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On the fourth atte above it all, bloodied, bruised, her clothing torn, her hair filthy, but not dead, very much not dead

Gaia looked down at her, aihed "Very clever," Gaia said "It almost worked But I won’t kill you Not yet"

Gaia floated calmly down as the mess settled around her, slowly, under her control now

Dekka drew a pistol Gaia flicked it easily fro else?" Gaia asked

"You’re getting weaker," Dekka blustered

"Mmmm So are all of you"

"You can’t afford to kill me"

"No But I can do this" Gaia used her father’s power to raise a pew, a long, heavy oak bench, and blast it into Dekka’s chest, pinning her against the altar

Dekka lay still

Gaia turned away, li so hard? She’d lost speed, now she’d lost Jack’s strength, and worst of all, otten away, and he ht take his own life Either way

She had to heal herself and quickly

Little Pete was doing soshe could feel it She could feel his resolution She could feel his anticipation But she could also feel his ebbing strength

Sohad stopped

Edilio couldn’t seetohad stopped when Gaia disappeared into the church

Then he saw Jack and Sam Sam had rolled Jack over so that instead of the small hole in his back as visible was the exit wound, an explosion of viscera poking out through his shirt

"Jesus, Mary," Edilio said

Fro

Edilio dropped down beside Sam Sam was alive but looked almost as bad as Jack There were burns on his body and aran pulling at the chains

"Edilio," Saot you, man," Edilio said

"Do it, Edilio"

Edilio shook off the request, pretending not to knohat Sa