Chapter Seventeen

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[Julie]

I groaned as I sipped more of my punch. Emma could be a total pain, I couldn't even figure out where she had come from. 

As I waited, I slipped into a vivid daydream. 

It was dark, and I could hear the crows' deafening shrieks as I pulled my hair away from my face in an effort to clear my vision. 

I was sweating from the intense heat, yet, I couldn't drink any of my water. I only had half a can left, and I had to conserve it. 

Who knew how long it would be until I could get out of here?

My clothes, which were nothing more than a tee and a pair of faded jeans, were covered in dirt and mud.

I had fallen in a puddle on my way here, and the seat of my pants was uncomfortably wet. I wanted to stop, but I knew that I couldn't.

The sooner I finished, the sooner I could go back home, into my cozy apartment. I could snuggle up on my couch, warm and dry. I smiled at the thought, forcing myself to press on. 

A chill ran down my spine as the moonlight lit up the silent forest. There was something wrong with it...

Where were the animals?

As I continued to walk, I heard voices. Inching closer, I saw two people talking to each other.

"What am I supposed to do, Syrena?" One of them, a girl, asked, clearly frustrated.

The other woman turned, lifting her head up, and I gasped in shock and fear. 

Syrena Hutchinson.

"I don't know." Syrena answered. "But you must figure out a way. How am I to keep people from wanting to leave the Aggregate if they know that it wouldn't be hard to leave?"

"I-I..." The girl stammered.

"No more excuses!" Syrena barked harshly. "I want this done, or you're done...got it?"

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