Because he doesn’t know you, Melanie whispered, and then faded away as if she were suddenly exhausted.

I stood frozen where I was, surprised. I wasn’t sure, but it felt as though Melanie had just given me a compliment.

“Move it,” Jared barked from the other room.

I hurried as fast as the darkness and my fear would allow.

When we returned, Jeb was waiting by the blue lamp; at his feet were two lumpy cylinders and two uneven rectangles. I hadn’t noticed them before. Perhaps he’d gone to get them while we were away.

“Are you sleeping here tonight or am I?” Jeb asked Jared in a casual tone.

Jared looked at the shapes by Jeb’s feet.

“I am,” he answered curtly. “And I only need one bedroll.”

Jeb raised a thick eyebrow.

“It’s not one of us, Jeb. You left this on me—so butt out.”

“She’s not an animal, either, kid. And you wouldn’t treat a dog this way.”

Jared didn’t answer. His teeth ground together.

“Never figured you for a cruel man,” Jeb said softly. But he picked up one of the cylinders, put his arm through a strap, and slung it over his shoulder, then stuffed one rectangle—a pillow—under his arm.

“Sorry, honey,” he said as he passed me, patting my shoulder.

“Cut that out!” Jared growled.

Jeb shrugged and ambled away. Before he was out of sight, I hurried to disappear into my cell; I hid in its darkest reaches, coiling myself into a tight ball that I hoped was too small to see.

Instead of lurking silently and invisibly in the outside tunnel, Jared spread his bedroll directly in front of the mouth of my prison. He plumped his pillow a few times, possibly trying to rub it in that he had one. He lay down on the mat and crossed his arms over his chest. That was the piece of him that I could see through the hole—just his crossed arms and half of his stomach.

His skin was that same dark gold tan that had haunted my dreams for the last half year. It was very strange to have that piece of my dream in solid reality not five feet from me. Surreal.

“You won’t be able to sneak past me,” he warned. His voice was softer than before—sleepy. “If you try…” He yawned. “I will kill you.”