Page 460 of Axis of Fire

Point A—my current location.

Point B—the next destination.

Then G.

I.

Q.

V.

And finally Point Z, marked with the symbol of Pisces.

It was one of the few zodiac signs I could actually recognize, along with Leo, Scorpio, and Cancer.

I studied the markings, hills, forks in the paths...

and realized I understood absolutely nothing.

What was I supposed to do if I got lost?

What if I couldn't even make it past the very first checkpoint?

I didn't even know how to navigate.

Despite spending four lessons this week learning survival skills, I still couldn't tell direction by the moss growing on trees.

I'd always been convinced I had an awful sense of direction.

This only proved it for the hundredth time.

For the first time in what felt like forever...

I was alone.

Truly alone.

No spirits.

No roommate.

No Airis.

The moment his name crossed my mind, something inside me scraped its nails across steel, sending an awful screech through my chest.

A reminder.

I needed to move on.

Forget him.

But how was I supposed to pull myself together when only minutes ago I'd been certain my heart wouldn't survive?

I sounded pathetic even inside my own head.

A lovesick...

naïve fool.