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"I can&039;t!" I screamed My heart thundered in my chest, and fear squeezed on-man meant what he said I&039;d seen this in the ot what he wanted, then killed the hapless victims anyway Our lives were forfeit I couldn&039;t help but think of his twin sons, who&039;d already lost their ive you my power," I said, "if you promise to let Ralph live"

His answer to my request was to drop Ralph onto the pavement

"Libby?" Ralph ake He rolled onto his side, his gaze lifting to mine

"It&039;s okay," I said "It&039;s okay"

Then Ralph lifted his hands and fire shot froon&039;s head He was o I scra his fire ai helpless

"Vaon-man "Would you like to see real power?"

He lifted his hands, and I kneere gonna die

Take Ralph&039;s fire, daughter The fire wasn&039;t just singing now It was offering instructions It will protect you

I wrapped my arms around Ralph&039;s midsection and listened with all my heart to the fire Flames surrounded us Safe We were so safe Our fires joined - e and Ralph&039;s red - and those strands of security wound together

Light exploded around us

I closed ainst Ralph&039;s back He held on toarms The heat was intense

"No!" shouted our eneic I knew, fro music, that our bubble of protection would weaken soon

I s cotton and felt my clothes peel away from my body I didn&039;t want to look Ralph and I could withstand the flaon-proof I don&039;t kno long I stood there waiting for our protection to dissolve and the bad guy to cut us both down

The on-man disappeared I heard the triuels

Then the fire was silenced

"Libby?" Ralph&039;s voice was hoarse

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

I didn&039;t get a chance to answer I heard shouting voices and feet scuttling on the blacktop And then an Irish-tinged voice yelled, "Over here"

I opened one - the minivan, the soccer field, our shield, too

Sparks floated around us like dancing fireflies Ash filled the air like snow - our clothes Oh, jeez We were practically naked

The only clothing left between us was the piece of Ralph&039;s shirt whereelse had burned away

I peeked over Ralph&039;s shoulder The only thing I saas Stan and his friend in the silver suit

"Aw, crap," I uishers at us and white foam spurted The nasty chemical puffs covered us from head to toe

Well, at least eren&039;t naked anymore