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“Notout of here,” Mickey said He turned and ran

“You want to run, too?” Brittney challenged Mike

“Lana’s not exactly here right now,” Mike said “What if they shoot me? I’m just a kid, you know”

Brittney tightened her grip on herfrootten used to the weight of it She had test-fired it four tiram The first time she’d dropped it and burst into tears and Edilio had asked her if she wanted to quit

But then Tanner had made his presence known, a soft voice that spoke to her when she was scared and told her not to worry, that he was in Heaven with Jesus and the angels And he was so happy, not hurt or afraid or lonely anymore

The next tiun kicked in her hands After that she’d more or less hit what she aimed at

“If that’s Caine out there, I’et him,” Brittney said

“I hate him,” she said “I mean, I hate what he did Hate the sin, not the sinner And I’ to shoot him so he won’t hurt anyone else”

The banging had stopped Now so inward It creaked and groaned There was a loud snap

It was going to give way

“Run away, Mike,” Brittney said He eak Well, kids were, soive that “But leave your pistol”

“Where do you want me to put it?”

Brittney stared at the door It was bulging, straining Soainst it

“On the floor Underneath the last console Back where no one can see it”

“You should come,” Mike pleaded