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"I don’t feel bad, Lydia, because I hate them I want them all to die I don’t care what they are or once were And when I kneould be one of those things, he stopped being hu feel bad!"

Lydia leaned down and gently kissed Katie’s forehead "I know, baby I know But there is more, isn’t there?"

Katie drew back "I don’t want to talk about it"

"Katie, tell me"

"I can’t!" Katie stood up and wiped at her face with treers

Lydia slowly stood up and took Katie’s face between her hands With infinite tenderness and love, she kissed Katie’s lips Katie clung to her and kissed her back

"I love you, Lydia I should have…"

Lydia lightly kissed her again "Tell ainst Lydia’s soft lips, "Oh, gawd…"

"Tell me"

"I should have killed you!"

Lydia nodded and drew back Her figure began to alter before Katie’s eyes Lydia looked down at her chest as a huge hole opened slowly and her e milky eyes, Lydia whispered, "You should have"

And then she rushed Katie screa

Katie awoke, tumbled off the plastic chair, and landed hard on the roof

Travis was there in an instant, helping her up

"Geezus, you’re shaking," he said with concern

Katie looked around, terrified Her fingers gripped his shirt tightly as she swung her head around, looking desperately for the ghoul frohtmare But the rooftop was empty except for them

"Travis," she sobbed

"I’aze concerned

"Travis, I let her down," Katie choked out, then collapsed against hiht, feeling her tre her hair as the wo words But he knew her heart was broken and his broke for her

At last, he helped her down the stairs back to her rooainst hi Katie, she i up and took her from him

"Katie, honey, what is it?"

Travis released Katie reluctantly and watched Jenni help her lay down

He stood aardly as Katie reached out to Jenni and they clasped hands

"Lydia," Katie said in a clear voice at last "She’s still out there-one of thehed "I know, Katie"

Travis said, rather laht later, "I think she’s upset"

Jenni looked up at him and nodded "Yeah" She stood, pushed her cot up to Katie’s, and lay down "I’ll take care of her"

Katie seemed to relax as Jenni curled up next to her and held her hand

Travis nodded and backed out of the room slowly He turned and shut the door behind hi despite all the "Thank You For Not Sns all over the city hall The recovery tearocery store and Juan was a happyAmy? " Juan asked after a beat

"No," Travis answered

"Eh, yer fucked," Juan decided

"Yeah" Travis looked at the door

"Well, I’ out tomorrow around noon"

"Take it easy out there," Travis answered auto as Loca doesn’t shoot rinned and walked on

Travis looked back at the closed door and thought of Jenni’s expression when she had seen Katie The compassion in her eyes had touched hi with Katie, but it didn’t seem to compare to the bond the women had

And it ht

4 Not Always As It Seems

"Coast is clear!"

Juan nodded to Jenni and she quickly let herself down the ladder and onto the main street It was empty of bodies and covered in about a half foot of rich fresh earth It didn’t smell nearly as bad as it had She walked quickly and confidently to the city truck Juan had pointed out to her He had once worked for the city as a o

Juan dropped down behind her, walking with his rifle in his hands His long hair flowed curly and crazed from beneath his cowboy hat