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"Amanda," I whispered But my lips couldn’t move They hurt Every inch of me hurt Then Thomas turned the corner, and I saw that a crowd had forainst the building All were pale Tears in their eyes Hands covering their irl ran froirl Both were crying, but their relief was evident They were happy to have found each other

"Car," Tho past the crowd at a breakneck speed

My friends They had to get my friends

Then he stopped and bent down There were shouts all around us A swarm of others surrounded the car Were we under attack? I tried to look, but the men who had rushed to us had their backs to us They were acting as a hu to us I could see hih the human wall They moved aside for him He wore a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and black pants His eyes were fierce and his jaw clenched He was cold and livid at the sah me, but this wasn’t Carter It was Cole

Thomas waited for him, but my friends--Amanda Noah Theresa--where were they? I tried to lift up so I could see They ht already be inside the car, but I had to see--as I nize it as mine, but I knew it came from me It sounded like a wounded aniefresh blood and fresh tears streamed down ainst his face, and I tried to bite down on ain I failed I couldn’t stop another guttural cry, but then I looked past the men My friends Where were they? I couldn’t see them It was just the men, so I looked past to the crowd and froze

Every part of otten for a ainst the ith terror in her eyes It was her, confused Was I over there? Was this an out of body experience? I needed to see more Her eyes locked to ainst herher head, and someone cradled her shoulders She turned toward the man next to her, and his hand lifted to support the back of her head as he held her to his chest After a moment, she turned so she could peer over his shoulder at me

But then Cole blocked my view as he stood before me with his hand raised in the air

He was scared There was nothing to indicate this, but I sensed it, because it was in me too I was scared

I needed Carter

Cole’s hand touched the back ofme, so my head wouldn’t hit the car, and then ere inside

"Are you co?" Thomas asked him

Cole shook his head "I’ll be there later I’asped out, finally able to form the words "My friends" Even as I spoke, I strained to see across the road I couldn’t see her now, but I needed to It was me, but it wasn’t That made no sense

"We’ll find your friends" Cole stepped back and shut the door