Before either of us can ask any questions, Atlas squeezes around the dumpster and heads into the alley.

“Here.” The girl takes off her hat and holds it out to me. When I hesitate she shoves it into my hands and lets out a frustrated huff. “Take it.”

Since I’m not sure how to reject the gift, I close my fingers around the brim. “Thanks?”

She lets out a sharp laugh, touches the side of her mouth where blood is starting to bloom again, and grimaces. “If you ever need help, or want to do more than just hang around on the sidelines, look in the lining of the hat. Tell whoever you reach that Stef gave it to you. They’ll understand. There aren’t many of us left anymore, but we’re doing what we can.”

“We’re good,” Atlas whispers from the other side of the dumpster.

I slide between the dumpster and the brick wall. Stef follows.

“They’re looking for three of us,” Stef says matter-of-factly. “It’ll be better if I go on my own from here.” She turns back to me. “I hope we meet again sometime.” And with that she starts running. In a second, Stef is gone from view.

I jam the hat on my head and start jogging on tired legs with Atlas to the edge of the alley, then walk to the park across the street and out of the neighborhood. We don’t say anything when we get on the bus and head in the direction of my house. My right knee is stiff. My feet ache, and my heart is pounding like I’m still running for my life. Did my mother ever feel like this? If so, how could I have not seen?

I glance at Atlas several times, trying to figure out what he’s thinking as we ride. He’s answering messages on his phone, but I’m not at a good angle to see what they are about. From his expression, I’d guess they aren’t anything good.

When the bus reaches our stop and we climb off and onto the curb, I finally say the words I’ve been thinking since we reached the back room of that store with the sunflower sign. “Thank you.”

Atlas gives me a long stare and says nothing. He’s not going to make it easy, so I try to say the rest as fast as I can. “I should have listened to you. I didn’t know what I was getting us into by trying to help that girl. I knew it was dangerous, but I didn’t understand. Not until I faced it myself.”

I turn and look toward the Loop—at the buildings shining silver and rose and gold against the dimming sky. “I’ve always trusted that everything the government did was to make us happy and safe. When you showed me the truth, I didn’t want it to be real. But it is. I know it is. And knowing what I know, I couldn’t just stand by and let someone else get hurt. I’m glad Stef is safe, but I shouldn’t have forced you into putting yourself in danger to help her.” The crack of the Marshal’s gun echoes in my mind and I shiver. “That wasn’t my choice to make.”