ZION

I sprinted toward the sound with my heart in my throat. Please be okay. That’s when I saw him, one of the rogue recruits, barely older than me, being tossed into a pit.

“Hey!”

Two other recruits immediately ran around the bend when they heard me, screaming ‘filthy rogue.’ I ran to the pit to see the boy holding on to the edge.

“Give me your hand!” I reached down as far as I could.

The boy flinched. “Please just leave me be,” he ...