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"And he should be one of them" I stand up and yank the IV line out of ainst Purian Rose He’s Phoenix, for heaven’s sake! Doesn’t thatto you people?"

Father leaps to his feet "Where do you think you’re going?"

"To Viridis," I say "Maybe Beta Squad ht knohere Ash and the others went" I turn to Elijah "Are you co up

"Sit down!" Father commands

Elijah immediately sits

"You don’t have to listen to hiht to keep hietting to Viridis, hmm?" Father says

"Stoay on a train, steal a truck, whatever it takes," I say It’s a risky journey through eneiven my already ill health, but my father’s left me with no other option

He blocks our path "You’re not leaving this compound"

"You can’t order me about I’m not one of your lieutenants," I say

"No, I’m your father," he snaps "I understand you think you love that boy--"

"I don’t just love him, I’m connected to him" I press a hand to my chest "When you took me away, you wounded Ash in a way you will never understand He’s hurting, Dad I can feel it"

"Natalie," Father says, his voice softening

"Ash deserves better than this," I continue "He sacrificed himself for me He took the blame for a murder that I did, and he was literally crucified for it! And this is how you repay him?" My blood boils, furious withto persuade the to happen and every day he’s out there, he’s in danger If I want this done, I have to do ityou can say will stop me"

I push past my father, and Elijah follows

"What about your treatht this through How long can I survive withouthiet too sick? I’m not so sure

"Don’t do this, Natalie, please," Father pleads "Your h We can’t lose you, and fro you’ve told me about Ash, he wouldn’t want you to die for him either"

I stop That did it

Elijah looks at , are we?" he says quietly

I shake my head and return to my bed, defeated

Just then, Dr Craven returns froether as he studies the results of my latest blood test on his clipboard My stoers slip through

"So, what’s the news, Doc?" I try to sound casual,around Elijah’s

"Well, I’m sorry to say you’re still infected with the Wrath," Craven says, and my stomach twists "So we’ll have to continue with the course of injections--"

"A to die?" I blurt out

My father and Elijah look at Dr Craven expectantly We all hold our breath It’s so silent, I can hear lasses

"No, puh you’re not cured, it looks like the virus is going into reoing to live"

4

NATALIE