Chloe woke up to loud grunts and gasps, and was jolted out of half-sleep by a piercing scream. She sat up and immediately was on her hands and knees, getting ready to jump up. A hand pushed her to the ground.

"Stay where you are," Someone commanded. Chloe's first thought was that it was someone who'd come across some kids and had decided to harass them. Then she realized that if that was the case, Derek and Simon wouldn't be fighting them.

It was dark out, but New York is never completely black. Chloe could see Tori thrashing around in the arms of her captor-a tall man with black clothes and a hooded jacket that covered his eyes and nose. Derek was on the ground with a bloody nose and someone big was on top of him-with a gun pointed at his head. Simon was still standing, but he was surrounded. He had his fists held high, and he was muttering unrecognizable words.

Chloe had heard enough to know the Edison Group wouldn't think twice about killing Derek, and she'd just barely escaped with her life a week ago.

Fight back! You're the only one not doing anything!

Chloe tried to push herself up, but the hand on her back just pressed down more, crushing her chest. Chloe gasped for air as she was pressed harder into the ground. She was using all her strength to press her palms into the earth, but her arms were giving out.

"Stop that!" Someone snapped. Mrs. Enright stepped onto the path in front of their clearing. "We want her alive, not dead."

Chloe didn't have time to process much more than being confused before she was hauled off the ground.

Want me alive? Wasn't she the one who tried to kill me?

Chloe tried to pull away, but even she herself knew the effort was pathetic. Whoever was holding her pulled her back into their chest.

"You BITCH!" Tori screamed with anger. "I hate you!" Her voice sounded raw. Chloe closed her eyes and lowered her head, trying to get the sound out of her mind.

Betrayed by your own mother…

"Give it up, Bae," Mrs. Enright said with cold power. She nodded simply at Derek, who was still laying on the ground, his eyes closed, fists clenched, a barrel of a pistol pressed up against his head. Simon studied the scene, then let his hands drop. Immediately his attackers rushed forward and grabbed him.

Chloe watched Tori's expression when Simon was forced to kneel on the ground. If Derek hadn't let her know, it would have been imperceptible, but she noticed how Tori blinked back tears.

Chloe didn't want to be let standing, she wanted to be on the ground too. She wanted to be a threat.

But I'm not. I'm just some undersized girl with useless powers.

Mrs. Enright seemed to read her mind.

"And what can you do, Saunders? The Necromancer always slows the group down." Derek opened his eyes to look at her, but Chloe ignored him.

"I wish you'd get on with it," Chloe tried to snarl. Mrs. Enright snorted a laugh.

"All you need to know is that we only let them find you to spare us some running around."

She laughed, but it was a humorless laugh-cold. Both Simon and Chloe intercepted the nod she gave Derek's captor.

"No!" Chloe screamed. Simon lunged away from the two men holding him, and Chloe pulled against her's, trying to reach Derek. Simon hit the man in the arm at a run, but it barely made a difference. The bullet hit Derek in the chest. Whoever was holding Chloe's arms let go, and she flew face-first onto the ground. Someone pulled Simon away, and the last thing Chloe saw was Derek's eyes closed against the pain.

Someone shot her with a tranquilizer.