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"But what if it isn’t ure it out," she said, and before he kneas happening, her asped His heart began to bang and he thought he ood He didn’t knohat to do with his hands, couldn’t catch his breath, wasn’t really thinking anymore They came up for air at the same moment, and he said, "T-Tori--"

"Shh," she said

So they stopped talking for a while, and that was fine That was good

At least, there were a coupledidn’t have to think about what a terrible person he was, heading out to kill sorandma’s poor old cat

41

An hour later:

"Go rest," Tori whispered, laying a light hand on Sarah’s shoulder

"I’ll sit with Caleb"

"No It’s all right" Sarah tried a s that reminded her of when her dad repaired their driveway

and she’d tested just how long you could stick your sneaker into wet

ceist would discover a

little pink sneaker and wonder where the rest of the body was "What’s so funny?"

"Huh?" Sarah actually had to put a hand to her face Her lips

were so stiff they would’ve been at ho" By her feet, she felt Jet whi and Pru left

"I’ It wasn’t fair"

"No, it wasn’t" Tori draped a ot to stop this self-pity crap We allChris to walk in any second"

"To rescue us?" She marveled at how easily the bitterness oozed

back When had she gotten so , Jet had clambered to his feet She ruffled his ears to

quiet the animal--and herself--down "I’m sorry That was nasty I

just can’t seem to find a balance, like I’m on this e a hard tis to hurt You think I’? Most of the ti and the other half daydreahteen in twomy mom crazy and if I’ll be a blih "Wish ht" "So were you faking it before? Talking about getting away, I ht You can feel it in the air,

how angry everyone is The food went so fast, and so did the rest of

the supplies We’ve got plenty of guns but no bullets and no gaet lynched

Things are starting to get out of control" Tori paused "Re the choir door? What I didn’t say wasCutter

aiting, right outside, hours before he was scheduled to show" "What?" Of their two night guards, she y,

thickset oldand Weller

Other oldsters darted a quick glance, but Cutter actually stared "Why

didn’t you say anything?"

"Because he didn’t exactly do anything He pretended he needed

to check the door You kno s is?" She did The stairs were narrow,between the baseer than a couple doormats placed side by side "Did he

you know" She didn’t want to say touch you

"Pretty ood feel

His face wasdangerous Like I’d better not screaht" "You really think he would’ve hurt you?"