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something…which he was succeeding in doing. “Go.”
    I was about to ask him just what the hell his problem was, when there was a loud screech in the trees just down the hill from where we stood. It was followed by growling.
    My heart stopped. Oh no. Not another Graplar. I looked around, but saw nothing. When I found his eyes again, all I could do was blink, terrified.
    He looked at me as he withdrew his katana and growled, “Go! Up the hill! NOW!”
    I took off as fast as I could run. Never mind my trunk with all of my belongings. Never mind the wounded stranger who’d saved my life. I was told to run, and my instincts told me to do so. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I cursed myself for being so afraid, but still I ran, and I didn’t look back.

C H A P T E R
Four
    M y chest was burning, and it felt like if I kept up the pace I was running at, my lungs were either going to cave in or explode. But I couldn’t stop. The screeching sounds of the Graplar echoed after me in the forest, bringing to mind poor Avery, so I ran, half staggering, until I came to an immense metal door, flanked by what seemed like miles of stone wall. The stones that made up the wall were round and most of them were covered in a lush, green moss, reminding me of the rocks along the Kessler River back home. Vines drew crooked lines up the wall in several spots. I moved to the door and, just as I was debating whether or not I should knock, a small window slid open, and a voice spoke from the other side. “Papers.”
    When I spoke, my voice sounded harsh and raw—more like a mudfrog’s than my own. I croaked, “Excuse me?”
    The bodiless voice sighed. “I need to see your papers.”
    I searched my memory, but drew a blank. My mind was lost in a haze of adrenaline, fear, and exhaustion. “What papers?”
    The voice blew out an agitated snort and said, “Do you have a letter from the headmaster?”
    “Oh,” I said, feeling more than a little stupid. “Yeah. I do. Right here.”
    Pulling the crumpled parchment from my pocket, I smoothed it out and slid it through the small barred window.
    At first, nothing happened. The only sound around me was that of the woods. Birds chirped. Something rustled in the distance. Just as I was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to let me in, the enormous door slid open and the guard waved me inside. He was dressed in clothing similar to that of the stranger in the woods, but his clothing seemed more structured, as if his position as a gate guard required more protection. His voice softened to something resembling concern. “Where’s your guard, Kaya?”
    With a grateful sigh, I crossed the border and the door clanged shut behind me. The sound normally would have made me jump, but at the moment, I was relieved to have a giant, thick wall between me and drooling, hungry monsters. It was just as dark on this side of the wall, but I could make out lit torches along a beaten path that led to a large building in the distance.There had to be more to the campus, but the darkness in this part of the Kokoro continent was unreal—heavy and unforgiving. I cast a weary glance at the guard who’d questioned me. “Who, Maddox?”
    The look on his face said that he was familiar with the name, and that that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. I shook my head. “Believe me, when I find Maddox, he’ll be the one who needs a bodyguard.”
    His eyes grew wide, which made the tiny creases on his forehead more noticeable. “You mean you made it all the way from the trailhead alone?”
    “Pretty much.”
    The guard groaned and swore under his breath. “That little—be assured that the headmaster will handle Maddox’s punishment swiftly.”
    “Whatever. I’m just glad to be here finally. I was almost eaten by a Graplar.”
    Several of the surrounding guards took a sudden interest in our conversation. Their raised eyebrows and surprised glances told me without words what the guard in front of me soon