“You’re back,” I said to Ruby as she offered a hand to pull me out. The sight of her was such a relief that I couldn’t hold on to my earlier frustration. I understood exactly how Harrison felt. I didn’t want to be the one who lost her, but it hurt not to be the one who found her.

“Harrison kicked me out of there a while ago, so I was out in the desert, digging around to find more stuff for you,” she told me. “You know, just trying to know all the secrets I’m supposed to know.”

The tears I had suppressed earlier sprang up to my eyes.

I accidentally stepped back onto Harrison’s hand. “You’re already failing to make life aboveground seem better!” he yelled as he winced, which made me even more emotional. His fake irritation was another relief.

“He looks worse than you,” Teeny told me once Harrison fully resurfaced.

It was true, but only because I’d showered and changed. Harrison had to crouch to readjust to the sunlight. “How do humans do this?” he cursed as he rubbed his eyes. “It’s so bright!”

Ruby hugged me. After Harrison had properly recovered, she hugged him too. “I didn’t know what to think after I left you.”

“Yep,” was all he said back, directed at Ruby but meant for me, a tiny incision of a word, small and painful as a paper cut.

“If you’re really okay, then let’s get on with it,” I said, absorbing the pain. This was how we behaved on land. Our camaraderie was another secret we’d keep underneath.

Suddenly, Aidy leapt forward to kiss Harrison. It was hard to say who was more surprised: her, him, or the rest of us. Ruby coughed, making sure all eyes were averted, letting them have their strange moment in peace.

“The second Bigs spotted me, he told me Emery was really scared,” Ruby said. “I wasn’t getting any reception farther out.” She turned to catch my dodgy gaze. “I know, I know. I promise I’ll tell you all about her soon.”

Truces were being dealt out left and right. Maybe everything really was okay again, I convinced myself.

It was a beautiful ten seconds of ignorance.

Aidy stepped away from Harrison. “I’ve already discussed this with most of you one-on-one, but it’s time we talked about it as a group.” She looked me square in the face. “I think Marley knew the gun was loaded.”

My stomach roiled. It was happening, and I couldn’t stop it. I had nothing but a third of a journal that seemed to further her theory. Anything I told them would turn this into more of a disaster, so I bit back tears instead, doing my best to keep my expression steady.

“I do too,” Harrison added, backing her up. “That message spray-painted on the wall really made me believe. With the school picture and the trophy head. It was like she was saying we didn’t see her right, or something.”