Page 27 (1/2)

"Lying about what?" I whisper

"If you want to survive, you have to leave with h the tunnels I’ll take you to the lab and collect the reward"

I cannot leave Not when Bowen’s down there facing almostcertain death

"It’s what Boould want, because there’s no way they’re going to let him walk away alive," she says, as if she can readthe rifle to my chest Can I leave him there and saveit makes me feel as if I’ve been torn in two "No I have to help Bowen"

"You can’t He and To the raiders would forget about theot to run before it’s too late I’ll show you where--"

"They’ve been there all night?" I gasp

Arrin nods "Why do you think it took et to you? I had to sneak like I’ve never snuck before"

Completely unconcerned for my own safety, I stand tall, shove Arrin aside, and put the rifle back onmy elbow on the sill for a steadier shot Like a beacon of hope, the sun crests the horizon and shines on un Bowen’s head comes up, his face turned toward ht on et down, but I’ve already decided what needs to be done

I point the rifle at a rooftop half a block away, at theit toward Bowen’s hiding place I take a deep breath and closethis is the most important shot I will ever take in my life And probably the last My father’s voice speaks in ain It’s just like learning to play the piano--all in the fingers As the air leaves s, I open er The sound of gunfire echoes off sunlit buildings

I don’t wait to see if I’ve hit hiain And a third time

"He pulled the pin!" Arrin whispers, her words barelyears I look at Bowen and Torenade down the road, then he and Tom Bowen lurches and falls to the ground, and et shot? Is he dead? Tommy crouches down and pulls Bowen back to his feet And then the grenade explodes, shaking the hotel, deafeninga cloud of dust that hides Bowen and Toet out of here!" Arrin says, standing Her voice sounds h water She darts toward the door I take one final look below and s a surge of dread While Bowen’s hidden by dust, I’ve been seen Theat o off and bullets whiz byAndtoward the hotel

"Oh, crap" I sprint after Arrin

Chapter 27

I sprint down the hall to the stairs, but before I make it to the thirteenth floor I hear the sound of feet thu up Arrin stops and waits for me

"They’re about to catch us Noquestions" A knife appears in her hand, and she pivots on the balls of her feet, braced for a fight I balance the gun on rows louder And louder When the sound of heavy breathing accompanies the feet, I knoe are about to die

Men come into view, and all I focus on is the place on a broad chest where I have to put the bullet In spite of the gun pointed at theer

"No!"

I squeeze, and the gun discharges a split second before it is knocked out of my hands

One of the men reels backward and topples head over feet down the stairs Triuet

"What did you do that for!" soun and stare in mute shock Bowen lies in a cru below I run down the steps and grab his shoulders He goes rigid at o and stare at him "Are you badly hurt?" I ask

"You shot hiainst ers, my ears, my brain Unable to move, to speak, I stare at Bowen