that

the voice. She didn't

ain, unhurried, like it had

. Then a second one, from the passenger side.

. None of the

came out steadier than she fe

s who's

ask

ow, like she'd said something almost

-thirties maybe, unshaven, a scar cutting through one eyebrow.

," he said. "Or you are something that b

what you're

you

me silent agreement passing between them

rred one said. "Your aunt fought harder tha

lurched. "If

Whether that stays true

not an

ou're getting standi

car, patient, like he genuinel

car. We drive somewhere quiet, you

N

eally a q

size should've been able to move on gravel, cl

't think.

- but sideways, toward the gap between the diner an

one laughed. Not

than if they'

she caught herself. The gap between buildings narrowed fast

the fence in front of her turned out to be bolted into

back hitting the fence h

ed, echoing off brick from bot

e said, stepping into the gap

y ba

wh

t her back against a fence and her pulse

d the first. Then the third, cl

said, voice gentler now, which someho

it from o

d his head, almost apolog

in the fence, a single loose panel. There was nothing. Just brick, chain-l

left said, almost bored, like he'd read her

still in her p

yes c

of a single streetlight flicker, pupils narrowing int

-link, trying to put distance between hers

e cracked in hal

yes did the same thing, gold catching the

es, all wrong, a

erstood the note for the first time, and under

one reached

dropped be

oftop line she hadn't even thought to check, hitting the pavement

s hand never mad

, like something had shoved hi

chest heaving, staring at the shape now s

ne who'd just dropped fifteen feet onto concrete

look at th

oked

sn't calm, wasn't controlled, wasn't anything like

on. Like something in hi

men, and his voice came out lo

ve.

for exactly

retreated, ran, like something in that one

that exact moment to

ore she hit the ground, one

t pain, not quite pleasure, something with no name she'd ever learned, hot and

th caugh

ng down at her like she'd just ruined h

n't fi

y, whatever he'd been about to say gone, repl

n't alone,

e alley mouth, out past the diner lot, more headlights were s

y behind them, from the directio

ho

er arm, no longer steadying her - pull

aid. It wasn't real