But the strength it takes to move my lips and push sound through them is beyond me. The attempt alone has me seeing stars, the room spinning so much that I wonder if I’m going to pass out after all. Doing so might be a mercy, if it will keep me from Vanik’s plans a little longer. But while I’d love to give in to the darkness, I blink, blink, blink to force it back, battling my pounding head and flashing vision. My friends need me awake, my brother needs me awake. I have to stay conscious. I have to.

Ward continues dragging me through the room, only … he’s dragging me away from the others. Smith is still out cold, and Riley looks as dazed as I feel, so I’m not sure if he’s aware enough to understand what’s happening. But the others … they’re fighting.

Arryn and Cami are pulling at their invisible bonds, wrestling with what looks like air as their bodies strain away from the wall and struggle, struggle, struggle to break free. Cami’s movements are so forceful that Smith slides from where he was propped against her and slumps onto the ground, but she doesn’t stop. She catches my unfocused eyes and jerks her head toward Kael over and over again. I try to gesture that I understand, but my limbs aren’t responding.

I know what she’s trying to say—if Kael can get free, even just his mouth, then his Destroyer ability will help improve our odds. Significantly. He could keep Ward distracted enough that his power won’t work, leaving Vanik unprotected. The scientist will still be a powerful enemy, but not as untouchable as he is now.

And I mustn’t forget what Arryn can do. If she can get close enough to touch Kael or even Ward, she could take on either of their abilities and join the fight, offering protection for us. Or … I know she said she couldn’t imagine using a Creator ability, but if she could touch Vanik or me, then she and I might, just might, be able to turn the tide in our favor. Assuming she can control her words—and assuming I can still Speak at all.

There’s also Cami and her healing gift. She’s proven to be more than a match for her brother, putting him to sleep with a single word. That’s our endgame here, I remind myself. We want them unconscious, no more, no less.

Before learning the truth about SCARS from Arryn and Riley, I didn’t have a “what comes next” part of the plan. But I heard what they said beside the hot springs:

… we have a government-sanctioned holding facility that can keep even the most powerful of Speakers contained.