Consciousness returned slowly, dragging Evan up from darkness like he was swimming through mud.
Pain first. Everything hurt. His ribs screamed with each breath. His head throbbed like someone was using it as a drum. His back felt like it had been used as a punching bag—which, to be fair, it kind of had.
Then sounds. Distant voices. Movement. The hum of ventilation.
Then thought.
Anaya.
Evan's eyes snapped open.
He was in a bed. Not a hospital bed—too soft for that. A real bed with actual pillows and blankets that didn't smell like disinfectant. The room was small, dimly lit by a single lamp on a side table. Stone walls. Low ceiling.
Underground. He was underground.
Where—
Memory crashed back. Pine Hollow. Morrison. Soldiers everywhere. Making Anaya run. Leading them away. Getting surrounded. Captured.
Anaya.
She'd run into the woods. Fast. So fast. But Morrison had thermal imaging. Tracking dogs. An entire tactical team.
Had they caught her?
Was she back at the compound?
Was she—
Then another thought, sharp and urgent:
The notebook.
Evan's hand went to his jacket—but he wasn't wearing his jacket. Someone had taken it off, probably to treat his injuries.
Evan tried to sit up. His body protested violently. He ignored it, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, standing on shaky legs.
Have to find her. Have to—
The door opened.
Yusuf Hassan walked in, carrying a tray with water and what looked like food. He saw Evan standing and his eyebrows shot up.
"Whoa, hey! You should be lying down. You've got three cracked ribs, a concussion, and enough bruises to—"
"Where is she?" Evan's voice was rough, desperate. "Anaya. The girl. Where—"
"Cross, you need to calm down—"
"WHERE IS SHE?" Evan lurched forward, grabbed Yusuf by his shirt. His legs almost gave out but he held on. "Morrison had thermal imaging. Dogs. She's just a kid, she can't—I have to find her before—"
"Evan, listen to me—"
"NO!" Evan shoved him away, stumbling toward the door. "I have to go back. Have to find her. She's alone and scared and Morrison—" His voice cracked. "I promised her. I promised I'd come find her and I—"
"Brother, Wallah you need to breathe—"
"I can't BREATHE until I know she's safe!" Evan reached the door, yanked it open. The hallway beyond was also underground—rough stone walls, dim lighting. "Which way? Which way is the exit? I have to—"
Yusuf grabbed his arm. "Evan, stop! You're in no condition to—"
"I DON'T CARE!" Evan pulled free, nearly falling. His vision swam. His legs were shaking. But he kept moving toward the hallway. "She's five years old. She's ALONE. Morrison will—" He couldn't finish the sentence. Couldn't think about what Morrison would do.
"Evan Cross, you stubborn idiot, if you'd just LISTEN—"
"No! I have to—" Evan made it three steps into the hallway before his legs finally gave out completely. He went down hard, catching himself against the wall. "I have to find her. I have to—"
Behind him, Yusuf's voice had changed. Softer. Almost amused. "Yeah, she said you'd be like this."
Evan's head whipped around. "What?"
"She said—and I quote—'Papa's going to wake up and panic because he's silly and worries too much.'" Yusuf was smiling now. Actually smiling. "Smart kid."
"What are you—"
Movement at the end of the hallway. Small. Fast.
A figure came running—golden hair streaming behind her, amber eyes huge and bright, moving with that impossible elf speed.
"PAPA!"
Anaya crashed into him at full force. Evan had just enough time to brace before she wrapped around him like a tiny octopus, nearly knocking him over.
"Papa! You're awake! You're awake! I was so worried! You were asleep for HOURS and Yusuf uncle said you were okay but you looked so pale and you weren't moving and I thought maybe you were dead but Yusuf uncle said you were just really tired and—"
Evan's arms came around her automatically, pulling her close. She was solid. Real. Safe.
"You're okay," he breathed. "You're—how—"
"I'm FINE!" Anaya pulled back just enough to look at his face, her hands on his cheeks. "But YOU! Papa, you look terrible! Your face is all bruised and you have a cut on your forehead and—" Her bottom lip trembled. "I was so scared. The soldiers were chasing you and I heard gunshots and I thought—I thought—"
"Hey, no, I'm okay. See?" Evan managed a weak smile despite the pain. "I'm okay, baby. I'm—" He looked at Yusuf, confusion breaking through the relief. "How did you—how is she here?"
Yusuf leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking way too pleased with himself. "Well, see, about that—"
"Yusuf uncle found me!" Anaya said excitedly. "I was hiding in the woods like you said and then he appeared and I thought maybe he was a soldier but then he said the secret password—"
"Secret password?" Evan repeated.
"'Stay human,'" Yusuf said quietly. "I told her that's what you'd want me to say. So she'd know I was safe."
Evan stared at him. Yusuf had found Anaya. Had used words only to fool her. And was fooled. It was just their good luck that it was Yusuf. He had gotten her to safety.
"When I saw her running," Yusuf continued, "I went for her in the woods. Took me about twenty minutes to find her hiding spot—kid's good, by the way, really good—and brought her to the truck."
"Wait." Evan looked at Anaya. "You were in the truck? When?"
"The WHOLE TIME!" Anaya said, bouncing slightly. "Yusuf uncle put you in the front seat like a big potato sack—" She giggled. "—you looked so silly, all floppy and unconscious and he put a scarf on your face—and I was already in the back! I was there the whole time and you didn't even know!"
"You—" Evan looked at Yusuf. "You told me to 'gather my strength' so we could go get her. You made me think—"
"Yeah, well, you were in shock and bleeding." Yusuf shrugged, not looking sorry at all. "Figured it was better to keep you focused on something rather than having you panic in the truck. Plus—" He grinned. "—it was kind of funny watching you worry."
"You IDIOT!" Evan wanted to punch him. Would have punched him if he had the energy. "I thought she was still out there! I thought Morrison—"
"But I wasn't!" Anaya interrupted cheerfully. "I was safe the whole time! And then Yusuf uncle drove us here and here's REALLY cool, Papa, it's underground and there's lots of people and some of them are ELVES like me and—"
"Wait, what?" Evan's brain was struggling to process. "Elves? Here?"
"Oh yeah." Yusuf's expression turned more serious. "That's kind of a whole thing we need to talk about. But first—" He glanced at Evan, who was still kneeling in the hallway, barely staying upright . "—let's get you back to bed before you pass out again. You look like death warmed over."
"I'm fine."
"You're absolutely not fine. You can barely stand."
"I can—" Evan tried to stand. His vision whited out for a second. Yusuf caught him before he fell.
"Yeah, 'fine.' Sure. Come on, stubborn idiot. Back to bed."
Yusuf got Evan back to the room and onto the bed. He hated how weak he felt. How his body refused to cooperate.
"Yusuf," Evan said urgently. "My jacket. Where's my jacket?"
"Hanging on the chair over there. Why?"
"I need—" Evan tried to get up again. "There was something in the pocket. A notebook. Small, spiral-bound. Did you—did anyone—"
Understanding crossed Yusuf's face. "Oh. Yeah. Hold on." He walked to the chair, pulled out Evan's jacket, and retrieved the notebook from the inside pocket. He held it up. "This?"
Evan's relief was so intense it made him dizzy. "Yeah. That. Can I—"
Yusuf crossed to the bed and held it out. "Didn't read it, by the way. Figured if you were keeping it hidden in your jacket, it was private."
Evan reached for it, but before he could grab it, he had to ask: "You're sure? You didn't—"
"Didn't even open it." Yusuf's expression was sincere. "I'm not that kind of—"
Evan snatched the notebook from his hand, clutching it to his chest like something precious.
Yusuf blinked. "Okay then. Clearly very important notebook."
"It is."
"Care to share why?"
"No."
"Fair enough." Yusuf held up his hands. "Your secrets are your own, brother."
Anaya looked between them curiously. "Papa, what's in the notebook?"
"Nothing, kid. Just... thoughts. Stuff I don't want to forget."
"Like what?"
"Like how you ask too many questions." But Evan's voice was gentle.
She giggled. "Can I see?"
"Maybe someday. Not today."
"You need rest," Yusuf said firmly. "And food. And probably about a week of sleep."
"I need answers." Evan looked at him. "Where are we? What is this place? And what did you mean about elves?"
Yusuf exchanged a glance with Anaya, who nodded encouragingly.
"Okay. So. Here's the thing." Yusuf pulled up a chair, sitting backwards on it. "You know how I left the military ten years ago? Said I was done with the 'morally bankrupt system'?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I didn't just leave. I joined something else. A network. People who help elves escape from human territory. Get them back across the barrier safely. Or—" He gestured around. "—bring them here, to safe houses like this one, until we can arrange transport."
Evan stared at him. "You're part of an underground network that helps elves."
"Yep."
"How long?"
"About eight years now. Ever since I realized everything we'd been taught was propaganda and lies." Yusuf's expression was serious. "The elves aren't monsters, Evan. They're just people. Different, sure. But people. With families and lives and—" He looked at Anaya. "—adorable kids who deserve better than being hunted like animals."
"I'm VERY adorable," Anaya agreed solemnly.
Despite everything, Evan felt a smile tug at his mouth. "Yeah, kid. You are."
"So," Yusuf continued, "when I heard about what happened at the compound—about you escaping with an elf child—I started looking for you. Tracked you to Riverside, then to Pine Hollow. Got there just in time to see Morrison's ambush."
"The diversion," Evan said. "The gunshots on the other side of town. That was you?"
"That was my colleague. I went for you." Yusuf leaned forward. "And Evan? I have to say—I didn't think you had it in you. The Evan Cross I knew ten years ago would've followed orders without question. Would've turned that kid over to Morrison without a second thought. But you didn't. You ran. You protected her. You—" He paused. "—you changed."
"I don't know what I did," Evan said quietly. "I just knew I couldn't let them have her."
"That's called having a conscience. Welcome back. We missed you."
Anaya climbed onto the bed, snuggling against Evan's side carefully to avoid his injuries. "Yusuf uncle says we can stay here. And that there's other elves here! Can we go see them, Papa? Please?"
Evan looked at Yusuf. "It's safe?"
"Safest place you can be right now. We're three levels underground, entrance is hidden, and Morrison doesn't know this location exists. As far as he knows, you vanished into thin air." Yusuf smiled. "Plus, we've got good security. Cameras, lookouts, the works. Nobody gets in or out without us knowing."
"How many people are here?"
"Right now? About thirty. Mix of humans and elves. We rotate people through—get them processed, rested, then move them to more permanent safe locations or back across the barrier." Yusuf stood. "When you're feeling better, I'll give you the full tour. But for now—rest. Doctor's orders."
"You're not a doctor."
"No, but I play one on TV. Now sleep. You look like you're about to pass out."
He was right. Exhaustion was pulling at Evan again, his body demanding rest.
"Yusuf?" Evan said as his friend reached the door. "Thank you. For... for everything."
"Don't thank me yet. Wait until you see the rest of this place." Yusuf grinned. "It's kind of a disaster. But it's home."
He left, closing the door behind him.
Anaya shifted against Evan's side, her small hand over his heart like always. "Papa? Are you really okay?"
"Yeah, kid. I'm really okay."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Good." She yawned hugely. "Because I was really, really scared. When you fell down and didn't wake up, I thought—" Her voice got smaller. "I thought you were Dead."
"Not dead. Just really, really tired."
"That's what Yusuf uncle said. But I wanted to hear YOU say it." She pressed closer. "Papa? I carry you with me always."
"I carry you with me always, baby."
"Even though I talk too much?"
Evan's arms tightened around her. "Especially because of that. "
She smiled against his chest. "Good. Because you're stuck with me now. Forever and ever."
"Sounds perfect."
They lay there for a while, both exhausted, both safe for the first time in days.
Then Anaya said, "Papa? Can we go see the other elves tomorrow? Yusuf uncle says there's a girl my age. I've never met another elf kid before. Well, except my cousins, but they don't count."
"Yeah, kid. Tomorrow we'll explore. But after sleeping for twelve hours."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Okay." Another huge yawn. "Papa?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad you're not a potato sack anymore."
Despite everything—the pain, the exhaustion, the insanity of the past week—Evan laughed. "Me too, kid. Me too."