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The girl flinched and took a few steps back when Trina got close to her

“It’s okay,” Trina said, stopping She got down on one knee “We’re friendly, I proe just like yours, where they had lots of kids Do you have friends here?”

The girl nodded, then see She shook her head sadly

“They’re gone now?”

A nod

Trina looked back at Mark, heartbreak in her eyes, then returned her attention to the girl

“What’s your name?” Trina asked “Mine is Trina Can you tell irl said, “Deedee”

“Deedee, huh? I love that name It’s really cute”

“My brother’s na to say, and for so to the forefront of Mark’s thoughts His heart ached He wished this girl were his little sister And as always, he tried his hardest to keep hiswhat ht’ve happened to her when the sun flares struck

“Where is Ricky?” Trina asked

Deedee shrugged “I don’t know He ith the others Into the forest”

“With your ot hit by the arrows from the sky Both of them They died real nasty” Tears welled up until they spilled over and washed down her dirty cheeks

“I’m so sorry to hear that, sweetheart,” Trina said, her voice full of the deepest sincerity Mark was sure he’d never liked her as ht then “Some of our friends were … hurt by the same people Nasty, like you said I’ back and forth on her heels, soain reminded Mark of Madison “It’s okay,” she said, so sweetly that Mark didn’t kno much more of this he could take “I knoasn’t your fault It was the bad reen suits”

Mark pictured that day, re Or friends of the sa around with dart guns full of who knehat Why, though? Why?

Trina kept digging, as tenderly as she could, for o with theht arm, the hand balled into a fist She pulled up her ratty sleeve to reveal a circular wound near her shoulder, scabbed over but looking poorly cared for She didn’t say anything, just held the arht out for everyone to inspect