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"All or nothing," he whispered aloud, a s his lips His breath clouded the clear pane

It was the prayer he should have offered six years ago Instead, all he'd said was let me live

When he turned back around, he saw the faces peering at hih the open doorway

"Coer They wanted to see the wo thing to happen at Lethe House in years

The inmates shuffled in slowly, silently One by one, they pulled up chairs and for in like so bee for damned souls The hushed murmur of their voices filled the quiet roolad for their arrival Maybe they would soes, maybe the sound of their voices would draw her from the coma It wasn't much of a hope, but it was all they had

ik?

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Pain Immeasurable, inexpressible, it wrapped around her, invaded her bones and ate at her flesh with tiny, piercing teeth Slicing, burning, aching, freezing

She wanted desperately to cry out, but all she couldwhis Mackinawrubber Words came at her, drifted by in a hazy kaleidoscope that had no ain, pictured it, saw itin a herd, but no name came to her

Shecold wrapped like an icy blanket around her body Her teeth chattered, her fingers trembled

"SweetLordshemadea sound" It was a voice Out there, beyond the freezing darkness

She tried to speak, say sochest Another shiver wrenched through her She gasped at the intensity of it, clawing the wet fabric beneath her fingertips

Lamb The word for the ani any blows, a thru torment Her heart pumped hard, drowned out every sound except the evidence of her own life Where am I?

She had the one coherent thought before another volcanic blast of pain sla hard Oh, God, it hurts it hurts it hurts She couldn't take it anyht she did, wished she did?and then it was over

She was drifting again,black waters of oblivion