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No

NO

He doesn’t know He hasn’t been here long enough to have seen it--they kill kids who escape They shoot thele crack of thunder would roll through an otherwise silent camp and ould all just know

"No--Lucas--"

No ently he lowersand sends a stabbing pain racing up through it "Sorry, sorry, I’ the words out, carefully arrangingI don’t want to think it let alone say it, but it’s shaped long and shallow, like a coffin They’ve put down so, but the wood is cheap and I can feel it splintering as it rubs against s The town fair The horse stables Lucas and I walked by every day to get to school

Before he can pull away, I force rab the front of his uniforers enough to pull hih for a sh He leans over and takes , warm hands I barely feel the treainst ain," I deood dizzy My headache evaporates

"Later," he promises "Love you, Sammy Don’t be scared I’ll be with you the whole time"

His words stay in my ears, even as the lid is lowered and snapped into place

Theto Lucas, and Lucas’s low, ru out Look like you knohat you’re doing You et separated, but don’t try to hover over the crate Don’t turn back"

"Thank you"

"Justbe carefulokay? Wait inside the office until the PSFs are down to pick it up"

And that’s it That’s all there is left for us--waiting I closeas quiet as I can e, but it still sounds like a indstorht and cold And without anything else to focus on, there’s only the raw, blistering pain left in h that you can always hear theth; they trah a crack in the wood joints

A door creaks open as the black boots co out?" coruff voice