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Tarver lifts his head as if sensing aze across the distance between us If he heard any of what I said, he gives no indication, etdown once last tiht’ve been the lucky ones"

We walk

My feet are nothing but a dull ache as Tarver h the woods He takes s and rocks and lifts me over the creek e cross it Other times he makes me drink from the canteen I let him, because what else can I do? The day htmare from which I cannot wake As the hours stretch on, not even the sounds of the forest round before my feet I cannot turn back because there is no back, only the next step, and the one after, and the one after that

I used to think that my name would always keep me safe That those tords--Lilac LaRoux--would be the only password I needed no matter where I ended up

I had been so surefor me, but now it’s hard to find that certainty This is a wilderness waiting to s ht it There are no rules for me to learn, no points to be scored, no bluffs to be called This is a hell I’ve never i of note happened when you ca of note you’re wondering about, I’ unusual happened?"

"Nothing at all"

THIRTEEN

TARVER

THE CAMPFIRE’S DOWN TO COALS when I wake my eyes snap open, and as always, there’s that briefaroundto remember Our camp is near the end of the woods and the start of the plains I built the fire up high before we slept, still thinking of the monster that nearly killed Lilac

I roll over ontoout the unfaht So must have prompted her to co on separation--and I’ for my Gleidel as I blink up at her

"Miss LaRoux?" I ask, quiet and careful I don’t want to give her a fright and get a kick forup there like a specter Even as a ghost, she’s so to see

"Major, there’s somebody out there," she whispers "Can you hear? There’s a wo out there in the trees"