Paedyn continues alone through the Scorches after several days of walking, already exhausted, sunburned, and nearly out of water. The desert’s heat by day and cold by night wear her down, and because she cannot safely rest for long, her body grows weaker while her mind starts fraying.

To cope with the isolation, Paedyn talks aloud to the sand and bitterly jokes about losing her sanity. She keeps checking the horizon for any sign of a city or water, but finds only empty dunes. When she spots what looks like a pool in the distance, she recognizes it as another mirage, a reminder that the desert keeps offering false hope while her supplies continue to dwindle.

As night falls, Paedyn wraps herself in her father’s worn jacket, survives another unsettling encounter with desert dangers, and finally stops long enough to make camp. She forces herself to eat stale bread and ration hot water, knowing survival now depends on strict self-control.

In the darkness, Paedyn admits that nightmares are as dangerous to her rest as the desert itself. Memories of Adena’s death overwhelm her, and her grief breaks through her exhaustion. Holding Adena’s green vest, Paedyn reminds herself that surviving is the only way to keep her promise to Adena, and before falling asleep, she hardens that promise into a vow of revenge.