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She frowned

"S in frorills Bodies and sweat and tears" She opened her eyes "It’s like soether"

Ethan and Catcher inhaled deeply, held the air in their bodies as if to measure its contents

"Pizza," Ethan said

"Yeah," Catcher said "I mean, a lot of exhaust and se, maybe?"

"The delusions aren’t delusions," I said "They’re hearing Chicago"

"The voice is sentient," Catcher said "Chicago isn’t That’s not possible"

"There shouldn’t be snow on the ground in August," Mallory said "There shouldn’t be people trying to harm themselves to alleviate their delusions We don’t have the luxury of ‘possible’ right now But," she added, "I think you’re right about the city--Chicago is a really big place If it was possible a city could be sentient, and if Chicago was that lucky, one-in-a-le voice and some stink"

"Like dancing Chicago dogs?" Catcher asked

"So Unfortunately, that doesn’t help us say what it is" Mallory’s gaze narrowed dangerously "But I aim to find out"

• • •

We were less than an hour from dawn, so we skipped the previous food and beer plan, opted to head back to the House The ride was silent, all of us thinking, wondering as happening in Chicago Catcher parked on the street, and alked silently into the House

Mallory yawned hugely but rolled her shoulders as if to shrug off exhaustion "I need ti to hole up in the library for a little while if that’s okay with you"

"It’s fine by et to take care of yourself, to sleep"

She nodded "I’ll sleep when I feel better When I’ve conquered this"

"I’ll tell Chuck e’ve found," Catcher said

"Will he want to tell thethe door behind us

Catcher tugged his ear "Not yet, I think Not until we can really tell her what it is But that will be his call"

Ethan nodded "Let’s ic in the House"

"Trust ic until we have soood plan for all of us," Ethan said, and we headed upstairs