When we reached the red rope, I instinctively pulled back.

Eli paused. He glanced up at me without releasing my hand. “Don’t worry. Nothing can hurt you here.”

“He’s wrong.” I looked to my right to see Bobbie leaning against a tree. “You most definitely can be threatened here and everywhere.” She pushed herself off the tree. “But confessing to Rose will bring you certain suffering.”

What are you saying? Go past the red rope with him?

“If you refuse to abandon him, regardless of my advice, better to go with him than turn him in. Rose is a bigger threat to you now than the Fury beyond the rope.” She shrugged. “Either way, you’re playing with fire.”

I looked back at the boy, who seemed oblivious to her. As I looked into his eyes, peace began to fill my chest.

Eli gave my hand a light tug. “Come on.”

I stepped over the red rope and let him lead me forward. The forest was thick, but Eli deftly maneuvered us through the trees. I could see no path. After several minutes the trees thinned out. The grass was greener here and the sun was hot with so little shade. Still I followed, hand in hand with Eli, both of us silent.

We reached the base of a steep hill that rose above the forest. I knew it well because it was visible from Haven Valley, though I didn’t know anyone who’d actually climbed it. There was a small game trail that headed up and out of sight. As a child, I’d often looked at the grassy knoll and thought of the Fury hidden in a lair here, waiting for me to wander away from safety so they could tear into me.

Eli dropped my hand. “To the top,” he said.

“The top? I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Come on,” Eli said, starting for the small dirt path. “Up, up, up.” He didn’t glance behind to make sure I was following; he just left me standing there, uncertain.

I glanced behind me and could see the roofs of the homes that ran along the edge of Haven Valley. I’d followed him this far, and going back now without him would be pointless. Without him, I had nothing to exchange for my mother.

Was he leading me into a trap? Bobbie had said it was okay to follow him. But Bobbie didn’t want me to confess to having hidden Eli.

I swallowed and started up the path, hurrying now to catch Eli. The path was thin and steep, winding up and around the hill toward the top. The higher we climbed, the more tenuous the path became, falling off on the right to a deep ravine.

“Why are we climbing so high?” I demanded, now truly unnerved.

“Some things are best done in high places,” he said. “Hurry!”