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Filling s with a breath of recycled hospital air, I answered, "Lead the way"

Bridger got the rooether alked to the other side of the hospital, to the intensive care unit But e got to Danni’s door, ere told by a nurse to stay out ICU patients got visits only froh aBandages wrapped her arms, a heart monitor beeped with her pulse, and she lay utterly still beneath a white blanket She could have been my aunt, except Danni’s lips weren’t blue And the heartlife

Movement from the side of the roo woman with brown hair and bloodshot eyes stood froer" She closed the door behind her and forced a s her arer in the the hug The woh the

"She’s in stable condition The doctors hope towith you?" she asked, turning to me

I clenched my jaw shut

"This is Maggie Mae," Bridger said

Danni’sto reie Mae Mortensen? I’ for your jacket"

I looked between Danni’s er

"What jacket?" I asked

"Gray jacket with your naot attacked The doctors had to cut it off of her I’m so sorry I can buy you a new one if you want" A fil them look even redder than before

"No It’s no problem It’s summer I totally don’t need a new jacket"

Mrs Willia her eyes

"Let er said

"Thank you, but at this point all you can do is pray" She sniffled and went back to Danni’s rooh the hospital in silence When we got to the sliding doors and stepped out into sunshine, er asked

"Who?"

"Mrs Williaed "She stole it fro Guess Danni liked it"

Bridger didn’t say a word the whole drive home

As I opened the barn doors, a whiff of chicken-scented air hit me and I prayed the barn roo "Are you seriously going to live in a barn?" she asked "Like a ho a foster child felt like being a ho, sound room above a barn didn’t sound so bad

Shash darted pastto lick her face She kneed hiot dirt onin the car," she insisted, striding away

With Bridger at my side, I crossed to the far side of the barn and stopped at a narroooden stairway I thrust ers snapped spiderwebs and I cringed, hoping the web didn’t belong to a blackI ruriroaned beneath my feet At the top of the stairs I paused, inserted the key into the door handle, and twisted The door swung silently open and the se and afted out I stepped inside and gasped, pressing a hand over er asked fro lot

A wrinkled black face ide, hollow eyes was staring at me Matted hair framed the face and stark white outlined the eyes I slowly lowered my hand and took a step closer

"Did that scare you?" he asked, lingering in the doorway and pointing to afrom the wall

I nodded "Totally freaked oddess," Bridger explained "And it is probably a priceless antique"