Page 7 (1/2)

The clasp opens at ht of it pushes s the floor by a good inch or two, and h to fill out the robe; the stars cave in around me

I look ridiculous

I pull the robe off and shove it back into the closet

8

AMY

I HAVE TO GET OUT I HAVE TO LEAVE NOW I CAN’T STAY here Not with hio He crosses the threshold and is at me in two strides Luthor draws closer toful of air to scream, I suck in some of his exhaled breath too Luthor reaches towardme breathless

Luthor flips the hood away frorabs hold ofout overwall Luthor slides his hand down the side of rabs a fistful ofrip I don’t care if he rips the hair out ofto let hirab two books from the shelf by their spines As Luthor twinestheh!" Luthor shouts, an inhu of curse words--so me as I drop the books and duck under his arm

"Co behind the last bookcase She steps out and I grab her wrist and drag her behind me, out of the fiction room and toward the hall

Luthor follows quickly, but we’ve got enough of a head start that we make it to the crowded entrance hall before he reaches us I stop e reach the center The one, and the floppies have returned to nor the i favored by the Shippers stands near the Science floppy, deep in conversation with the group that had been studying the engine schematics earlier A few people look up, startled by our sudden entrance, but for the most part, no one notices us

Luthor stands with both ar at us He won’t do anything now Not with everyone else here It’s not the Season anymore; there’s no more Phydus He doesn’t have an excuse

Victria yanks her hand out of rowl

"Hey!" Luthor’s voice echoes throughout the entrance hall Most people turn to look at him, but Victria dips her head low and hurries for the exit, abandoning me in the center of the hall as Luthor pushes up from the door frame and heads toward me

"You think you can just walk away from me?" Luthor shouts

"I know I can," I say, and I actually rabs me by the elbow and spins me around

I scan the entrance hall Everyone’s watching us A few have drawn closer, and froe of co to my aid Still--they hesitate Because he’s one of thes are different now," I hiss at Luthor, yanking rasp "You think you can take whatever you want, but you can’t"

I step away quickly, deterer onsound that sends chills down s are different!" he bellows after ot a leader anymore!"

I spin on h and loud; it cory screech I can’t help but ree that flashed across the floppies earlier

Luthor snorts in contempt "You think that boy can stop me? You think that boy can stop any of us?" He sweeps his ar the entire crowd of people who are now staring avidly as we scream in the middle of their usually silent hall

"We can do anything ant," Luthor says in a low voice only I can hear He grins broadly and looks around hi ant!"

I see it in the faces of the people around us

The realization that what he’s said is true

9

ELDER

"ELDER?" A VOICE CALLS OUT AS ELDEST’S DOOR ZIPS SHUTS behindaround No one has access to this level but s around the door fra forward

She sentle curve of her lips that doesn’t quite reach her eyes

"I hoped you’d be here," she says

"Ho did you get here?"

She steps all the way out of the Learning Center and into the Great Rooave it to you!" I say, exa her wrist

Auredit used to be Orion’s, so it would probably give s "It did I tried to co?"

"No, I got sohtly on the shoulder "Ignoring me, huh?"

"I couldn’t if I tried," I say

She sht behind it We stand a few feet apart--her near the Learning Center door, me closer to the middle of the Great Rooible, aard thing She pulls her necklace out froers

"What’s wrong?" I ask

"Nothing," she says i the necklace