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Skye’s eyes widened as she saw hio--his hair and clothes told her that h there was no relation, no connection, the boy about to comhtens, tighter than he’d known anything could feel, and it hurts worse than he’d thought anything could hurt His body, ignorant of bullies or cruelty or sadness, struggles to live--bursting blood vessels, tensingin every direction His neck is a vise of pain that wants nothing h to breathe, but it can’t It can’t

She put her hands to her own throat Though nothing prevented her froed her to surrender to the feeling, but she fought against it with every ounce of her will Once again the boy’s face appeared before her, and once again she thought, Dakota

"Skye?" Balthazar’s voice was distant She couldn’t see hi

I take it back, the boy thinks I take it back His legs kick out wildly, seeking a place to stand, so he can get his life again; however broken or sad it is, it’s better than this But his feet can’t find purchase, and everything in his brain is turning black--

Skye couldn’t see Couldn’t think She wasn’t even sure how she knew she was falling

Chapter Eleven

BALTHAZAR REACHED SKYE JUST AS SHE FELL, catching her in his arround A few people shouted and pointed--his calling out to her had drawn tooame

It ht be far worse than that

As he lifted Skye into his ar his way back out of the bleachers--with faces fro on--his fellow teacher on duty, Nola, shouted, "Everybody back up! Give her solanced down at her; she wasn’t entirely unconscious, but definitely dazed One of her hands pawed feebly at her neck "I’ht"

"Oh, ly thrilled by the sudden drama "Coach Haladki, what happened to Skye?"

"She fainted," Nola said, her voice then cli to a shout, "which is what happens to kids who break the rules! Everybody get back to the game! Show’s over!"

"It was like I couldn’t breathe," Skye whispered "That one was bad"

As they finally eed from underneath the bleachers, Balthazar lowered her so that she could stand, but she still wavered on her feet Nola shook her head "Better get her to the nurse’s station No nurse on gaet cuts, but this one probably only needs a box of juice and soain, all right, Tierney?"