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Of course, if you ask any psych student, they’ll say that’s the first sign you’re insane--that you think you aren’t There’s no real win in the insanity depart at Sawyer’s closed eyes, that even on the totally off chance I can get Sawyer out of that building at exactly the right time to save him, it won’teverything else

And everyone else

Who else is in those body bags?

The enorut begin to twist It makes me want to crawl back into bed and hide, pretend this isn’t happening Instead, I crouch down on the living roo the hoarded junk, and wrapback and forth a little, thinking Thinking it all through

Wondering if there’s a way I could shut the whole restaurant down for one night so the plow crashes into a vacant building Maybe I could soor cut the electricity But I know that wouldn’t keep the fa in the restaurant--that’s exactly where they’d all flock to so they could figure out how to fix things So there goes that idea

But then a brand-neonder hits s in the snow mean it’s inevitable? Will those nine people die no o, or can death be prevented? I don’t know

I just don’t know

Twenty-Three

I’ at Sawyer’s dead face for the zillionth ti up the steps Rowan and Trey jostle each other in the tight entrance, taking winter gear off I push play and wonder what TV show I’--what they’ll see and hear To uess this ain until this is all over

Rowan and Trey colances at the TV and frowns "You must be very sick to watch that crap," she says "Sheesh Turn it down The custo Curious, but too lazy to try and figure it out, I turn the TV off "I’ a little better"

"Good," Trey says He has a new, concerned look in his eyes, and he’s trying not to be obvious aboutI smile at him like we share a secret, and I think that reassures him

"So, school tomorrow, nant or soiving Trey a look "Where would you possibly get that idea?"

"I heard Moht"

"Great Can one of you please hurry up and assure thenant? I have never even kissed a boy" I hesitate "No, don’t tell them that Mom’ll tell everybody alks in the door"

"You don’t have to be kissed to get pregnant," Rowan says She pulls a piece of gum out of her backpack and shoves it in her mouth