Fred leaned back in her chair and gazed at the ceiling. It made her neck hurt, but pretty much everything she did hurt these days. It would be sunrise in a couple of hours, and it wasn’t just old age making her ache this morning.

  This was not a pleasant conversation. She’d known Eliza for years and she could be as warm and compassionate as anyone. But when Eliza considered something necessary, she was as ruthless as peer review.

  Can you be a little more specific as to why I have to make them leave? Fred said.

  You know what I am, Eliza said. You know what my brother Enki was. He sacrificed himself to put these pieces in position. You can’t protect them and they can’t become who they need to be if they stay with you.

  So you’re throwing them into the ocean to see if they can swim, Fred said. You should have told me sooner. I already told them they could stay.

  I know, Eliza said.

  You knew they were coming, because you sent Corey here to meet them. You planned this, didn’t you? You let them think they had a place to stay and then took it away from them.

  Yes.

  Was that extra bit of cruelty really necessary?

  Yes.

  Well, I don’t like it, and I don’t like you very much right now, either.

  You don’t have to like it, Eliza said. My brother and I have been playing this chess game for centuries. If they stay, the game’s over and my brother’s sacrifice will have been for nothing, so don’t talk to me about your feelings.

  Fine. Fred blinked back tears. I’ll have them out of here by tomorrow. Will that be soon enough or shall I wake them up now and chase them out with pitchforks?

  Tomorrow will be fine, Eliza said.

  All right. I’ll take care of it. I hope you sleep well tonight. I know I won’t.

  Fred broke their contact. “Dammit!” She slammed her fist onto the desk. The ground shook and a book fell from the shelf. Fred sighed, and stood to retrieve it.

  The first thing Xeke noticed when Cymber came into his cabin was her red, swollen eyes.

  “What’s wrong, Cym?” he said. “Did something happen?”

  “Fred needs to see the three of you,” she said. “Now.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I’ll let Fred explain.” She turned her back on them and walked out.

  Xeke followed. Ruddy and Teri were waiting for him right outside.

  Am I in trouble? Ruddy said. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week.

  Xeke shrugged. Only one way to find out. He glanced at Teri. You’re quiet.

  She didn’t answer and Xeke shrugged again before they followed Cymber to Fred’s house.

  Fred was sitting in her leather chair when they came in, staring at the bookshelf on the far wall while she thrummed her fingers on the desk.

  Corey nodded to them when they walked in. “How’s your knee?” he asked Teri.

  “Much better, thanks,” she said.

  Fred took a deep breath. “I’m sorry to call you in here like this, but we’ve got a big problem.”

  Ruddy froze. She knows what I did!

  Of course she knows, Xeke said. His skin crawled at Fred’s blank expression. “What the hell is going on?”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “You’re going to have to leave,” Fred said. “I’m sorry.”

  “But you’re the one who called us in here ...” Xeke trailed off.

  Silence filled the room. It was broken by a choked sob from Cymber.

  I don’t understand, Ruddy said. What’s wrong with Cymber? What is Fred saying?

  She’s kicking you and Teri out of Penatuka, Xeke said.

  What? She can’t … is it because of what I did?

  Xeke wanted to reassure him, but his own thoughts were a jumble. He couldn’t feel anything from Teri.

  “I … I’m sorry.” Ruddy’s voice cracked. “I know I shouldn’t have done it. Please give me another chance …”

  Fred stared at him. “What? Oh, you mean your little mishap last night. You’re lucky to be alive. But that isn’t why you have to leave.”

  “You can’t do this,” Xeke said.

  “I know this is a shock,” Fred said.

  Xeke’s voice rose. “It’s more than shock, it’s betrayal. These are my friends. We’ve always taken in people who need help. You can’t kick them out.”

  “Them?” Fred said. “It’s not just them. You’re leaving, too.”

  Xeke’s throat went dry. His world spun. “But ... why?”

  “Because the people looking for you are more powerful than I am. Because our security depends entirely on no one knowing we are here. Because if DSSA finds out I exist, everything we’ve built here will end, and all the people you care about will end up in the government’s tender care.”

  Every sentence hit Xeke like a punch in the face. Fred’s expression softened.

  “You three are the highest priority targets in the DSSA spotlight right now. It isn’t personal. You need to leave until things cool down. I’m sorry.”

  “But … Winifred ... this is my home,” Xeke said. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

  Corey shifted in his chair. “I have some friends in California. They’d like to meet the three of you. There may be a place for you within our organization.”

  “What organization?” Xeke said.

  “People like us,” Corey said. “I can’t say more right now. We have to be careful.”

  “Yeah,” Xeke said. “Sounds like everyone’s real concerned about being careful.”

  “Xeke, don’t,” Fred said.

  Xeke wouldn’t meet her eyes.

  Teri found Sean out by the creek. He was in dog form, sniffing around the ground next to the water.

  He padded up to her and poked his cold nose against her hand. What’s wrong? Are you okay?

  “We have to leave Penatuka tomorrow,” she said. “Me and Xeke and Ruddy.”

  Sean’s tail stopped wagging. What? Why?

  Fred’s kicking us out. She says we’re a danger to the town because DSSA is looking for us.

  But they’re looking for everyone! Sean said. She’s never … she can’t!

  Teri plopped down against a tree. “Fred thinks it’s best,” she said. “And she’s right. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of us, but ...”

  Sean put his head in her lap and gazed up at her with his big dog eyes. But you wish it wasn’t real, he said. You wish you could stay. I wish you could, too. Maybe you can come back one day?

  Teri nodded. Maybe. I just— I wish she’d told us the situation and let us decide for ourselves. Ruddy would have felt like a hero, and Xeke wouldn’t have to feel betrayed, and ... I ... I can’t really figure out why I’m so upset.

  Sean’s tail thumped the ground. Because you’ll miss me? He licked the tears off her face. She couldn’t help but smile.

  I know I’ll miss you, he said. He tilted his doggie head to the side. Let me go home and change. We can spend the day together ... if you want.

  Teri nodded and he bounded off. Sean always made her feel better.

  And I’ll probably never see him again.

  I never should have come here, Ruddy thought. This is my fault. Teri should have let me die.

  He wandered behind the cabins, trying to think of a way to get out of Penatuka without anyone noticing. What he really wanted to do was find Cymber and cry on her shoulder—but she was already upset enough about Xeke leaving without him adding to it.

  I tried to fix it. He’d offered to leave if the others could stay, but Fred had just looked at him like he was stupid.

  Well, she’s right. I am stupid. That’s the whole problem.

  He was so lost in his thoughts he almost walked right into Joe Freeman and his husband, Lloyd. Great, they’re probably mad at me for getting Xeke kicked out.

  Both men were about his age and were nice enough. Freeman was a firefighter before the Event, and Lloyd had been a big-time computer programmer in New York.

  All I ever did was inherit a trust fund and almost destroy my dad’s business, he thought. I was a loser before the Event and I’m a loser now.

  “Hey, Ruddy,” Lloyd said. “We’ve been looking for you. We heard what happened.”

  Freeman frowned. “I don’t get it. Penatuka’s always stuck together before. Can’t say we agree with Fred on this, but we trust her. She knows things we don’t. Still … it sucks.”

  Ruddy nodded.

  “That was amazing, what you did yesterday,” Lloyd said. “I thought Sean was exaggerating about you. He’s kind of known for his tall tales.”

  “But … I lost,” Ruddy said.

  Lloyd’s forehead wrinkled. “Well … yeah. Of course you lost. It’s Xeke. But he had to bust the sled to beat you! Shit, you made him break a sweat. I never thought I’d see that.”

  He’s making fun of me, Ruddy thought. But they seemed serious.

  “Look,” Freeman said. “It’s supposed to be a surprise, but … hell, Teri can read our minds so I’m not sure how we’d keep it a secret anyway. There’s a little going away party planned this afternoon. Fred gave everyone the day off.”

  Lloyd held out a bottle. “Yeah, so let’s get an early start.”

  Ruddy took it. “Johnny Walker Green Label? This is supposed to be pretty good, right?”

  Freeman grinned at him. Ruddy unscrewed the cap and took a swig. It burned on the way down, then made his stomach feel warm. He coughed and took a deep pull.

  Lloyd laughed and took the bottle back. “Easy, killer. We’ve got a long day ahead.”

  “Come on,” Freeman said. “Arjun is going to meet us down at the river. We’ll go for a swim and have a few beers.”

  “Are you sure?” Ruddy said. “Don’t you guys have anything you need to do?”

  Lloyd shook his head. “Cymber gave us our job—to keep you out of the way until kickoff. So let’s go.”

  Ruddy’s stomach lurched. Out of the way. She wants me out of the way.