Footsteps brought me back to consciousness.
They were faint at first, almost blending into the wind and rain. I stayed still and hoped they would pass. But they were growing louder, closer. Panic made me gasp. My mind screamed at me to get up and run, warning me that it could be people from the Sanatorium, though my limbs refused to cooperate.
I forced my eyes open, trying to focus on the sounds, straining to make sense of what was coming.
"…Conclave's done it now," a deep voice growled through the trees, just outside the cave. "First, they tighten the leash with curfews. Now, they want us all marked like cattle."
Marked? I squinted in the darkness, barely able to hold my head up. Someone was approaching. Or was it two people?
Another voice cut in. This one was sharp with anger. "The branding isn't just for control. It's a death sentence. Once they mark us, we're as good as dead."
Fear sliced through the fog in my brain. Branding? What in the Moon's name was going on out here? What had the Conclave done now?
"The Elite packs'll fall in line," a third voice, calm but cold, joined the conversation. "They always do. But rogues like us? We're not going to bend."
The first voice scoffed. "They'll come for us next. You know it. It's only a matter of time before they hunt down every rogue and force us into their twisted order."
A sharp pang of panic twisted in my chest. I shifted, trying to move, to stand, but my body refused to cooperate. My limbs felt like heavy iron rods. My vision swam as I rose shakily to my knees.
I was too late.
The figures stepped into the cave's mouth. Four of them—rogues. They weren't pack wolves, that much was clear from their ragged appearances, the mismatched, leathery clothing, and the wary way they moved. They lived outside the hierarchy, outside the rules.
And they looked dangerous.
Two of them were identical—twins. Their bright red hair was chopped short, and their faces were rugged, lined with scars that showed battles long fought. Their eyes were full of suspicion, and they slinked into the cave like predators too.
The third was a woman, tall and muscular, with a buzz cut that accentuated her no-nonsense expression. Her burly frame was intimidating, and the way she glared at me made it clear that she wasn't one to trust easily.
What struck me about the last one was his eyes. They were completely black—no whites, no pupils. Just darkness. It planted a deep, instinctual fear inside me that I couldn't shake. He seemed to glide as he moved, like a reptile.
"By the Moon!" He swore. "Who is that?"
The twins exchanged surprised glances. The woman scowled, crossing her arms.
"She's not one of us, Kaid." she growled. "What if she's from the Conclave? Could be a trap."
My heart thundered in my ribcage, and I struggled to find my voice. "I'm... I'm not... with them," I managed to say. "I don't want... trouble."
One of the twins took a step forward, eyeing me warily. "You look like you've already found plenty of it. Where did you come from?"
I tried to answer, but the world tilted, and I stumbled. The second twin darted forward, helping me up before I fell to the ground. My body wasn't holding up, not after everything I'd been through. But I had to make them understand that I wasn't their enemy.
The man with the black eyes spoke next. "Look at her. Look at that filthy hospital gown. She's been running. They wouldn't let someone like her go easily."
The woman wasn't convinced. She shook her head, her face twisted with suspicion. "Could be a plant. Could be they want us to take her in, then use her to track us."
"I'm not... one of them," I croaked, barely able to get the words out. "I just want... to be on my way. Please."
The twins exchanged another glance, clearly unsure of what to do. One of them shrugged, as if he didn't care either way, while the other studied me with a frown.
"She's in no shape to go anywhere," he muttered. "Even if she wanted to."
The woman stepped forward, glaring down at me. "Leave her. She'll just slow us down."
The man with the black eyes crouched beside me, his black eyes staring into mine. "If she's running from the Conclave, then she's got a bigger problem than we do."
The woman snarled. "She could be our problem if we get involved."
I tried to push myself up again, desperate to stand, to prove I wasn't a threat. But my body wouldn't listen. The pain, the exhaustion, the drugs, everything was all too much. I managed to rise to my knees before my strength gave out completely. The world blurred and darkened around the edges.
"I don't... want any... trouble," I whispered. I collapsed to the ground again, feeling the cold stone press against my cheek.
As the darkness pulled me under, I could hear them arguing above me. Their voices faded, distant echoes in the growing void.
And then... my world went black.