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But the girl won’t listen "I’m supposed to meet someone," she insists "I’host froone

FOUR DAYS AND THERE’S BEEN no word froe I left for hiht I shouldn’t be surprised I’ve found nothing since, despite h the records in the security office, despite exa I find a few frah the ca for a boat I don’t re it, but there I am I can’t see my own face, but I act likemore from Merendsen either--et only a sympathetic head shake from Molly I try to contain my frustration as I stalk away from the bar, headed for ht, so if I’ to think it’s strange I can’t re was nor is nore For noe can still get people and supplies in and out by air, but munitions has reported a nu, and there’s speculation that the rebels have the the

I punch open the door tothe rickety prefab walls quiver It’s only after pulling offmy jacket over ht is blinking at ood if it’s from the brass

Maybe it’s fro ister my identity It takes thein the silence Oh, what I wouldn’t give for one of the oes from dormant to fully functional faster than your eye can follow the h that he’s found out when the next transport is swinging through whatever isolated planet he’s on

Finally the h until I see the e that tripped my alert--it’s frohtens with disappointh I know it’s impossible, some part of me panics that she’s discovered what I did at the Fianna hideout, or my distress call to LaRoux’s soon-to-be son-in-law, or that I’ve begun syste every oath I’ve ever taken in order to help a rebel save his people--and mine

I expect a video e, but when I open it up it’s only a few lines of text

TerraDyn’s sending a field expert to evaluate the base’s security effort after the recent attacks He left to come here before the current situation erupted, but has decided to land despite the risks I’e of his detail Given your recent experiences, you’ve got theon out there Be dressed and at my office by 1900--AT

My heart sinks even lower How am I supposed to find answers, concealthe base, and ot so ot ten et to Central Co a hand through her hair, leaning back against the lush wallpaper as though itwo makeup in a mirror to a face fa her flawless lipstick when she spots the girl and turns with a gasp of dis," she exclaims "You need a dress, or the boys will never dance with you"

The girl tries to protest, but the young wo, gently shiirl looks in the nize herself--she’s been transfored forever For the first time, she takes a breath and sees the reflection s the dress, which is the color of hope

But then the girl notices a spot on the fabric She rubs at it, but her fingersthe stain With both hands, she tries to wipe the stain away, desperate to keep anyone fro She scrubs harder, but it’s her hands that are staining it, and every effort leaves behind red streaks, until the whole dress is the color of blood, and she’s sobbing with horror and shauilt, but the blood never washes clean, it never washes clean

I CAN’T STOP REREADING THE WORDS I ht There’s no name attached, but the existence of the note itself tells me who it’s fro her jacket and sto the mud from her boots, raises an eyebrow at me "You think there was another half and I decided to leave it behind?" The jacket goes on its peg, the boots lined up next to her father’s Everything in its place It’s been years since I lived in a house like this