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e second I know you deserved the truth Please believe me”

“You’re full of lies” Gorde sneers and strides to the door “How can we trust a single thing you say from noard?”

“She was the one who helped save us all fros out and Gorde stops, as if frozen

“Re happened so fast, and he was going to hurt me, I could tell He didn’t want to, but his hand was so shaky on that gun And then, I don’t kno, but the baby and I—we made him stop We held him in place so you could take him down”

“That’s not possible”

“I didn’t think so, either” She ss hard “But I can—do things I couldn’t before I got pregnant I’m not the same, anymore But she’s not, either And she likes you She already knows you” Her voice and eyes plead with us “She’s not like her father I swear it”

“I can’t handle this right now” The word father undoes e neords and stories All I want is to get away fro, and I don’t want to see you when I get back I don’t want to ever see you again”

Gorde roars out a curse “I don’t want to see you again either, or that young Never inwaste of air” He leaves the doets into our transport, and zooms away

Last time it was Gorde who had to exercise, but today I’m the Zandian who needs to pu as fast as I can, in any direction that reveals itself open, until I’ to outrace es of her in my head

Chapter 14

Danica

I’ if I can take the supplies I need and go soain This time I know it’s a contraction My entire belly clenches, and the pain—like nothing I’ve known before—screas like liquid fire

I whi my stomach My knee twists as I sink down, heavy, andAll I can feel is the knives stabbing me from the inside

“Guh!” My vision is all dots and static and I vomit, a thin stream of watery liquid that’s warm on my chin and breasts

“Danica? Mother Earth” It’s Bayla’s voice I can’t see her, because everything swims in front ofhere?”