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At the ti from her own revelation She was alive Did that ain? Could she--dare she even think it--could she skinjack herself? Oblivious to as going on, Danny's parents had smothered him with kisses, and the police had questioned Allie's parents as to how on earth the boy had turned up there Allie didn't want to fight Danny, and once they were in the police cruiser, driving away, she tried over and over again to peel herself out of the boy His body stiffened, his back arched, his eyes bulged, but Allie could not get out of his body, and his parents becae behavior As the police car pulled into the Rozelli's driveway, Allie finally realized the true cost of skinjacking so She was now a permanent resident in Danny Rozelli's body

But the worst was yet to coave a skinjacker the advantage A person didn't kno to defend theht to retain control of his or her own body--especially against a seasoned skinjacker like Allie But fleshies learn quickly Each tiht Allie from the inside out, and now, half a day later, the two of the the upper hand They were two evenly-le body, and it looked like they were going to stay that way for good

"I'm fine!" Allie insisted, in control of Danny's mouth "I'm fine, really" Unfortunately Danny had control of the rest of his head, and began banging it against the wall

His rabbed hiure out a new approach to this unhappy situation She pulled way back, allowing Danny to have full control of himself, but not so far back that he could force her to sleep--for he had figured out that trick too She waited as his body relaxed, his breathing slowed, and his father, as still restraining hiht, Danny," he said "We're going to get you help I promise"

Danny, tears in his eyes, nodded Allie waited a hts forward in a faint whisper

--Danny, please listen to ht back to her No, no, no! But at least noasn't shouting it out loud

--Bad things will happen if you don't listen to ht away Then he thought, What kind of bad things?

--They'll take you away from your parents and put you in a hospital--

No! My parents won't let anyone do that!

--What do you think they et you help?--

Danny didn't respond to that Good He was finally seeing reason

--I didn't et stuck in here, Danny, but I did, and we have to ure out how to get out--

I don't want to be your friend! You're a girl! I don't want a girl in et for skinjacking a seven-year-old

I heard that! And now not even her thoughts were private This was going to take a lot of getting used to

--Think of el?

--Yes, I aht s to be okay, you have to pretend like it already is okay You have to pretend like I'm not here--And then she made a decision-- I promise not to take over your body without your permissionif you proht Danny, but if you start s

"Danny, honey, talk to "

Danny took a deep breath, and said, "Nothing, Mo a bad dreaed hiood-- thought Allie-- They'll probably still take you to see doctors, but if you act norive me shots?

--I don't think so--

Good, thought Danny, and then he asked her, Will you help ht Allie Why not She tried to tell herself that she'd be okay with this--being a backseat driver to a second-grader, but the reality of it filled her with despair Everlost was gone--she couldn't see it anymore, couldn't feel it It was invisible to her, just as it was to Danny, or any 314other fleshie She knew her body was out there somewhere, but she had no idea where to find it--and even if she did, she was still stuck inside this kid Good going, Allie

Don't be sad, Allie

And so, for Danny's sake, she tried not to be

Chapter 30 A Place on the Mantel

Five hundred miles northeast of Me's Starboard Promenade

"Patience, Milos," Mary said "Patience is e need right now"

"But why sy Capone? That is work for Moose and Squirrel, not forit as a favor for me"

"Yes, but there is so much more I could do for you, if you letyou think is impossible, and I will do it I wish to show you how useful I can be for you" More than useful, Milos knew he needed to be indispensable--otherwise hoould she ever see hi an eye on Pugsy, it frees Jill to catch crossing souls She's bringing in two and three a day, thanks to you!"

"I could bring you aze for ahe had just opened a can of ants Or was it worlish expressions correct

"Is that so?" said Mary, slowly sauntering up to hiht you accomplish that?"