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"So what do they plan on doing to me now that it didn’t work?" I snapped "Lock me away somewhere and throay the key?"

"No," he said, avoiding eye contact withto do?"

There was a hint of pity in his bright green eyes "There’s soht now He’s supposed to be more powerful than Sophia, and Stephan seems convinced it’ll work"

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing Well, I actually could, considering all the other crap I’d been told over the last few days, but…"Why?"

His eyebrows dipped down "Why what?"

"Why didn’t you guys have this detaching soul person detachfor a few et worse"

"Because," he faltered, "they couldn’t find the guy I guess on the night of the fieldtrip, Stephan finally found hione to pick up this otten out of the Jeep to talk to Stephan He didn’t want uys are so--so--"

"Ge out, and I can’t understand what you’re saying"

"Of course I’ my hands into fists as I juo back to being Hollow Zombie Girl"

I’m not sure how he’d expected uessing he’d probably anticipated a more mellow reaction

But I don’t knohy

I started to back away froo back to being like that Ever"

"You don’t have a choice," he said, getting to his feet "This isn’t just about you It’s about the safety of the world and everyone in it Do you want to be responsible for people dying?"

"No," I said, sidestepping around the coffee table "But how do you expectDo you knohat it was like living that way for--for--I don’t even kno long it was because ti There was no point in even waking up Yet I did, every single day And even thoughto be worse now because I've experienced what it’s like to feel things and be huuys may think it’s okay to do it, but it’s not Yes, it may have to be done to save the world, but it’s still horrible because, aside fro carry around a star inside me I’m human too Or at least part huest speech I’ve ever

"I know your hu it is Do you kno much I wished there was another way to fix it?"

"That’s such a load of crap," I said, er "You’ve hated me since the first day we’ve met"

"I’ve never hated you" His voice had softened "Not once"

I glared at hirabbedme into his chest "I’ve never hated you"

I had to remind myself to breath Every part of

"Well, it’s good to see that you’re wrist is feeling better," he said

"Yeah…" It felt so nice when he touchedfor a et about…everything

His eyelids drifted shut as he leaned in to kiss et about everything" I yanked my arm away fro to distract ?"

"No" He looked stunned, but like I’ve said before, he is an expert liar He stepped toward me "Gemma, that’s not what I--"

I backed away fro at me "I’m not--"

"Stay away from me!" I cried and took off in a mad sprint down the hall

I wasn’t sure if he followed me or not I never checked I stor and locked the door Then I threw myself on the bed and cried and cried and cried until I ran out of tears

Chapter 31

"Geroaned, my eyelids to heavy to open

"Gerunt and openedon the floor, but I was lying on the floor in an entirely different room I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and peered around at the purple walls pinned with drawings, photos, and a…galaxy map?

"Okay," I whispered "Where a"