I shook with sobs as I nodded a final goodbye to Imogen, and followed Sheanne, RÃ¦ven and Akello out of the tent into the moonlit circus grounds. I gazed at the blue and yellow striped tents, our prison, its colours muted by the night, and then beyond them to a muddy road and looming forest. I turned to Akello, RÃ¦ven and Sheanne, then watched as the blue boy, goat legged girl and twins followed me out of the tent. I cut through RÃ¦ven and Akello's quiet conversation. "We have to leave now," I murmured, echoing what had been said several times already. I took a long stride towards the forest, then turned back to them. Tears were still in my eyes. "We have to. We have to go." I continued to walk, feeling them following me, and we disappeared into the trees.