Successfully moving across, the crew continued steering through the dark water.
Placing down his paddle, Valtor narrowed his gaze ahead, squinting into the blackness.
"What do you see?" Orea asked.
"I think it's… land." His voice rose. "We're almost at the edge."
Before they could relax, faint chatter drifted across the distant horizon. The team looked back, tense.
"The soldiers," Lynx realized, his voice low. "They're not far. We need to move."
Fortunately, the raft touched the brink some minutes later.
Valtor stepped out first, steadying the raft as the others climbed off.
Offering his arm, he helped Zara.
"Thanks," she muttered, stepping beside Orea, who was already on dry ground.
While Valtor helped Kymani, Lynx turned to assist Rowynn. He held out his hand—
but she brushed past him without a word.
Lynx exhaled, lowering his arm before following the group.
They stared ahead, squinting beneath the thin moonlight.
"It's just open land," Kymani observed.
"Let's go," Valtor said, taking off at a run. They followed behind him.
They ran for a long while before finally slowing, breathless and exhausted.
"What even is this place?" Kymani panted, crouching. Their feet sank slightly into deep, cool sand.
"It feels like a desert," Zara added, kneeling to touch the ground.
Lynx stepped forward. "I know we're tired, but we have to keep moving."
"We?" Kymani scoffed. "You think we're still a 'we' after what you did?"
Zara stood with her brows furrowed into a deep frown, arms crossed.
"If you think you've earned points with us for getting us out of your mess, then you're more delusional than I thought."
She shook her head, disgusted. "You're such a coward. God— I can't even look at you right now." She turned away.
"You're right," Lynx admitted quietly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't." Kymani raised a hand sharply. "I've been trying to keep my anger in check till we get to safety. Don't ruin it."
Lynx lowered his head, swallowing hard. He turned to Orea and Valtor.
"What about you two? Why aren't you talking about how much you hate me?"
"I've got nothing to say to you," Orea replied without looking at him.
"Fair enough," Lynx muttered.
Valtor's gaze shifted toward him, steady and stern.
"Why'd you switch sides?" he asked.
Lynx exhaled shakily. "Because they played me. I thought I was choosing the right path. They even promised I'd get a call with… with whoever I wanted before a physical meeting. But it was all fake."
"A meeting?" Zara asked, turning back. "With who?"
Lynx hesitated, then shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
Kymani stood, unconvinced. "So you found out you were played—just like you played us—and then you switched to the team you thought you'd benefit from the most? Really?"
"No, it's not like that," Lynx protested. "I've always thought the escape was a risk with no guarantees. And without evidence of the council's propaganda, I couldn't just run with it. Meanwhile, the superintendent promised everything I asked for, just for a little help. He even gave proof."
Lynx looked at each of them. "I honestly thought I was doing the right thing."
"Right thing for who, though?" Zara asked. "If you didn't believe in the escape, why didn't you just go back to the barracks alone when the mission ended? Why drag us into it?"
"Because that was part of his deal," Orea said, drawing their attention. Her gaze locked on Lynx. "He needed to bring everyone in to receive his reward."
Lynx stayed silent, confirming her words.
"So it's all about you," Zara continued as Lynx painfully shut his eyes. "When things favor you, you run with it. And when they don't, you ruin it for others until you find another way to benefit."
She exhaled, her tone calmer but sharper.
"For me, it's not even about how you almost cost us our freedom. It's about how you don't realize just how selfish you are."
She stepped closer. "You'll do anything to get what you want, even if it means scarring the people who trusted you completely."
Kymani glanced at Rowynn. She sniffed quietly, wiping her eyes with her palm.
"Look at Rowynn," he said. "She knows you better than the rest of us, and even she couldn't believe you were capable of that much damage."
Rowynn lifted her head at the mention of her name.
"Let's just keep moving," she murmured, turning away.
The rest of the team watched her walk ahead.
Kymani gripped his backpack and slowly followed.
Zara cast one last look at Lynx before moving on.
"I'm sorry," Lynx said again, breath shaky. "I really am."
Orea looked back at him.
"Those officers are still on our tail, Lynx. 'Sorry' isn't going to cut it."
She turned and walked off with the others.
Only Valtor remained.
Lynx crouched, burying his face in his palms.
Valtor stepped closer. "Do you remember when everyone thought I was the bad guy? When you all hated me? It felt just like this."
He paused. "You and I—we're similar. Our guilt hits harder than anything anyone could say. The difference is, I was a victim of the system… and you played along with it."
"You're not really helping right now," Lynx whispered, voice breaking.
Valtor crouched slightly. "What I'm saying is—you had a choice. And you still do. You made a mistake, Lynx. But you can still make things right… if you choose to."
Valtor stood and walked after the others, leaving Lynx alone in the quiet sand.