“You’re okay now,” she said. “I saw you before, briefly, while you were bloody— I shouldn’t be mentioning that.”

She sounded so shaken.

“Do you guys want to be alone?” Sveta asked.

“Sure,” Rain said, at the same time Erin said, “No.”

The tension in the pause that followed was almost physical.

“Is your family okay?” Rain asked.

“Mom was really upset. She got angry, and tried to pick a fight with someone our age, one of the people in body armor. I was just talking with her, while she’s handcuffed to a rail in one of the buses now. Dad—he’s angry too but he’s holding it together so he can stick with Bryce.”

“I’m glad they’re alive,” Rain said.

“They’re shaken. When we were mind controlled, it shook them. There was a moment I was talking to my mom when she asked me for an explanation, and I thought—did she get it? Then she started making up these really thin reasons and getting really angry at me for no reason, when I wasn’t saying anything.”

Erin looked so disappointed.

She went on, and her eyes were damp as she said, “But I’m glad they’re alive too, Rain. You gave me something I didn’t think was possible. They’re away from all of that. Maybe there’s a chance.”

“I hope so,” Rain said.

“I’m sorry I was so horrible to you,” she said.

“That night was the kind of night that’s horrible no matter what,” Rain said. “Wasn’t you. Let’s pretend it never happened.”

“I’d like that,” she said. “Can we go back to being friends?”

“Friends,” Rain said. “Yeah, of course. Come sit? Keep us company? These guys are going to leave soon, and I’ll be bored like this.”

“I—” she started. “Bryce did get a little bit hurt. I was about to check up on him. I’ll visit properly later.”

“Okay.” The one word from Rain sounded anything but.

“You guys do your hero thing,” she spoke with a forced brightness. “Thank you, everyone. I know you helped. You’re amazing.”

“Except for Kenzie,” Chris said. “She’s just okay.”

“Aw.”

“Don’t listen to him. You’re especially amazing, critter,” Erin said. “Second only to Rain, and I’m biased.”

I snuck a glance at Rain, trying to read him.

“Do your hero thing, Rain,” Erin said. “Because—you are a hero. Thank you for helping to get us out.”

“Say hi to Bryce for me, yeah?” Rain asked.

“I will. I’ll visit soon,” she said. “I promise.”

And then she was gone, ducking her head down, exiting the bus. I twisted around and watched through the blurry, dusty window as she walked away, escorted by a Patrol student in uniform.

When I looked back in Rain’s direction, his eyes were moist and getting moister.