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"You don’t have to go if you don’t want to," I said quickly "It’s not too late"

"Isn’t it? Besides, I have to pull ed with a nonchalance that looked unnatural on hih a lump in his throat

"You and Vida will both be fine," I said, planting both hands on his shoulders and forcing hi under control You’ll both be careful, and quick, and back in one piece"

Chubs turned back toward Vida, as the only person I kneho could

"Well," he a look, "hopefully no more than two pieces"

Despite what Vida had said, she waited patiently as Chubs knelt to talk to Zu and gave Lia a draft of cold air into the hallway, and stood back as Chubs took the first few steps down

As e to throw myself in front of the tunnel out and block their path I pressed a hand againstof panic out But Zu had no such reservations She bolted out of Lia the door after the their packs, her heels digging into the unfinished floor, crying in that silent, heartbreaking way Crying harder than I’d ever seen; she shook her head, her lipswith silent pleas Chubs looked back at us, startled

Zu had been the toughest of our group in many ways, the one quickest to bounce back after terror or sadness knocked her flat Whatever walls she’d built up to keep the feelings froh now to stop the desperate fear And it devastated me My throat ached with the need to cry, too

Vida dropped her pack and knelt down in front of her "Hey girl, none of that It’s like e talked about, yeah?"

Zu pressed her face against Chubs’s backpack

"What happened to you with that guy--the one who drove you to California, that was some--" I saw her catch herself, modify her word choice--"that was some messed-up stuff, and I’m sorry, I’m really sorry that it happened to hioing to leave you here alone We take care of our faht?"

I didn’t realize Liahtened His face was ashen

That calrip on Chubs and turn toward Vida fully