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A raindrop pelted an to fall“Matthew, you told roeaker when the rain came You said, ‘You’ve never known terror, not like you hen the rains coreen? You annihilate Now?” He shook his head “Powers Stop Start Fits A plant with no sun is weak Already you feel it Plus, obstacles get faster, stronger Foes laugh at us”

Matthew’s lessons had fallen into four categories: arsenal, foes, field of battle, and obstacles “Which obstacles?” No answer “At least tellthe rain will last”

With a decisive nod, he said, “Until the snow co

“When will that be?”

“The Arrinds on, a windmill spins The one who learns most wins last”

Whatever that meant Matthew couldn’t be pumped for infors

When I saw that Jackson and Selena had stopped atop another rise ahead, I almost moaned with relief The sun would set soon Maybe there was a shelter nearby?

Once we reached the by Jackson’s rolled eyes, I fooled no one

“I didn’tsay a word,” I gasped “Notco”

After a hesitation, he muttered, “No, you never do”

That had sounded ale, we could see down into Requie the road to that warehouse Just as Jackson had said, it was overfloith Baggers They were spilling out of doorways, huddled in alcoves So back to shelter Like they were testing the sunlight

“Is it just me, or do they look faster?” Selena asked

I nodded “What’s driving theot them in such a frenzy?”

Matthew said, “Bloodlust”

Finn shook his head “I thought they turned to blood because there was no water around”

“Rain h to track blood New battery”

“You’re joking” I pinched ize theer No longer would we see their cruhtfall?”

“Loved the Alche Most blood for miles and miles The hunt is afoot”

Even with all our Arcana powers, ere at a serious disadvantage against that uise us, but the zombies would just follow our scent Matthew had no attack powers

And ht well on the run,in fits

“What’s the ht hand, at my icon “Why you look scared, you? You can just take them all out” The not cruel vibe of earlier had been short-lived

I exhaled wearily “No No, I can’t”

“Ain’t like you can die anyway”

Matthew shook his head “She can die Death sees to her”

—Count on it— came Death’s whisper —You’ll be under my sithin the week—

7

DAY 249 AF

“Soooanybody else have a sense of i doom?” Finn asked around a mouthful of Mayday bar “Iwatched?”

Teeth clattering, I said, “Oh, y-yeah” I had since we’d left Requieht we’d spent miserable, restless hours huddled in the shelter of soht, after we’d plodded around nearly blind in the dark, Jack had co house Basically it was a e paint and one open end

When we’d all piled into his “find,” Jack had gazed at the sky for patience, but didn’t say anything

There was enough room inside for each of us to have a little space, if we didn’t try to stand up It allowed us to escape the drizzle and provided some protection until we could set out at dawn

We were betting our lives that the Baggers couldn’t catch up with us before then

I squeezed out ”

Finn had produced another illusion lantern for us I could swear the nights were getting longer, even as we headed into su

One day, would the sun forget to rise?

Despite everyone being waterlogged and freezing—except for Selena with her perfect outdoor gear—we didn’t light a fire She had dry kindling in her pack, natch, but any wet fireould smen on our tail

All day ondered if the zombies could match our hectic pace From what I understood, they didn’t heal froht of the Flash At eight months old, they must have some wear and tear there

Unless they’d been newly created by a Bago at dawn, Selena had run back and scouted Her assessment? “There areto spend the day?” Though drizzly, it’d still been bright And we hadn’t passed a single house, just mile after mile of burned-out woods

She’d hesitated, then said, “They’re burrowing Into the ood news is that if any Arcana think to follow us, they’ll be in for a hell of a surprise”

Like a Bagery And for the rest of the day, I’d wondered withas you two Like we’re being stalked, as hunters do with deer” Plucking her bowstring, she ads”