Sarah met them at the coffee shop where Dario had first told her about Cassius. She looked like she hadn't slept, but her expression was determined.
"I've made my decision," she said without preamble.
Dario's heart clenched. "And?"
"I'm coming with you."
The relief was overwhelming. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I've been thinking about what you told me, about the research I've been doing. You're right—I have been studying people like you as cases rather than individuals. That's not fair to you, and it's not the person I want to be."
"Sarah—"
"Let me finish. I don't understand everything about your world, about these supernatural entities and hidden communities. But I understand that you're in danger, and I understand that I care about you more than I care about my research or my career plans."
She took his hand across the table.
"Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on you. Make sure you don't lose yourself in all this power and responsibility."
Marcus smiled. "I like her."
"So do I," came Aurelius's voice. "She'll fit in well with our group."
"When do we leave?" Sarah asked.
"Tonight," Marcus said. "I've arranged transportation and temporary housing. We'll be across the border before Alex realizes you're gone."
"What about my things? My family?"
"We can arrange for your things to be sent later. As for your family..." Marcus hesitated. "It's safer if they think you've decided to study abroad. Sudden disappearances draw attention."
Sarah nodded, though Dario could see the pain in her eyes at the thought of lying to her parents.
"There's one more thing," she said. "I want to help."
"Help how?"
"Your network of people—you said there are others like you who just want to live in peace. I'm studying psychology, I understand human behavior and trauma responses. Maybe I can help other hosts learn to integrate with their passengers safely."
Marcus and Dario exchanged glances.
"It's dangerous work," Marcus said. "Some hosts don't integrate well. Some passengers are hostile or predatory."
"Then they need help more than anyone."
"Sarah," Dario said gently, "you don't have to do this. You can come with us and live a normal life—"
"There is no normal life anymore. Not after what I've learned. And honestly? I don't want to go back to normal. I want to help people like us."
"People like us?" Marcus asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sarah blushed. "You know what I mean."
"Actually," Aurelius said through Marcus, "you might be more like us than you think."
"What do you mean?"
"The ease with which you've accepted all this, the way you can see and hear us clearly when we manifest—most humans have trouble perceiving us directly. It takes conscious effort."
"Are you saying I have some kind of psychic ability?"
"I'm saying you have potential. Whether you choose to develop it is up to you."
The conversation was interrupted by Dario's phone buzzing. He glanced at it and felt his blood run cold.
"It's Alex," he said. "He wants to meet."
"Don't answer," Marcus said quickly.
"If I don't, he'll know something's wrong. He might hurt someone."
Dario answered the call, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Hello?"
"Dario," Alex's voice was tight with barely controlled anger. "We need to talk. Now."
"About what?"
"About your new friend. About the questions you've been asking. About the choice you're about to make."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The coffee shop on Fifth Street. Twenty minutes. Come alone, or Sarah pays the price."
The line went dead. Dario stared at his phone, mind racing.
"He knows," he said. "About Marcus, about everything."
"It's a trap," Marcus said.
"Of course it's a trap. But if I don't go, he'll hurt Sarah."
"Then we go together," Sarah said firmly.
"Absolutely not—"
"Yes," she interrupted. "I'm tired of being the helpless victim in this scenario. If this Alex person wants to threaten me, he can do it to my face."
Marcus looked like he wanted to argue, but Aurelius's voice emerged instead.
"She's right. Running won't solve anything, and separation makes us vulnerable. We face this together."
"All right," Dario said, though every instinct was screaming at him to get Sarah as far away as possible. "But we do this my way. And if things go wrong—"
"If things go wrong," Cassius said, taking control for a moment, "I will not let any of you be harmed. Whatever the cost."
The weight of that promise settled over them as they left the coffee shop, walking toward what might be their final confrontation with Alex and his group.
The game was ending, one way or another. All that remained was to see who would still be standing when it was over.