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Biting back her own tears, she traced her grandes were everywhere She stroked the woman’s arms and hands--her hands were shaped es

"No, don’t touch therandma tried to pull away, but her limbs only twitched uncontrollably

As tenderly as she could, Scarlet ran her thurandma’s hands Hot tears slipped down her cheeks "What did they do to you?"

"Scar, you have to get out of here" Each word a struggle until she could barely talk, barely breathe

Scarlet knelt over her, resting her head on her grandoing to be all right I’o to the hospital and you’re going to be fine You’re going to be fine" She forced herself to sit up "Can you walk? Have they done anything to your legs?"

"I can’t walk I can’t et out"

"I’rave;re We have tiure out a way--I can carry you" Tears dripped off Scarlet’s chin

"Come here, my love Coainst her grandma’s neck Arainst her sides "I didn’t want to involve you in this I’rave;re"

"Hush Listen I need you to do so i to be all right"

"Listen to randmother’s faint voice seemed to drop "Princess Selene is alive"

Scarlet squeezed her eyes shut "Stop talking, please Save your strength"

"She went to live in the Eastern Commonwealth with a family by the nah "I know, Grand-ave her to a man in the Commonwealth But it doesn’t et you out of here, and I’ll keep you safe"

"No, darling, you "

Scarlet blinked, wishing she could see her granded her name, she’s called Cinder now"

The name struck a chord of familiarity in the back of Scarlet’s mind, but her brain was too clouded to pinpoint it "Grand- I have to--"

"You an and Garan are the only ones who know, and if the queen found irl who she is Someone must find her You must find her"

Scarlet shook her head "I don’t care about the stupid princess I care about you I’o with you" Her padded hands rubbed against Scarlet’s arms "Please, Scarlet She could make all the difference"

Scarlet shrank down "She’ll just be a teenager," she ed between her renewed sobs "What can she do?"

She reh her thoughts--a girl running down palace steps, falling, landing in a heap on a gravel path

Linh Cinder

A teenager A cyborg A Lunar

She gulped So Levana had already found the girl Found, but lost her again

"It doesn’t randet you out of here We’re going to get away"

Her ether So to use as a stretcher or a wheelchair or--

But there was nothing

Nothing that could rand a wail out of her throat

She couldn’t leave her like this She couldn’t let theirl"

She cla out two an Tanner?"

Her grandood man, Scarlet He would have loved you I hope you’ll ood-bye"

A sob cut through Scarlet’s heart Her grandh with her tears