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When the screa

I bolt upright in bed The walls are thin, and I can hear the shouting, the force of soainst the outside wall of the cabin, shattering in the place just above my head

The wall shakes

The ceiling creaks

And I roll off the narrow cot, shaking

I know better than to be afraid, but it’s instinct now as I wrap s close to ht, I’ht Even in my thin T-shirt and bare feet I want to run faster and faster, farther and farther until I reach the end of the earth

But instead I creep toward theand look out the dirty glass, and a stark truth hits me: I’m already there

“Is that all you’ve got?” Alexei’s voice slices through theair The sun is up, but the rays have yet to burn through the heavy fog that covers the ground like a blanket fort we can’t help but hide inside

“I’ on you, buddy,” my brother yells

“Yeah” Alexei circles around hiain”

How ht like this? Too many for me to count, I’m sure This is the part where my brother is supposed to launch himself at his best friend, where they are supposed to turound, Jamie a little heavier, Alexei a little taller, the two of theth But that doesn’t happen

Instead, my brother takes a step, unsteady and uneven Then another And another It’s like he’s being sucked into quicksand

Despite the dew on the ground and the chill in the air, sweat gathers on my brother’s brow and his body shakes as he takes an unsteady swing at Alexei, who ducks, then swings back

Gently

Alexei is being gentle with Ja as I remembered

Jamie lashes back, but Alexei just pushes Jamie’s fist away

“Again,” Alexei says, and they resume their positions

It’s like Alexei’s training a child, a little boy who is a long, long way froht makes me want to cry

The pair of the slowly, until I come into view

Alexei stops “Well, I guess the princess decided to join us”

It’s a joke A taunt A tease The fact that he’s technically correct is what’s supposed to