Ronan sat beside the window, watching the ruined city disappear behind them.
Lyra sat across from him.
Darius remained near the front, studying an old map.
Kael was driving.
Nobody spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Lyra broke the silence.
"You haven't said anything since we left."
Ronan looked at her.
"I'm thinking."
"About your brother?"
Ronan nodded.
"I don't even remember having one."
Darius turned around.
"That's because your memories were erased."
Ronan's eyes narrowed.
"By the Circle?"
"Not exactly."
"Then who?"
Darius hesitated.
"Your mother."
Ronan froze.
Lyra stared at Darius.
"What?"
Darius looked at Ronan.
"Your mother wasn't just protecting you from the Circle."
Ronan's hands tightened.
"What are you saying?"
"She was protecting the Circle from you."
Silence filled the vehicle.
Ronan shook his head.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It will."
The transport suddenly shook violently.
Kael grabbed the controls.
"What was that?"
Darius looked at the scanner.
"We've been detected."
Ronan looked through the window.
Three glowing figures descended from the clouds.
Judges.
"They found us already," Lyra whispered.
Ronan stood.
"Keep driving."
Kael looked at him.
"What are you going to do?"
Ronan opened the door.
"I'm going to give them something else to follow."
He jumped.
The Core Flame erupted around him.
And behind the transport, Ronan disappeared into the darkness.
The Judges immediately changed direction.
Exactly as he had planned.
But Ronan didn't notice the fourth figure watching from the clouds.
A figure wearing the same symbol as the Circle.
And in its hand was a photograph.
A photograph of Ronan's mother.
The stranger smiled.
"He's finally awake."