Before I can blink, he spins around, facing me, his body almost pressing into mine. “You don’t need to worry about anything, Piper. You won’t be dying in that room, I can promise that.”

“You’ve known me two days,” I remind him.

“That feels like a lifetime when you bring sunshine into this dungeon.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself. I thought I could get through this because I have Hazel, but she hasn’t been herself at all. Theo has turned frosty with me. I’ve been alone. Until now.

30

“Room three,” Evan says as we stop in front of the door. It’s open an inch.

I haven’t been in this room before. Light. Room three. And room four, sleep deprivation. Those are the only rooms I’ve not been in. Oh, and obviously room zero.

Hazel hasn’t done a room once yet.

I guess I piss them off more than Hazel does. But they won’t drive a wedge between us, it isn’t Hazel’s fault.

“You’ve done this one?” I ask, squeezing Evan’s hand tighter. Somehow having another person with me is making me more nervous. Or perhaps that’s just the unknown. I don’t know what to expect in here.

Evan nods. “Too many times to count. We’ll be fine, okay?”

My heart is racing as I reply, “Okay.”

Taking the lead, Evan pushes the door open with his free hand and leads us into the room. There is nothing in here; it’s a white box. On the ceiling is one big light, like the whole thing is a light.

I lick my lips. While I don’t think bright lights will be the worst room, I’m not naive enough to think it’s going to be easy. I get headaches from being in the sun for too long, and I’m going to have to spend some time in this room with what I would imagine is super-strong lighting.

The door clicks locked behind us. Evan turns to face me. He’s calm, like he knows what’s coming. He does, and he’s survived this.

Though I can’t see how room five could ever get easier.

He takes my other hand and steps closer. “You can do this, Piper.”

“Don’t let go,” I whisper as the room is cloaked in darkness.

Gasping, I step closer to Evan.

“It’s okay. It’s always dark first. Close your eyes, Piper, and keep them shut.”

I don’t ask why I would need to close my eyes in a dark room, but I have a feeling that if I don’t do what said he says, I’ll regret it.

I blink my eyes and squeeze them shut. “Are your eyes closed, too?” I ask him.

“Yeah. Don’t open them.”

How bright can it get?

My heart hammers, and my breath is shallow.