James didn’t fight back. This version of him was so different to the one I’d known. I began questioning everything. Had it all been a lie? Maybe I was no different than any of the other girls here. Maybe I’d just fallen harder, believed the whole thing more steadfastly than they.

When Zander finally returned to the table, it was no surprise to me that he was empty-handed. Of course the girl had been telling the truth, but this didn’t matter to Gorbon. He raised a hand to strike her, but the collective and sharp intake of the breath of everyone in the room reminded him that he was not alone.

“Get her out of my sight,” Gorbon said.

The girl wept uncontrollably as Sarabeth inched her away from him. Another helper woman came forward, and both women led the young girl out of the room as she wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“No one may leave The House until the Bound Book has been found,” Arthur said. His gaze held every eye in the room as he looked from face to face. He stopped abruptly, then turned his head to the side when he saw James. “You! Why are you here? You are forbidden to be inside Judaculla.”

“Fringer,” Gorbon said, pointing at James. He faced the crowd. “He must be the one who took the Bound Book.” Huffing and puffing, he finally pulled himself out of his chair.

“Fringers are not permitted inside Judaculla,” Zander said, his hand moving to the inside of his jacket.

This man would kill my James in a matter of seconds. Ever had said as much. She’d warned me that James would be killed if he returned to Judaculla. My heart thudded a crazy rhythm in my chest, and my throat constricted. I was unable to speak even one syllable in protest of what was about to happen.

Two boys grabbed James and tore him away from me. He struggled against them as they dragged him to the Elders. I saw the glint of steel as Zander pulled a sharp knife from his jacket.

The glare of the light bouncing off the blade shocked me into action, and I finally found my voice. “Stop,” I yelled. There was a moment of quiet as all eyes turned on me.

A piercing scream sounded, and the room erupted in chaos. A few boys grabbed their mates before running for the exits scattered around the perimeter of the room. Other boys knocked girls to the ground, nearly stampeding over them in their rush to the door.