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"I can’t," Mina whined

"Yes, you can"

"No, I don’t think I can anymore I’m cold, tired and don’t want to hurt you"

"Mina, you have to Your life depends on it" Jared was getting angry "I told you I can’t"

"Do it for your brother Do it for Charlie!" he yelled "Do it for your father!"

That is what made Mina step back and blink in surprise How did he know so ripped the stupid knife and felt herself go tense in preparation to attack He was lying to her; or as he said,

"What do you know aboutin her eyes

"I know that he was full of himself James didn’t think he needed help and wouldn’t take it when offered He tried to face the Story on his own terms, unprepared, and paid the ulti to end up just like him if you don’t prepare yourself," Jared called Mina felt her body tense up like a tightly wound spring "You’re weak," Jared continued "If you don’t get stronger, you’re going to doo not one child but two"

That was the final straw; Mina grabbed her wooden knife and ju to push him more than hit him

Jared pushed her back easily until she stuhther head in sha frantically in her chest She wanted to protect her faement had the opposite effect She didn’t want to watch her ht, they should leave, and get as far away from here from possible They should try and outrun the Story

Mina tossed the enchanted knife as hard as she could, watching as it created spirals in the lake after it disappeared into the dark depths She wiped her eyes with the cuff of her jacket and walked away fro?" he asked

"Away, far away" Mina kept walking toward thefro in the sand

"You can’t escape the Story" Jared called, hoping to spur her back to fighting

"No, I can’t But I can run"

Jogging to catch up with her, Jared tried to grab her shoulder and turn her to look at hi hi hard "You’ve broughtbut pain I hate you" She turned her face up to hi with tears Jared’s sculpted jaitched with hidden anger

Mina flailed, but Jared grasped her wrists to keep her fro and stood still, quietly looking out over the water, refusing to make eye contact When a soft tear fell on his hand Jared let go of her, as if her tear had burned his hand As soon as he released her wrists, Mina pulled away from him and marched toward the road

She had no plan, but at thedown the road Mina waved her arms furiously, and soon she had a bewildered Asian couple in a green truck opening the back door to let her in She refused to look out theat Jared as the truck sped away

Chapter 17

As soon as Mina got upstairs, she decided to call Brody and apologize for nothim after school But there was no need, because once she reached the top landing there was a beautiful present with a large red bow on top Mina screahed