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“The kitchen I was gonna throw this away and get some water” I held up my empty can

“No, Isad in his eyes when he looked at ht beI had a better answer “My brother is in a govern for a quarantine” Lazlo brightened “Maybe we should go with you” I didn’t answer right away, so he added, “There’s safety in numbers”

“Yeah,” I nodded, and I wasn’t sure if I’d live to regret o in the ood,” Lazlo said and went back to staring outside

Ripley climbed out of the pool and shook the water off, her chain crashing loudly against the stone patio I went into the kitchen to get water, and then went upstairs to the master bedroom Blue had cleaned Harlow’s feet and wrapped them up With new socks, hopefully they would hold up better tomorrow

I stole silk paja that I would have to leave the a candle, I went into the bathrooet ready for bed

Once I took off my clothes, I inspected my entire body for scratches, and I only found a bruise When I turned on the faucet, dirty water sputtered out, but it was better than no water at all Using a washcloth, I did the best I could to clean one, and Harlow had changed and crawled into bed, but she wasn’t asleep yet I called Ripley, and once she finally came in, I locked the door behind her Ripley lay on the bedroo herself clean from her swim, and Harloas asleep within h After tossing and turning for a while, I gave up, snuck into the bathroo my face in my arms, and sobbed harder than I had in months My whole body shook

I cried for Beck, who I had cared for way more than I should have He deserved so muchhi them all to die

I hadn’t wanted to leave Sommer alone and terrified like that, but I didn’t knohat choice I had Letting her followin the quarantine Everyone had died All the soldiers who stayed behind to try to save them, and all the people trapped in small rooms as the monsters broke in

And I cried for Max I didn’t knohere he was or if he was all right It was my job to protect him, and I hadn’t been there Maybe he’d made it to a new quarantine Or maybe he had never even made it out at all

But I couldn’t think that I had to believe that Max was still out there and that I would find hi happened to hiht now, in the bathroo

When I had e bed, lying on the far side froer

I woke up because I couldn’t breathe I was suffocating, and Ripley growled I opened ht in front of le cat sat onain Using all asped for breath She leapt onto the floor and did another lol/roar at the door

“Hey, are you guys awake?” Blue asked when he stopped knocking