The Darwin Chronicles, Book One: The Mountain Ranges

The next day, Joseph called everyone to the square again.

"All warriors ages sixteen to eighteen will be assessed," he announced. "The Ciis seems to be getting stronger. Also, the new commander for Blackfire is Steven." A younger man around thirty years old nodded to the crowd. "The assessments start tomorrow. You will be tested in groups, which I will assign. Dismissed." The crowd dispersed. Emmett hurried over to Andrew.

"Andrew!" Emmett called. "Andrew!" The young man turned and saw him.

"Emmett. Hi!"

"How's Amy doing?" Andrew's face darkened.

"She's still the same. Helping you drained her pretty badly. Want to come over and see her?"

"Sure."

Emmett opened the door to Amelia's bedroom, where she lay on the bed, looking the same as the night before. Her room was plain, with a single painting of a younger, happier Amy, around seven years old, with a man who had the same golden hair and grey eyes as her. A few other paintings of other people were on the walls. Each person Emmett recognized-Aaron, Andrew, Rosetta, and the last one-himself. He was in his regular clothing, in the middle of a laugh. Emmett knelt next to the bed and took her hand. It was cold and clammy, unlike the other times he'd held her hand. He probed her mind. Amy. Her mind was foggy and blank. She didn't respond. Amy. She was still silent and completely unresponsive. He dove deeper into her mind, and found himself in her foggy thoughts. Her mind was completely blank except for an image flashing over and over again in her mind-the shadow serpent biting her wing as she was a phoenix. A dark feeling crept up her body, weakening her. Then it repeated itself. Again. And again. Wake up, Amy. Come on. But still she didn't respond. So he gave up and left.