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Noah exhaled slowly He didn’t answer, but he took my hand and lifted ripped his fingers tightly, wishing we could beco on to hi sky was still very dark, the black brightening only to a deep purple Lightning flickered through the s that wouldn’t release us and ainst the wall

Another scream

We were corralled by it Drawn to it That was the point

We walked into arden, broad and ied stalks of bamboo and sculptured bonsai trees Jaed in the sand Heads bowed Hands bound Positioned airl--I couldn’t see her face--was lying on her side, un it red

There was a storarden was quiet No one struggled No one said a word Not even Ja

Then Jude’s voice polluted the air "Did you try the doors first?" he asked us, and sue "You did I can tell" His gaze wandered over each of the bodies in the sand When he looked up, it was at Noah "While I’lad we’re able to finallyin Noah’s posture or expression showed that he’d even heard him He was as still and sht of bound and kneeling teenagers didn’t appear to unsettle him at all

Which appeared to unsettle Jude He blinked and sed, thenSo I had no choice You made me take them"

"Why?" My voice shattered the quiet "What do you want?"

"I want Claire back," he said si "I killed her and I wish I hadn’t but I did and she’s dead I’ her back," Stella said, her husky voice barely above a whisper

Seven pairs of eyes focused on her with eerie precision

"What?" I asked her

Jude crouched down in front of Stella, a coiled snake

She ignored him, didn’t look She looked, instead, ather back"

Jude san started to cry

Adam watched Jude with keen interest--not fear

Noah took a step forward, bri with quiet violence

But when I saw Jude hit Stella, so inside of me rose up fro

"Bring Claire back," I said slowly

Stella nodded "That’s what he thinks"

"How do you--" I began to ask Then stopped, because I knew