Time and silence gave Vivi space to recollect herself, but now her head threatened mutiny. Adjusting her phone, she checked the tracker app. With each movement, ragged sweater fragments passed over her skin, rubbing against the burns. Her jaw ached, but she wouldn't crack. Not in front of him. She could see him out of the corner of her eye. He'd been staring at her the whole time. How long was he going to do that?

"How long are you going to drive?"

"Oh. So you do still talk. Shut up."

"You've been going for hours. You have to stop."

"Shut. Up."

"No, I mean it." Lewis pointed at the gas gage. "You're running on empty. Pull off."

Vivi jerked the wheel, swerving across the empty road. "One more word outta you, skull-head, and I'm gonna… I'm…" Her vision spun. Everything was blurred and she couldn't see the lines in the road. Something warm covered her hands, and she blinked, shaking her head. Lewis' hands gripped the wheel, his eyesockets wide.

"Mystery, get her out of the driver's seat before you all crash?"

A weight shifted off her lap. Her seatbelt clicked free, and long arms hooked under her armpits, pulling her into the back seat. Lewis settled into the driver's seat. The van listed off to the side of the road and coasted to a stop. A hand turned Vivi's face forward. Yellow spectacles.

"Flushed. Too warm. Likely caught a fever. Vivi, why didn't you treat your arms before we left? Someone should have woken me."

"You were covering. Re. Recovering," Vivi muttered, trying to rub her eyes. Her wrists were caught in something.

"Don't move your arms!" Mystery scolded. "They're oozing. Ugh, don't move. I'll get the first aid kit."

Vivi lay down on the seat, wishing she could muster up the energy to be mad again. Right now there were too many sad pink eyes swimming around.

"Back off," Mystery snarled, and the pink eyes left.

"Mystery, it's me. Lewis. You know me!"

"I thought I did. I'm not as sure as I was yesterday. And until I know more, I'll thank you to keep all incendiary extremities to yourself."

"You don't think I did this on purpose!"

"I understand from Vivi that you threw a temper tantrum, and from Arthur that you can't be trusted."

"And what did he say?"

"Nothing!" Mystery snarled. "He was screaming too loudly to say anything. I was there that night too, you know."

"Arthur had it coming."

"And to think I was actually fond of you. If this is what you were hiding this whole time, this other you, I'm glad you died before you could do real damage to Vivi."

It was getting unbearably hot in the van. "Good to know who's still on Arthur's side when the chips are down. That would be one, two, three, ah. Everyone here but me. Speaking of secrets and hiding things, when were you going to tell Vivi what you were? Was that ever going to happen?"

"I don't want to hear you throwing accusations, child. You've wounded my charge and nearly killed a good friend."

"I'm not a child," Lewis seethed.

"Then stop acting like one! When are you going to-" Mystery's words cut off as the back door screeched open. "Arthur? Where are you going?"

"Squire?" Vivi struggled to sit up. "What's he going?"

The side door slid open, and a bright orange blur sat by her. The blur made a snipping sound by each of her shoulders, then pulled off her sweater sleeves. Cool cream slathered on the burns, easing the throb. The orange sat back, waving other blurry parts at Mystery.

"What do you mean you and Lewis need to talk?" Mystery barked in disbelief. "You're not seriously taking a walk with him!"

Alarm spiked her. "Nnno Squire!"

A hand slipped into hers, squeezing briefly, before letting go.

"Arthur, I can't leave Vivi to watch out for you!" Mystery warned.

"You don't have to worry about my self-control, dog." Lewis' voice was brittle ice. "Vivi has made it perfectly clear that the traitor is not to be injured any further." The front door slammed, shaking the van.

"Sssquire!" Vivi lurched after the retreating blob, and her stomach revolted. Mystery barely got her to the side door before she retched a thin bile.

"You're not going anywhere." Mystery lifted his head. "Arthur, at least stay in eyesight! Idiot. He's going to get himself killed."

…..

Arthur's ears burned as he stalked out into the night. Enough was enough. He'd done what Kay asked. He slept. Now it was time to deal with Lewis. He'd left her curled in the back of the van, drawing Lewis after him down the road. A harsh pink glow lit his immediate surroundings. Heat drew sweat from his neck and back. He missed a step, stumbling at the flames everywhere someone kill me, please end it-

No! He whirled on Lewis with large, emphatic gestures. Burned Vivi? Really? Of all people?

"Don't you lecture me, Arthur. The only reason you're not on fire right now is because of her. Nothing's changed."

Arthur's shoulder rose. You changed.

"Real observant, Arthur." Lewis leaned forward, his skull an inch from Arthur's nose. "I died."

Arthur locked his knees. He would not back down. Why couldn't you tell me about Kay? Why couldn't you trust me?

"They're hiding in plain sight! Everything depends on secrecy for them! You shouldn't be pointing fingers when you're the one who kept this from me."

We wanted to see if it would work first. We were going to tell you. I told you that night!

"Great timing, Arthur. You tell me, I say no, and you just happen to find a convenient ledge to shove me off."

Arthur ground his teeth, his eyes smarting. Do you really believe I wanted you dead? I always had your back!

"Against high school bullies, Arthur!" Lewis blazed, a nearby bush beginning to smoke. "Against playground jerks and the occasional hazing, not when I needed you most! I was looking out for you!"

No! You weren't! If you were looking out for me, you'd have given me all the information I needed to make my own decision! Unless you really thought I'd turn them in.

"I really don't care what excuses you think you have for your actions. The simple fact is that I'm dead, Arthur. Vivi will never remember what she was to me. I'll have to be looking over my shoulder for as long as I exist here, and if that's forever, then probability is high that the Shiker will catch me someday. You stole my life so you could be with Kay, and she's no better. She knew. You took everything from me, both of you!"

So you're the only one entitled to love? Arthur's fingers jerked and jabbed sharply. Poor Lewis, can't remember who's chasing him, finds someone who loves him, and then Arthur's left alone and Kay ends up with gods-know-who and they all lived happily ever after, the end?

Lewis paused, and Arthur pressed the point. If you trusted me, why couldn't you trust me with Kay? And if you trusted Kay-you didn't trust Kay. Arthur took a step back, his shoulders rising. I see. You only acted like you did.

"You wouldn't, if you had a choice, of course."

Arthur stared at Lewis, inhaling slowly. He would never win an argument with Lewis like this. This wasn't the Lewis he knew. He had to appeal to the Lewis from before they met, but that would involve releasing everything Lewis had done to him since, not allowing it to taint his choice of words.

Lifting his hands, he signed, What's my name?

Lewis' form roiled with flame. "What sort of sick twist on the question is that?"

Well if you know it, say it.

"Your name is Arthur Kingsmen," Lewis seethed. "I know who you are, and I know who I am, and if you really do have the memories you claim to, you should know better than to ask me that."

Ignoring him, Arthur replied, Then why do you act like I'm Harvey?

Lewis lunged forward, reaching for Arthur. His hands hung just over Arthur's shoulders, trembling. Arthur knew he was one wrong sentence away from a collapsed collarbone. His prosthetic rattled and he grabbed it, trying to force a calm that was rapidly deserting him. I'm not Harvey, Lewis. I was never given a choice.

"Your anger started this!" Lewis roared. "You hated me! Even a second of that was enough!"

And you hold me to a thought I would never have acted on? A thought that opened a window for a demon I had no idea was there?

Lewis took a step back, his hands lowering.

Arthur swallowed. Lew, I know terrible stuff happened. But I know why it happened. I know why a lot of things happened. If we work together, like the old days, we can figure out all of it, and maybe save your sisters.

The flames dimmed as Lewis' feet hit the ground. "You know why?" His voice echoed raggedly. "Just like that? I don't believe you."

I do. Most of it. I need your confirmation. If you don't trust me, fine. But can you work with me long enough to save your family and bring down the Shiker? Nobody else should go through that, Lew.

Lewis shuddered, the flames going out. "Somebody likely already is. He doesn't keep an empty compound."

Wait. Arthur's eyes widened. You remember the compound. You were turned loose. Do you remember where it is?

Lewis stared dully at him. "Is this a joke? You have it marked on Vivi's phone as your destination. She's been driving straight for it all night."