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Minna’s slance "What are planning to do then," she says, "lure a large group of people you think ht include the Praverian, far away from where you live and trap it there? That’s a lot to risk just to keepaway froain, "after we get rid of the Praverian, so I guess it won’t a back upstairs and drinking down that blood, shakes her head and moves toward the stairs

"You’ve exhausted your welcoive you my phone number in the kitchen and then you should be on your way"

It’s the best suggestion I’ve heard all day

By the time we make it back into the kitchen, Minna is so out of breath and wheezing heavily that I can’t help but feel bad for her, despite what kind of wo it keep her balance as sheroom She nearly falls twice, but we stay back and just watch her She doesn’t want or deserve our help, but there’s a great sense of relief behind that fact

"I’ll be right back," she says as she slips around the corner and out of sight

We wait here in the kitchen, surround again by clutter and elephants, but it’s better than fingers and teeth Each of us gazes all around us, gri

"I almost feel like I’ his head back to look upward at the nu the top of the wall and covered in two inches of dust

But then his head falls and his fingers coainst his forehead, the tips of the the skin

"Are you okay, Nate?" Isaac says, looking worried

"No Not at all"

Nathan lowers his body into a crouch and braces his elbows on his knees, thrusting his head in his hands

"I think I’ a desperate, painful ambience

Me and Isaac rush over to him, but he waves us aith one hand His head coraine is throttling his brain

In seconds, Minna is co the kitchen with us, but as a somewhat healthier person Nathan remains crouched as Isaac and I turn to see her fully She’s still the saain, but Nathan’s blood is already working itshands or a wheezing, raspy chest Even her s acanabout Nathan’s blood coursing through her body, but it is what it is

Minna reaches out her hand to Isaac and produces a business card with a wrecker service imprinted on one side We peer down into it confusedly until Isaac flips it over to see Minna Abrahait number scribbled on the blank side

Nathan rises to his feet behind us, but I don’t look back at hi to detract Minna’s attention from him as much as possible But I feel his emotional pain and his combined with Isaac’s over the whole situation, makes my chest ache

"It will kill you," Minna says in a voice as ss had never been touched by cancer "You re it in the eyes Do the s and let me reap it"

Without another word, we leave the ho out first so he can be as far away from her as quickly as possible When we ainst the street, Minna says froood as I knew you would"

Nathan picks up the pace; his arainst his sides, and his hands clenched into massive fists

Chapter 12

I TURN AROUND IN the front seat of the Jeep to see Nathan sitting behind Isaac I don’t want to sound cliché and ask hiht, but I feel so bad for hi I just don’t knohat it is