Chapter 1

No one here had seen me before. They don’t know what I really look like. They don’t know that my hair isn’t black, and my eyes aren’t green. Every single one of them thinks this is me. That I look this way. Admitting to myself I’d been changed probably is the most difficult thing I have ever had to face.
Inside, I feel the same. I don’t feel any different. I still feel human. But every trip to the bathroom, every glance at my reflection in the mirror, the window, or the shiny side of the car—all I see is me but alien me. I know what’s causing the change, and I can’t reverse it.
I can’t go back to my parents’ hidey hole. There isn’t room for everyone. I have thirty-seven kids all looking at me—the new me, not the old me.
My eyes dart around the warehouse, searching for Arty and hoping to spot his hair or his hunched shoulders. I catch myself looking at tables and different surfaces, seeing if he left his eyeglasses behind.
I could really use him. Arty isn’t just my best friend; he’s the perfect right-hand man: smart, strong, and always willing to do whatever I ask of him. The best part is that I never have to question whether Arty is on my side.
It doesn’t matter what I do. If Arty wanted to fight about it, he would later when we were alone. He wouldn’t make me look like a fool in front of people. But Arty isn’t here. Instead, I found somebody else to rely upon.
The juiced-up quarterback who jumped in the truck cab with Zoe and me.
Nick.
He’s reliable and stepped up to the plate. So far, he hasn’t done anything to piss me off. He’s big and beefy, and he’s used to people doing what he tells them to do.
After the maze, the only person who knew what was going on, was me. Somehow, Nick got the idea I’m in charge. In his mind, I’m the top dog, and that makes him my right-hand man.
I don’t know if Nick is loyal, like Arty. What Arty and I had took a lifetime to build, but Nick keeps everyone in line, keeps us moving and motivated. The Nicks of the world have their uses.
I hadn’t sung anything since the moment I snapped everyone out of the enchantment in the middle of the street. To be honest, I’m afraid to sing now that I know I can create magic and what comes with it.
I sit in this dingy, filthy, grease-filled warehouse with closed eyes. In the background, there’s a song. The rocks, every piece of metal, even the glass in the windows. They all have a rhythm, a vibration, or a tune, and they sing to me. Every now and again, an uncontrollable desire to sing back hits me.
It has been two weeks since the maze, and we hadn’t seen even one Fae. But I can feel them lurking in the background, one step behind our every move.
My greatest worry now isn’t just the Fae.
For Janicee it was easy to tame that dog, and I’ve seen pawprints all around the homes in my parents’ neighborhood. My greatest fear is that the Fae might be using animals to hunt us. Going out onto the street is dangerous. Even in the daylight, birds, dogs, cats, and squirrels are a threat, all potentially conscripted by the Fae.
We don’t want to draw the gangs’ attention either since they are running around. I don’t allow guns anymore; guns draw attention. The report of a gun carries, and the sound is even easier to hear if you’re an animal. The last thing we need is a dog to follow the crack of a bullet back to us—no guns.
Instead, we practice every day for an hour using bow and arrows, makeshift crossbows, and BB guns. A BB gun isn’t going to kill anything, but if you can scare an animal off, it’ll make it easier to get away. The animals are the real daylight enemy. They track you and then lie in wait until twilight to bring the Fae down on all of us.
I don’t want to kill somebody’s pet, but if it’s a choice between me or somebody else’s Mr. Wiggles. I’m sorry, Mr. Wiggles is dead.
“So, what are we doing today, boss?” Nick’s inquiry pulls me out of my head.
“Same as we do every day. Go out. Look for food. Take only what you can carry. Meet back at the appointed place. Stick to the plan.” I cocked an eyebrow at him.
He nods his head. It’s plain he has something to say, especially when his nose snarls up to the side.
“Is this all we do? You know, scrounge for food and hope we don’t get spotted by some Fae pet?” The toe of his boot kicks at a dirt clod.
I don’t like his tone of voice, but he clearly has a burr up his ass. Rather than start an argument, I cross my arms and sit back, throwing my feet up on the table.
“All right, then. What’s your idea?” I asked. Then stared at him waiting.
“We made a plan, it’s a war, humanity against the fairies. We could go to the government and tell them what happened. We could take a whole division back with us.” Nick’s over animated response was right to suggest those plans.
Every single one of them relies upon me. It means that I have to get us back into the Fae realm if the government doesn’t decide to study me like a lab rat first.
“I got us out the first time. I’m not sure I can get back in. You don’t even remember anything. The last thing you remember is some crazy, pointy-ear fucker was singing to you. Then your eyes went all milky-white, and you became a member of the Fae zombie clan. We aren’t going to the government. I don’t want to disappear into a black bag. And if you go to them, so help me… I will hunt you down to the end of my days. Stick to the plan, Nick!” In a flash, I’m up and leaning over the table with both hands planted into the surface.
He opens his mouth to say something. I put my hand up. “You’re right, we should find some adults to take care of the littler kids. They need to be educated, loved, and coddled.” I looked around, knowing the only adults within five miles are my parents. I can’t take anyone there. The rest of the adults are gangbangers and criminals, probably a few rapists too.
“They aren’t going to get any of that with us. I don’t know how we would find good adults that are alive. I don’t want to go over this again.” Then heave a sigh, blowing my bangs out of my eyes.
All of their parents are dead. I’m not going to dissuade them from the belief that mine aren’t dead as well. My parents are safer if everyone thinks they are dead.
My head rolls to the side, creating a pop in my neck. My eyes slide around the warehouse. I focus on one of the kids, Twitchy. He’s good with electronics. So is his buddy Doug, the super geek. I turn my head back to Nick, cross my arms, and change the subject. “Has Doug found anything on the radio?”
“They’re still playing music. He says most of the news isn’t worth listening to. The public service announcement to check in is still running.” Nick gazes off to nowhere.
“We don’t want to send a reply. You don’t know who’s on the other end of that radio. They will find us and take all the supplies or worse. I’m sorry, but I think we’re just stuck with this for now. Our best bet is to keep organizing the softer teenagers to take care of the littler kids.” He doesn’t turn to look at me but nods his head.
He stands up straighter and stomps off to the other side of the warehouse.
“Is he trying to get rid of us again?” Zoe is always nearby. The truth is she’d make a perfect spy. She moves without a sound. She’s so tiny. I’m sure we could secret her away in a cupboard to eavesdrop on someone’s conversations.
“He’s not trying to get rid of you. He’s trying to keep people safe. He knows we’re not adults, and little kids need love and somewhere safe to call home. We’re all so traumatized. I’m not sure we have it in us.” I rub my forehead. I don’t have all the answers.
“I love my sister. I help out with little kids as much as I can. You’re right; they need love,” her eyes plead with me. “We’re the adults now. Don’t let Nick talk you into getting rid of us.” Fear etches her face. The same fear grips me.
“Do you really think Nick has the ability to talk me into anything? Don’t worry about it. Nick’s not in charge. We stay together until we find a better option.” My eyes follow Nick’s movements across the warehouse.
Like Nick, I want to go back, but to save Arty. I’d only been in the Fae realm for a few days, but time had marched on, resulting in three months passing on in the human realm. It has been two weeks my time since I returned to the surface, and I can’t figure out how much time had passed in Fae. A few hours?
What do they say about procrastination? You may delay, but time will not.