“These kids are only a few years younger than us, and they know their way around this island better than me or Molly. We have to stick together.”

“Connor, nobody wants to get Darcy out of that hellhole more than I do—”

“Really? ’Cuz it sounds like—”

“YES, I DO!” Lacrishia’s rage leaps from her, no longer restrained by her overwhelming politeness. Panic lacerates my chest at how badly I seem to have upset her. Her own eyes widen, as if frightened by her outburst. Nevertheless, she doesn’t retreat. An awkward hush falls on the cave, and the campers stiffen as Lacrishia takes a wide step toward me. “Believe me,” she says, “I don’t want Darcy in that pit, either. But she and I talked about what if something like this happened, where someone needed to be left behind. This is damage control, and we need to get off this island to let people know what’s happening. Then we come back for Darcy.”

“After what happened to Drew—”

“Darcy can take care of herself—I’ve seen it in action—and these people think they’ve got everything under control now. I know this camp.”

“And I know the Reverend.” It’s my turn to step closer to Lacrishia’s spear. Her lips harden, but my expression softens. She has to know what this man is capable of. “I know him. He’s cornered and suspicious. And he’s smart. And he can be in your head at any time. He killed Drew.” A few Beginners suck in sharp breaths. I don’t want to scare them any more than they already are, but I have to get this out. “He killed him, just for trying to give us information about Ricky. Miss Manners said so. Now, the Reverend’s got Darcy. Lacrishia, if we leave, he will kill her and disappear.” Molly and the Beginners look to Lacrishia for guidance…but her stony gaze collapses. “I had the chance to leave Nightlight, but I stayed. Because I know the Reverend, and I couldn’t trust any of you would be safe with him. We’re escaping the island tonight—all of us. Nobody gets left behind.”

A tear flickers down Lacrishia’s face in the torchlight, and she whispers, “Could she…What if he already…?”

I shake my head, confidently. I’ve never been more confident of anything. “If the boat is still here, if the Reverend knows we’re still here, he won’t hurt her. He’ll think there’s still the possibility he can force things back to normal.”

“Let’s have a vote,” Lacrishia says, slapping back her tear with frustration. “Hands up for leaving now and coming back later for Darcy.”