Page 63 (1/2)

36 HOURS, 47 MINUTES

“SHE’S BEEN LIKE this ever since” Bug—the visible Bug—waved his hand at Orsay, who sat knock-kneed and slump-shouldered on the front steps of Coates Academy

Caine stared down at her with more than casual interest He touched the top of Orsay’s head and noted the way she flinched “Been there I think,” he said

Diana yawned She was still dressed in her silk pajamas with a robe pulled around her as if it was cold It was never really cold in the FAYZ

Bug swayed back and forth, barely able to stay awake

“What was happening when she started zoning out?” Caine asked Bug

“What?” Bug snapped his head forward, jerking hi about cans of food Then all of a sudden ther

e’s this, like, creepy light show going on in one of the other roos or so”

“What do you know about drugs?” Diana asked

Bug shrugged “Joe junior, h a lot”

Caine knelt down in front of Orsay Gently he lifted her face “Snap out of it,” he said

There was no response So he slapped her once, hard but with no malice His palm left a pink stain on her cheek

Orsay’s eyes flickered She looked like a person waking up many hours too early

“Sorry,” Caine said He was very close to her Close enough to inhale her breath Close enough to hear her heart pounding like a cornered rabbit’s “I need to knohat you saw”

The corner of her mouth turned down, like a crudely drawn cartoon of fear and sadness and so else