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But if this was a trap, why had no one co of water and a box of crackers at the botto with a ceramic pot to relieve himself in Whoever set the trap didn’t want hi The food and water was gone in three days, and now there’s nothing left but a lousy carton of cigarettes, which he can’t smoke because there aren’t any ht out of the wrapper, figuring it ht have some nutritional value, but it onlyto an end, he’s convinced no one’s co to find him until it’s too late

Then, just before dark, he hears footsteps crunching the paint chips on the warehouse floor

"Hey," he tries to yell, "over here!" His voice is barely a hiss, but it’s enough A face appears, looking down at hi down there? Are you okay?"

"Help"

"Hold tight," says the oes away and comes back a few moments later with an aluh the boy has no strength to even stand, some secret reserve of adrenaline fuels his cliht on his ruined ankle In half ahis arer who saved hi to drink," he says and hands the boy a water bottle The boy guzzles it like it’s the only water in the world "How long have you been down there?"

"Five days" He gags as he tries to s the water, ales to keep it down

Thehis head "AWOL Unwinds are always getting theotta be more careful"

The boy shakes his head "I’ly "Yeah, yeah, that’s what they all say Don’t worry Your secret is safe with me"

Then the boy feels a sudden prick on his arm

"Ouch!" He sees a drop of blood on his forearer collects with a s?"

Theat the readout of the device The boy’s aunt is a diabetic, and she checks her blood sugar with so like it, but the boy suspects this device has a different purpose, although he’s not sure what that purpose is

"H an eyebrow, "it looks like you’re telling the truth Your DNA doesn’t match any of the kids in the AWOL Unwind database"

"Oh, I get it You’re a Juvey-cop!" He’s relieved, because a Juvey-cop is safe A Juvey-cop will take him home to his parents, who must be worried sick

"WellI was a Juvey-cop," the er in that line of work" Then he holds out his hand to shake "The name’s Nelson And you are?"

"Bennett, Bennett Garvin" Only now that he’s had soet a good look at Nelson He’s unshaven, his nails are dirty, and it appears he hasn’t been taking good care of hi about hie disconnected intensity about them that doesn’t match the rest of him In fact, the eyes don’t even

"Could you call my parents?" Bennett asks "Let them know you’ve found me?"

The faint smile never leaves Nelson’s face "Oh, I don’t think that will be happening today"

Bennett doesn’t say anything as he struggles to grasp the situation--but having not eaten, and with the water not yet in his syste seeo now that you’ve seenhis side, and putting a dirty hand in Bennett’s mouth to check his teeth like a horse "Aside from that nasty ankle, you’re a top-notch speci a few more water bottles won’t take care of And the black market harvesters don’t care whether you’re an official Unwind or not--they pay just the same"

"No!" Bennett tries to pull free, but he doesn’t have the strength "Please don’t hurt hs "Hurt you? I wouldn’t think of it The better your condition, the more you’ll be worth to me"

"My parents have money They’ll pay you"

"I don’t do ransoms," he tells him, "but I’ll tell you what--I like your eyes, they’re very expressive And because I like your eyes, I’ll give you a fighting chance" Nelson points to the entrance "If you can get to the front door before I tranq you, I’ll let you go Hell, I’ll even give you a ten-second head start" He hauls Bennett to his feet "Ready, set, go!"

Bennett does not need a second invitation He takes off across the expanse of the warehouse, feeling dizzy, feeling like his feet won’t o

"One!"