Wren and Xavier spend forty-eight tense hours traversing the Blacklands, arguing, bonding, and discussing Cross and Tyler. Xavier admits he cared for Tyler but was not in love with her and reveals a history of casual relationships without considering consequences. By the time they spot sunlight ahead, they feel like reluctant friends.

They emerge into a serene mountain valley with a river and lush grass. Wren opens a telepathic link to Adrienne, who instructs them to climb a nearby hill for helicopter pickup. Wren realizes she has not told Adrienne that Xavier is with her; Xavier debates turning back but ultimately insists on staying due to his promise to Cross to protect Wren.

On the hilltop, a gray helicopter lands. An auburn-haired woman exits as copilot, and two shadowy figures remain inside. When the pilot emerges, Wren recognizes him as Kaine—believed dead—who meets her with a sheepish look. Shocked and enraged, Wren punches him and demands to know how he is alive. The woman calls him “Gray,” and Wren learns Kaine is actually Grayson Blake.

Xavier lunges at Grayson, accusing him of killing Tyler, since Grayson walked into the explosive building with her while Tyler and Noah died. Two men from the helicopter restrain Xavier and cuff his wrists despite Wren’s protests. Grayson refuses to release Xavier, saying Adrienne and the Authority will decide his fate.

In a heated exchange, Wren confronts Grayson about Tyler’s death. He calls Tyler “collateral damage” and says war forces hard choices, echoing words he used when Wren killed Bryce Granger. Wren also learns Grayson infiltrated the Program to steal a new aircraft because he was the only one who could fly it. He reveals Ellis told the Uprising about Wren’s Bloodmark.

Grayson presses Wren about bringing a Command lieutenant without warning; Wren admits she forgot to tell Adrienne in her relief at surviving the Blacklands. Grayson insists they leave quickly and warns that by coming, Wren is choosing war, as the Command base bombing was only the beginning and the Uprising is targeting the Company.

Wren refuses to abandon Xavier to imprisonment or execution, though Grayson hints Xavier has other crimes that will surface. Weighing Jim’s disturbing letter and her options, Wren briefly contacts Cross via their mental link to say she made it and that she loves him; Cross replies with love and asks her to reach out when she can.

After a tense pause, Wren decides to continue. She follows Grayson back to the helicopter, where Xavier sits restrained, and commits to facing whatever awaits at the Uprising base.