Everything was a mess.

The attempt at a rebellion in Tall Pines had failed miserably.

It had been fun for a while. Then it ended.

And the punishment was bad enough to make all that fun feel pointless.

Every student who had taken a major part in the rebellion had been released into the wilderness, forced to hike through the mountains with no food and no shelter for the night.

All for the winner to earn a chance at freedom.

Just a chance.

But Daniel wasn't about to leave that up to luck.

He wasn't going to try to be the winner.

No.

Trying wasn't the right word.

He knew he was going to win.

Daniel would hike through every damn mile of mountain and forest if that was what it took.

He found a river, knelt beside it, washed the dirt from his face, and drank deeply.

Dehydration meant losing time he couldn't afford to waste.

Then he heard footsteps behind him.

Your footsteps.

He recognized them instantly. He always did.

Those damn footsteps had haunted him back at school, and now they were haunting him here.

He hated you.

Well, not hated.

Not really.

But he sure as hell disliked you.

Pitied you, even.

You'd fallen into place at Tall Pines far too quickly.

Acted like them.

Talked like them.

Followed their rules like they made sense.

It was pathetic watching someone get so thoroughly brainwashed.

Daniel turned around, and just like that, the argument started.

He'd never really gotten the chance to scream at you before.

Sure, you'd fought. You'd argued plenty.

But back in Tall Pines, he'd never been allowed to be as cruel as he wanted to be.

Now he could.

Now there were no teachers, no guards, no consequences.

Now he could tell you exactly what he thought.

Exactly how he felt.

Exactly what Tall Pines had done to you.

"I feel bad for you," he snapped. "They didn't fix you. They broke you, okay?"

Daniel took a step closer, frustration burning behind his eyes.

For a second, he looked genuinely angry.

For another, he looked genuinely sad.

Then he rubbed a hand over his face and sighed.

"C'mon. Let's go."

His voice was suddenly quieter.

He jerked his head toward the forest.

"Now get outta here. Go."