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“Oh, it’s my fault? No way I didn’t anoint you”

“Yeah, you did, Astrid You guilted me into it You think I don’t knohat you’re all about? You used et your way You manip

ulate me anytime you feel like it”

“You really are a jerk, you know that?”

“No, I’ people killed,” Sam said quietly

Then, “My head is exploding froet uy, Astrid, I’ebra or whatever I should be hanging out I should be watching TV”

His voice rose, higher and louder till he was screa “What do you want from me? I’m not Little Pete’s father I’m not everybody’s father Do you ever stop to think what people are asking me to do? You knohat they want hts will come back on They want me to kill kids! Kill Drake Kill Diana Get our own kids killed

“That’s what they ask Why not, Sa what you have to do, Saet eaten alive by zekes, Sa some more holes in the square, Sam”

He had gone fro “I’m fifteen years old I’m fifteen”

He sat down hard on the edge of the bed “Oh, et rid of them It’s like soet rid of it ItI want to throw up I want to die I want someone to shoot ”

Astrid was beside him, and her arms were around him He was asha like he had when he was a little kid, like when he had a night

Gradually the spasular

“I’h you had to hear it”

“I’ apart,” he said

Astrid gave no answer, just held hi ti distance between theain