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“Worms don’t have teeth,” Astrid said

“They didn’t have teeth Now they do,” Sam said

“See the things sticking out all around its body?” She squinted and zoomed in closer still “They’re like, I don’t know, like s, only tiny and thousands of them”

“They got into EZ I think they went right through his hands Right through his shoes Right through his body”

Astrid shuddered “Those teeth would bore through anything The legs push it forward once it’s inside its victim”

“Thousands of theoes in, they attack him But me and Albert and Edilio are outside, we haven’t stepped into the field, and they don’t come after us”

“Territoriality?” Astrid frowned “Very unusual in a priher life-fors or cats are territorial Not worms”

“You’re being very cally

Astrid looked at hiently turn hi him to look at her instead “You didn’t come to me so I could screa”

“No,” he adirlfriend I came to see Astrid the Genius”

Astrid had never liked that nicknaave her a place in the dazed and frightened community of the FAYZ She wasn’t a Brianna or a Dekka, or a Sareat powers What she had was her brain and her ability to think in a disciplined hen required

“I’ll dissect it, see what I can learn Are you okay?”

“Sure Why not? ThisI was responsible for 332 people Now I’, okay, one less mouth to feed”

Astrid leaned close and kissed hihtly on the mouth “Yeah, it sucks to be you,” Astrid said “But you’re the only you we have”

That earned her a bleak smile “So, shut up and deal with it?” he said