Isaiah and I walk out of the cafeteria together, leaving Flint alone. Isaiah pulls me by the arm to an office that isnʼt claimed for a family quarters, and locks the door behind us. 

“Someone must have thought we were going somewhere to make out, I got a lot of looks from adults on the way here,” I comment, and Isaiah wrinkles his nose, moving to the window. “Arenʼt there cameras in here?” I ask, my arms folded. 

“They malfunctioned.” He says with a grin. I glance up at the corner of the room, and smile at the destroyed camera. 

He picks the lock on the window, and climbs through, helping me down when I do. I grab my empty duffel bag for grabbing stuff, and we start walking towards the Gold neighborhood. 

When I find my house, the left side of it is collapsed, and a thick layer of white concrete dust covers everything. Isaiah and I hold handkerchiefs over our mouth and nose, and walk into the front entryway. I push open the rusty door to the library, and walk inside. 

“Books?” Isaiah asks, watching as I grab classic literature off the shelves, and shove them into my duffel bag.

“Theyʼre for Cai.” I say, making sure I grab a copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel, and zip up the bag. “I want to check my room.” Isaiah nods, and we climb up the marble stairs, which are just a mountain of rubble, basically. I reach my room, and look through the dust. The window is still broken from the mob. I go to my closet, and see the armor the voice in my head made.

“You should take it with you,” The voice says.

Finally, a good idea. Iʼm sick of this uniform. I close myself in my closet while Isaiah looks around for things to take back, and I change into black skinny jeans with a long-sleeved black shirt, then put the armor on over it. 

When I step out of the closet, Isaiah stares at me, but says nothing. I hear a mewing, and look around. 

Under the bed, a tiny kitten, lost from its litter, cowers in fear and hunger. I reach down and pick up the kitten, just big enough to fit in my hands. It’s so small.

“Could you check the fridge downstairs to see if we have any milk thatʼs still good?” I ask him, holding the kitten to my chest so it stays warm. It looks like itʼs a female. And it belonged to a Platinum, obviously, because nobody else is supposed to have pets. 

Her light, yellow fluff is barely enough to keep her warm. I tear a scrap from my blankets that havenʼt been destroyed, and wrap her up gently.

Isaiah returns to the room with a baby bottle filled with milk, slightly warm. He holds it for the kitten to sip from, and she sucks gratefully, almost drinking everything in the bottle. Then she falls asleep. 

“We canʼt leave her out here,” I mumble, my voice cracking. Isaiah nods. I grab a basket from the downstairs pantry, and fill it with warm bedding, setting her down inside it, and wrapping her up. 

I grab my duffel bag while he carries the kitten, and we walk back to the rebel base, our arms full. We climb back in through the window, and drop our stuff back at my familyʼs room. I make sure to hide the kittenʼs basket, so the security guards donʼt confiscate the poor little baby. I take off my armor and clothes, and get in the shower.

I change into my armor again, and go to the kitten in the closet, petting its head gently with my fingers. It crawls around weakly.

“What are you wearing?” Casey asks, coming into the room.

“Just something from my closet from home.”

“You went outside?” She asks, somewhat loud. I shush her, and point to the cameras. She nods, and bends down next to me, looking into the closet. “Oh, sheʼs so pretty!” She says, picking up the tawny kitten and scratching its head. “Is she named yet?” I shake my head. “Teddy probably has an idea,” Casey says, kissing the kittenʼs head, which is smaller than an apple.

“Next time you see him, you should ask for suggestions,” I reply, and a knock comes at the door. “Keep her hidden,” I tell Casey, and stand up to walk to the door. 

Itʼs the revolution leader, Arthur Baughn. He looks down at my armor, and then back up at my face.

“You have to come with me. It’s for an important meeting.”

“You're not in charge of me,” I reply.

“Yes, I am. Get upstairs before I lose my good attitude and send the kitten away,” He threatens. 

I sigh, and walk past him, slamming the door, and moving towards the elevator. He grabs my arm in his fist, pushing me faster. My breath catches in my throat, my heart falling down several stories as the elevator moves up, up, up. Help. Help. Help. 

“Sterling!” Baughn yells, striding into the leadersʼ room. “Get some water for the girl.” Flint nods, and walks over to the side table, grabbing the metal pitcher, and a cup. 

“Oh, so you're their errand boy?” I ask, folding my arms. 

Flint flicks my forearm as I walk by. I smirk, and sit down in the proffered seat in front of the desk, taking a glass of water from Flint. 

“Thank you, Sterling,” I say with a smile. He glares at me, and sits down, his hand on my leg. I kick his foot, sipping my water. 

“You seem to be a confident girl,” Baughn starts, staring at me. “And while right now you are using that confidence to defy our rules, I think it can be employed better, donʼt you?”

“Your rules suck,” I mumble, not answering his question, and prying Flint’s fingers off of my thigh. “And Iʼm not going to help you massacre innocents.”

“Are they really innocents though?” Baughn asks, standing up, and circling my couch. “The former Platinums were in charge of the government that starved you, and forced you to quit school, and work in cruel conditions for long hours for little pay.”

“Yes, but the Platinums you killed didnʼt make those laws. Their ancestors did,” I argue. 

“But did they do anything to change it?” He asks, leaning on the back of my chair and looking down at me. I donʼt answer. “Iʼm begging you, Olive. Join the revolution.”

“Why would I work for killers?” I ask.

“You did back when you were an Iron.”

“Not by my own choice.” Baughn laughs.

“But this time, youʼll have some better incentives than a nickel an hour,” He says, and sees Flint with his hand on my thigh again. “Sterling. Leave her alone.” Flint glares, and takes his hand off of me. 

“A dime an hour?” I joke, raising my eyebrow. Baughn shakes his head, sighing. He sits down across from me again. 

 “As much money as you want, within reason. Power for you, power for your family,” He says, suddenly standing up and returning to circling me. “Are those incentive enough for you?”

“I want you to release Cai,” I demand, folding my arms.

“Who?”

“Caden Imperos,” I clarify, remembering his disguise. “I want you to release him.” 

“Heʼs a political prisoner. Out of the question.”

“Okay. Then Iʼm not helping you,” I say, and stand up, setting down my glass of water. I move towards the door, but Flint blocks me, a hard look in his eyes. I turn back to Baughn. “Let him go.” 

“Olive, donʼt be stupid over a boy.” Flint says, putting his hand on my shoulder. I turn to face him.

“Oh, thatʼs some good advice! Could have used that when I thought you were my friend!” I yell at him, then turn back to Baughn. “Let him go, or Iʼll jump out your giant window to my death.” I point over at the broken wall. Baughn sighs, and turns to Flint.

“Release the Light. Have him live with her two other friends,” He orders. Flint groans and leaves the room.

“Good job, Olive.” The voice in my head says. “Now that you have his trust, you can start looking around this place for the switch that removes the chemical clouds that inhibit your powers.”

I sigh, folding my arms. “Can I keep the armor?” I ask Baughn, who looks at me, sighing. 

“Fine. But once Flint is back here, you two need to train,” He tells me, walking over to the desk. “And you don’t have to wear citizen clothes now, so keep wearing black instead of your uniform.” I nod, and start walking around the office. 

“You look suspicious. Wait until later to search for the cloud switch.” The voice in my head urges. I glance over at Baughn, watching me, then sit down on the stiff couch, swallowing. 

“I’ll go easy on you to start,” Flint says, as we get onto a sparring mat in the training room, both of us barefoot in black training clothes. Flint decided to take off his shirt, since he thinks he still has a chance with me. I see a tattoo that matches the rest of the fighters on his back, as he turns on the lights. 

“You didn’t go easy on Ember,” I jab, my fists clenched. Flint chuckles. 

“You’re so annoying about all of this,” He says. “She ended up fine, didn't she? Learned her lesson.” He looks around, at the mostly-empty training room. I glare at him, and start to swing my fist. He catches it, and holds it over my head, his eyebrow raised. “You can’t beat me, Olive.” I struggle. Flint lets go of my hand, and I lose my balance falling onto the stiff mat. 

“Can’t anyone less annoying teach me how to fight?” I ask. He looks around the room. 

“Eh. I don’t trust any of the guys in here not to-” He shrugs. 

“Take advantage of me?” I ask, and get up. “Yeah, men are stupid.” 

“Olive,” Flint says quietly, after I get off the mat. “I tried, okay? I tried to make you like me.”

“And it didn’t work. That’s when you just give up, and get over it,” I argue. Flint sighs. 

“Can we be friends, then?” He asks. 

“You abuse your friends. I’ve seen Ember’s bruises,” I argue, then start towards the doors. “My friends can teach me how to punch, and they’re not going to touch me inappropriately,” I inform him, and grab my shoes and coat, walking out. Isaiah’s room isn’t far.