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I ithin two steps of being able to grab the back of her shirt when she suddenly picked up her speed, zipping through the small cluster of trees that separated the station from what looked like another road

"I just--just want to talk to you!" I called "Please!"

What I should have said was, I won’t hurt you, or I’ that would have clued her in to the fact that I was just as screwed in the safety departs constricted, stretched tight and useless by the pain inup into the air, bouncing against my chin and shoulders I ripped it off so hard, the chain’s clasp snapped

The little girl leaped over a fallen tree trunk, her sneakers squelching through the forest muck Mine weren’t much quieter, but Martin’s voice drowned us both out

"Ruby!"

My blood ran so cold, it seeether I should never have turned back to look over my shoulder, but I did, more out of instinct than fear I didn’t realize thatuntil Martin’s round shape appeared on the other side of the trees He was close enough for me to see the red flush that had overtaken his face, but he hadn’t seenbut trees and air waiting for me as I picked up irl had tucked herself behind a tree, not hiding, but also not beckoning ht line, eyes darting back and forth between me and the direction of Martin’s voice When I started toward her, she took off so fast that both feet juround Scared off like a little rabbit

"Co my arms at my side "I just want to--"

We broke through the trees, pouring out onto a deserted stretch of road On the other side of the dead-end street was a line of little ramshackle houses, their s boarded up like black eyes I thought for sure that she was heading toward the closest one--the house with the gray fence and green door--but she ht and ran for the minivan parked on the side of the road

The car was dented beyond repair, not just on the bumpers, but on the side doors and the roof And that was to say nothing of the shot-out and cracked lights, and the black paint that was flaking off in cluo that so door: BETTY JEAN CLEANING

But it was a car A way out I wasn’t thinking about the logistics at that point--about whether it had gas, or if its engine would even start I think s at theto shoot it down

The girl was running so hard, she sla of the round but recovered faster than I ever would have With both yellow-gloved hands on the door handle, she ripped the sliding door back with a sound loud enough to shake the birds froot there just in time for her to close the door and slam her hand down on the lock