Alternative Life Read online

  Peering-ithrough-ithe-ismoke,-iJames-isaw-ia-ilarge-ihumanoid-ishape-ilooming-iin-ithe-idistance,-istanding-iover-isomething-ion-ithe-iground.-iAs-ithe-iwind-ishifted,-ihe-icould-ibegin-ito-imake-iout-idetails,-iand-ihis-iblood-iran-icold.

  The-ignoll-ishaman-iwas-istanding-iover-iEllie,-ithe-iground-iunderneath-iand-iaround-iher-itorn-iapart-iand-iscorched-iblack-iby-ifire.-iThe-icharred-iremains-iof-iher-istaff-iwere-ivisible-ia-ishort-idistance-iaway,-istill-ismoking,-iand-ithe-iground-iaround-ithem-iboth-iexuded-ia-ihaze-iof-isteam-iand-iheat-ithat-icaused-ithe-iair-ibetween-iJames-iand-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-ito-iwave-iand-iripple.

  Ellie's-irobes-iwere-iburned.-iShe-iwasn't-imoving.

  "ELLIE!"-iJames-icalled-iout-ito-iher-iinstinctively,-ibefore-iimmediately-istopping-ishort-iand-icoming-ito-ihis-isenses.

  The-ignoll's-ihead-ijerked-iaround-itowards-ithis-inew-iarrival,-iand,-iseeing-iJames,-iturned-iand-ispun-ihis-istaff-iaround.-iThe-iroots-iat-ithe-itip-isuddenly-iflashed-iblue,-iand-ian-iarc-iof-ilightning-ijumped-ifrom-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-ishaman's-istaff,-isearing-iand-icrackling-istraight-iat-iJames's-ihead.

  James-idove-ito-ithe-iside-iat-ithe-ilast-ipossible-imoment-ias-ithe-iray-iof-ielectricity-icrackled-ipast,-iits-iouter-iedges-ijumping-iand-ileaving-ipainful-iscorch-imarks-iacross-iJames's-iback-iand-ilegs.-iJames's-ihead-iflooded-iwith-ispell-iwords-ias-ihe-ifrantically-itried-ito-idrag-iup-isomething-ito-ithrow-iback.-iAs-iif-ion-iauto-pilot,-ihe-ileapt-ito-ihis-ifeet,-ithrew-ihis-ihand-iout,-iand-ishouted-ithe-iwords-ito-iconjure-ia-ilightning-ibolt-iof-ihis-iown,-iusing-ihis-ianger-iand-idisgust-ito-idrive-ievery-ibit-iof-ihis-ivital-ienergy-iinto-ithe-iblast.

  A-ijet-iof-iblue-white-ienergy-icrackled-iand-isurged-itowards-ithe-ihulking-ifurred-ishape-iof-ithe-ishaman,-ithrowing-isparks-iand-itendrils-iof-ienergy-ithat-iarced-ioff-ithe-istones-ibeneath.-iThe-ignoll-iroared-isomething-iin-ia-iprimal-itone,-iand-ibefore-ithe-ibolt-icould-istrike-ihim,-ia-islab-iof-iearth-ierupted-ifrom-ibeneath-ithe-ipaving-istones-iof-ithe-isquare-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-icausing-ithe-ielectricity-ito-iarc-iharmlessly-iinto-iin,-ileaving-ibehind-ia-ismoking-ident-imade-iof-iglass.

  James-iswore-ito-ihimself,-iand-ihis-ifear-iand-ianger-ioverriding-ihis-itypical-isense-iof-iself-preservation,-iran-itoward-ithe-iwall-iof-iearth.-iHe-ihad-ito-ihelp-iher.-iTo-isave-iher.-iThat's-iwhat-iheros-ido...-iright?

  Reaching-ithe-iwall,-iJames-ileapt-iaround-iit,-iswinging-ihis-iaxe-iaround-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-ihoping-ito-istrike-ithe-icreature-iwhile-iit-istill-istood-ibehind-ithe-iwall.-iHis-iswing-ifollowed-ithrough-ias-ihe-istepped-iaround,-ibut-ihit-inothing-ibut-iair-iuntil-iit-icollided-iwith-ithe-ibackside-iof-ithe-iearthen-iwall.

  James-iimmediately-idrew-ithe-iaxe-iback-iinto-ia-idefensive-istance,-ibut-ito-ihis-iconfusion-iand-isurprise,-ithe-ignoll-iwasn't-ibehind-ithe-iwall.-iJames-iglanced-iaround,-iand-ihis-iconfusion-iincreased.-iThe-icreature-iwasn't-ianywhere-ito-ibe-iseen.-iHad-ihe-iturned-iinvisible-ior-isomething?-iWas-ithat-ieven-ia-ithing-ia-ishaman-icould-ido?

  As-ihe-ibegan-ito-icontemplate-iwhat-ihad-ihappened,-iand-ifocused-iaround-ifor-isome-iclue,-ihe-ilooked-ioff-ito-ihis-iright,-iin-ithe-ibroken-iarea-iwhere-iEllie-ihad-ibeen-ilaying-iwhen-iJames-ihad-ifirst-iseen-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem.-i

  To-iJames's-iabsolute-ihorror,-ithe-ispot-iwhere-ishe-ihad-ibeen-ilaying-inow-ilay-iempty,-isave-ithe-ibroken-iend-iof-iher-istaff.

  Ellie-iwas-igone.

  ###-iChapter-i41-i--iGone-i(part-i2)

  "ELLIE!"-iJames-icalled-iout,-ihis-ieyes-idarting-iaround-ifor-iany-isign-iof-ihis-imissing-ifriend,-ior-ithe-ignoll-ishaman,-ibut-ias-iif-ithey-ihad-isimply-ivanished-iinto-ithin-iair,-ithere-iwas-ino-isign-iof-ieither-iof-ithem-ianywhere.-i"ELLIIIIEE!"

  James-ilooked-ihigh-iand-ilow,-irunning-iback-iand-iforth-iacross-ithe-iarea-iwhere-ihe'd-ijust-iseen-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem,-ibegging-ifor-ia-isight-iof-ione-iof-ithem,-ior-isome-iclue,-ianything.-iBut-iafter-ia-iminute-ior-itwo-iof-idesperate-isearching,-ihe-ifound-ihimself-iin-ithe-isame-iplace-ihe'd-ijust-ibeen.-iEllie-iwas-igone,-iprobably-itaken-iby-ithe-ignoll.-i

  James-icursed-iand-iswore,-ishouting-iobscenities-ihelplessly-iinto-ithe-iair-ifor-iseveral-iseconds-iuntil-ihe-ibegan-ito-iregain-isome-isemblance-iof-imental-icomposure.-iHe'd-itaken-itoo-ilong.-iAnd-ihe-ishould-ihave-inever-ilet-iEllie-itake-ion-ithe-ishaman-ialone.-iHe'd-ilet-iit-ihappen,-iand-inow-ishe'd-iprobably-ibeen-itaken,-iassuming-ishe-iwasn't-ialready-idead-ibefore-ishe-idisappeared.

  He-ifelt-itears-irushing-ito-ihis-ieyes,-ihis-iface-iflush-iwith-ianger-iand-idefeat.-iNot-iknowing-iwhat-ito-ido,-ihe-idropped-ito-ithe-iground,-isitting-ihelplessly-ion-ithe-idirty-icobblestone.

  He'd-iwanted-ito-ibe-ia-ihero.-iTo-ibe-istrong-iand-ipowerful,-iand-ito-idefeat-ithe-ibad-iguys-iand-iget-ithe-igirls.-iAnd-iyet,-ihere-ihe-iwas,-isitting-ion-ihis-ibehind-ilike-ia-iblubbering-iidiot,-ihaving-ijust-ifailed-ispectacularly-iin-ihis-ifirst-iattempt-iat-ibeing-iheroic-iby-ilosing-ithe-ifirst-igirl-iwho'd-iever-ishown-ihim-iany-iaffection-ito-ia-igiant-ihyena-man-iwith-imagical-ipowers.-iHe-iwas-ipathetic.-iHe-ididn't-ideserve-ito-ibe-ihere.

  ["You-iseem-idown,-ikid."]-iFrumpkin's-ivoice-ispoke-iin-ihis-ihead,-isounding-icalmer-iand-imore-iserious-ithan-iJames-iwas-iused-ito.

  "Ellie's-ibeen-itaken!-iAnd-iit's-iall-imy-ifault..."-iJames-isaid.-i"I-idon't-iknow-iwhat-ito-ido...."

  ["It-isounds-ito-ime-ilike-iyou-ineed-ito-igo-iand-irescue-iher,-ithen."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.-iTo-iJames's-isurprise,-ithere-iwas-ino-iirony-ior-isarcasm-iin-ihis-itone.

  "But-iI-ihave-ino-iidea-iwhere-ishe-iis!-iOr-ihow-ito-ifind-iher!-iAnd-ithat's-iassuming-ishe-iwasn't-ialready-idead-iby-ithe-itime-iI-igot-ito-iher!"-iJames-isaid,-imentally-ishouting-iat-ithe-ivoice-iin-ihis-ihead.

  Then,-isuddenly,-iwithout-iwarning,-ian-iidea-iappeared-iinside-iJames's-ihead,-iand-iit-ifilled-ihim-iwith-ia-isudden,-itiny-iburst-iof-ihope.

  "Wait!-iI-ijust-idid-isomething-iheroic!-iI-iget-ia-ireward,-iright?-iThen-iI-ichoose-iher!-iI-iwant-iher-iteleported-iback-ihere!-iThat's-iwhat-iI-iwish-ifor!-iThat's-iall-iI-iwant!-iYou-ican-ido-ithat,-iright?"-iJames-isaid,-ihis-ivoice-ibecoming-imore-iand-imore-ipleading-ias-ihe-icontinued.

  Frumpkin's-ivoice-isighed.-iHe-isounded-ialmost-ia-ilittle-isad.-i["Look-ikid,-iI-ican't-ihelp-iyou-iin-ithat-iway,-ieven-iif-iI-iwanted-ito.-iThat's-inot-ireally-ihow-ithis-iworks."]

  "But-iwhy!?-iYou're-iGOD!-iYou-ican-ido-ianything-iyou-iwant!"-iJames-isaid,-ifeeling-ihis-ianger-iand-iguilt-ibubble-iover.

  ["Well,-iyes,-iI-iam.-iBut-iI-ihave-imy-iown-irules-iI-ihave-ito-iadhere-ito.-iFor-iexample,-iwhile-iI-ican-igive-isomeone-ianything,-iI-icannot-itake-iwhat-ithey-iwant-ifrom-isomeone-ielse.-iWhich-iis-iwhy-iI-icannot-igive-iyou-iwhat-iyou-iwant.-iShe-iis-ihis,-icurrently.-iAnd-iI-icannot-itake-iher-ifrom-ihim."]-iFrumpkin-iexplained.

  "But-ithat-imakes-ino-isense!-iYou're-igod!-iCan't-iyou-ijust-ichange-ithe-irules?"-iJames-iasked.

  ["Fraid-inot,-ikid.-iI'm-ionly-igod-iof-ithis-iparticular-iworld-iand-ia-icouple-iothers,-iand-iI-ionly-ihave-imy-iposition-ibecause-ithe-iGod-iof-iGods-imade-ime-iand-igave-ime-ithe-ijob.-iPart-iof-ithe-ijob-iis-iadhering-ito-icertain-irules,-iand-inot-itaking-ianything-ifrom-ithe-iworld's-ioccupants-iis-ione-iof-ithose-irules.-iIf-iI-ibreak-ithe-irules,-iI-ihave-ito-iexplain-ito-ithe-iBigger-iGuy-iupstairs-iwhy-ihe-ishouldn't-iwipe-ime-iout-iof-iexistence-iand-ireplace-ime-iwith-isomeone-iwho-idoesn't-ihave-ian-iissue-idoing-ias-ihe's-itold.-iMake-isense?"]-iFrumpkin-isaid.

  ###-iChapter-i42-i--iGone-i(part-i3)

  James-islumped-iback-idown-ionto-ithe-iground,-iburying-ihis-iface-iinto-ihis-ihands.-i

  "You're-iuseless,"-ihe-isaid.

  Frumpkin-isnorted.-i["It-ireally-iis-iall-ior-inothing-iwith-iyou,-iisn't-iit?"]

  He-iexhaled-ia-iloud-isigh-iof-iexasperation.-i

  ["Alright-ikid,-iso-iyou're-iright.-iYou-idid-ido-isomething-iheroic.-iYou-idefeated-ia-igroup-iof-iGnolls-iwith-iyour-icompanions-iand-idrove-ioff-ia-ipowerful-ishaman.-iThat's-iworth-irewarding,-ifor-ia-inewbie-ilike-iyou.-iSo,-iwhat-ido-iyou-iwant-ias-iyour-iquest-ireward?-iA-imagic-iitem,-ia-ifamiliar,-ior-ithe-irelative-iwhereabouts-iof-ia-iparticular-ifriend-iyou-imight-iha
ppen-ito-isuddenly-ibe-imissing?"]

  "I-idon't-iwant-isome-istupid-iitem-ior-ipet-ior-iwhatever!-iI-iwant-imy-ifriend-iba--i...wait,-ican-iyou-irepeat-ithat-ilast-ioption?"-iJames-isaid,-istopping-ishort.

  ["I-isaid-iif-iyou-iwant-ito-iknow-iEleanor's-ilocation-ias-iyour-ireward-ifor-icompleting-ithis-iquest,-ithat-iis-isomething-iI-ican-ido.-iNow,-ikeep-iin-imind-ithis-iis-ithe-ilocation-iof-iher-iphysical-iform-iI-iam-igiving-iyou.-iI-ihave-ino-iidea-iwhat's-iaround-iher,-ior-ieven-iif-ishe'll-istill-ibe-ialive-iwhen-iyou-iget-ito-iher,-ibut-iI-idon't-ineed-ipermission-ito-ishare-iinformation-ishe-iisn't-itrying-ito-ihide."]

  "That!-iI-iwant-ithat!-iGive-iit-ito-ime!"-iJames-isaid,-ia-isudden-irush-iof-ihope-iand-iadrenaline-isurging-iup-iinside-ihim.

  ["Done."]

  Suddenly,-iJames's-ihead-iand-ivision-iexploded-iwith-iimagery.-iSights,-isounds,-ismells...-iIt-iall-iroared-iinto-ihis-ibrain-ilike-ia-iflood.-iHe-icould-isee-ihimself-itraveling-iover-ithe-iground-iat-ihigh-ispeed,-iweaving-iback-iand-iforth-ibetween-itrees,-iflying-iover-ia-iriver,-iand-ithen-ianother,-ibefore-ibanking-isharply-iand-idiving-iinto-ia-inarrow-iravine-ibetween-itwo-icliffs.-iHe-irushed-iand-iweaved-ithrough-ithe-inarrow-ichannel-iuntil-iit-iterminated-iin-ia-iwide-icave-ientrance-iadorned-iacross-ithe-isides-iand-itop-iwith-ivarious-iskulls,-iboth-ihumanoid-iand-ianimal.

  ["That-icave-iis-iwhere-ithe-ishaman-itook-ihere.-iYou-iknow-iwhere-iit-iis,-iand-iroughly-ihow-ito-iget-ithere.-iNow,-idon't-isay-iI-idon't-iever-igive-iyou-iwhat-iyou-iwant."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.

  James's-imind-irushed-iback-ito-ihis-icurrent-ilocation,-iand-ihe-ibowed-iprostrate-ion-ithe-iground,-ihis-iforehead-ipressed-iagainst-ithe-idirty-istone.

  "Thank-iyou,-iFrumpkin!-iThank-iyou!"-iHe-isaid.

  -i["And-idon't-igo-ithinking-ithis-iis-ihow-ithings-iare-ialways-igoing-ito-ibe.-iAnother-irule-iis-ithat-iI-icannot-icontinually-ido-ifor-ione-iindividual-ior-igroup-iabove-iand-ibeyond-iany-iothers.-iOne-ior-itwo-ifavors-iis-ifine.-iA-iwhole-ibuncha-ifavors...-ithat's-ia-iproblem-iwe-ican't-ihave-idevelop.-iKapische?-iSo-ihere's-iyour-ione-ifreebie-ifor-ia-ilong-iwhile.-iAnd-iyou're-iwelcome."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.

  "I-idon't-iknow-iwhat-ito-isay.."-iJames-isaid,-isitting-iup-iand-ifeeling-ialmost-ifoolish.

  ["You've-isaid-iit.-iNow,-imay-iI-isuggest-iyou-iget-igoing?-iYou're-ilooking-iat-iat-ileast-ithree-idays-itravel-iby-ifoot,-iand-iand-iI-ihate-ito-ibreak-iit-ito-iyou,-ibut-ignolls-iaren't-ireally-iknow-ifor-itheir-ihospitality."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.-i["Besides,-ithe-iother-itwo-iare-ihere-inow.-iI'll-ileave-iyou-ithree-itwo-iit."]

  Frumpkin's-iwords-iseemed-ito-ihave-ithe-ieffect-iof-isnapping-iJames-iback-ito-ireality,-iand-ihe-iworked-ihis-iway-iback-ito-ihis-ifeet,-iusing-ithe-ihandle-iof-ihis-iaxe-ilike-ia-icrutch.-iEllie-iwas-iout-ithere,-iand-ionly-ihe-icould-isave-iher.

  The-ithought-imade-ihim-inaseous,-iand-iabsolutely-iterrified.

  But,-istrangely,-iit-ialso-icaused-ia-ithrill-isomewhere-ideep-iinside-ihim.-iSome-ipart-iof-ihim-ihad-ialways-ilonged-ifor-iadversity-iand-ichallenges-ilike-ithis.-iSome-ipart-iof-ihim-iwas-ifinally-igetting-iwhat-iit-ihad-ialways-iwanted,-ieven-iif-ithe-ithing-iit-iwanted-ialmost-icertainly-iguaranteed-ipain,-isuffering,-iloss,-iand-ia-ilikely-ihorrendous-ideath-ito-isomething-iunspeakable.

  It-iwas-ihonestly-ipretty-inice.

  ###-iChapter-i43-i--iMaking-iPlans

  As-ihe-istood-ithere-ireflecting,-ifootsteps-idrew-icloser-ibehind-ihim,-iand-iJames-iturned-ito-isee-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-iapproaching,-iRose-iwith-iher-isword-iback-iin-ihand,-iMadeleine-icarrying-ia-ilarge-isack-iof-isomething-iover-iher-ishoulder.-iWhen-ithey-idrew-iclose,-iMaddy-idropped-ithe-isack-iwith-ia-ithump,-iand-iRose-iflipped-iher-isword-iaround-iand-islid-iit-iinto-ithe-iscabbard-iwith-ia-ismall-ithunk.

  "Is-ithe-ishaman-idead?"-iRose-iasked,-ilooking-iwhere-iJames-istood.

  "No.-iBut-iI-idrove-ihim-ioff."-iJames-isaid,-iturning-itowards-ithe-itwo.-iWhile-ihe-iwasn't-idistraught-ianymore,-ihe-iwas-isure-ithat-ihis-iface-iwasn't-idoing-ia-ivery-igood-ijob-iof-ihiding-ithat-isomething-iwas-iwrong.

  "Well,-ithat's-igood,-iright?"-iRose-isaid,-iseeing-ihis-iface-iand-iputting-ion-ia-ismile.-iShe-iseemed-ito-ibe-imisattributing-ihis-inegative-iexpression-ito-ihim-ifailing-ito-ibeat-ithe-iboss.-i"You-ishould-ibe-iproud-iof-iyourself!

  Before-iJames-icould-irespond,-iMaddy-ilooked-iaround,-iand-ithen-ifixed-iJames-iwith-ia-istare.

  "Where's-iEllie?"-iShe-iasked.

  Rose-istopped,-iand-iglanced-iaround,-iher-iface-itaking-ion-ia-imore-iconfused-ilook.-i"Actually,-iyeah,-iwhere-iis-ishe?-iDid-ishe-irun-ioff-ior-isomething?"-iShe-iasked.

  "Well,-iI-uhh....-ishe's...."-iJames-istammered,-itrying-ito-ifind-isome-iway-ito-iexplain-iwhat-iwas-igoing-ion.-iAs-ihe-istruggled-ito-ifind-ithe-iwords,-iMaddy's-ieyes-ibored-iinto-ihim,-iand-iafter-ia-imoment,-iher-ieyes-igrew-iwide.

  "She's-igone."-iShe-isaid,-iher-iface-islowly-itaking-ion-ia-imore-iand-imore-ihorrified-iexpression.

  "Wait,-iWHAT?"-iRose-isaid,-ijerking-iaround-ito-iface-iher-ilittle-isister,-ibefore-iimmediately-iturning-iher-iattention-ito-iJames.-i"Where-iis-ishe?"

  James-isighed-iand-ihung-ihis-ihead.-iHe'd-ireally-ihoped-ito-ihave-isome-ismall-imoment-ito-iprepare-ibefore-iall-iof-ithis,-ibut-ihe-ishould-ihave-iknown-ibetter.-iHe-ilifted-ihis-ihead-iand-imade-ieye-icontact-iwith-iRose.

  "The-ishaman-itook-iher-iand-ivanished-iwhile-iI-iwas-ifighting-ihim.-iShe-iwas-ialready-ibeaten-iand-ihurt-iwhen-iI-igot-ihere,-iand-ihe-imanaged-ito-iuse-imagic-ito-iescape-iwhen-iI-itried-iget-ito-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem."-iJames-isaid,-itrying-ihis-ibest-ito-inot-islump-iback-idown-iin-idefeat.

  "Why-ididn't-iyou-istop-ihim?!"-iRose-isaid,-iher-iface-iflushing-iin-ifear-iand-ianger.-i"You're-ithe-ihero-iof-ilegend!-iYou're-ithe-istrongest-ifighter-iI've-iever-iseen!"

  James-ihung-ihis-ihead.-iIf-ihe-iwanted-ito-icrawl-iinto-ia-ihole-iand-idie-ibefore,-ithis-icertainly-iwasn't-ihelping.

  "I-ididn't-iknow-ihe-iwas-iplanning-ion-irunning-iwith-iher.-iHe-ithrew-ia-ibarrier-iup-ithat-ibroke-imy-ieyeline-iwith-ihim-ifor-ia-ifew-iseconds.-iThat's-iit.-iI-ihad-ino-iidea-ihe-iwas-iplanning-ion-irunning,-iand-ithere-iwas-ino-iway-iI-icould-ihave-idone-ianything-ieven-iif-iI-ihad-iknown."-iJames-isaid.-iAs-ihe-ispoke-iand-iexplained-ihimself,-ihe-ifelt-ia-ilittle-iof-ithe-iguilt-ilift.

  "Fuck!"-iRose-isaid,-iless-iat-ihim-iand-imore-ito-ithe-iair-iin-igeneral.-iShe-ilooked-iback-iat-ihim.-i"Do-iyou-ihave-iany-iidea-iwhere-ithey-iwent?"

  James-inodded.

  "They're-iin-ia-ihideout-icave-ia-icouple-idays-itravel-ifrom-ihere.-iI-ispent-ithe-ireward-iFrumpkin-ioffered-ime-ion-iknowing-iwhere-ithey-iwent.-iIt's-ia-icave-iin-ithe-iside-iof-isome-imountain,-iwith-iskulls-iaround-ithe-ientrance.-iAnd-iI-iknow-igenerally-ihow-ito-iget-ithere."-iHe-isaid.

  "Well,-ido-iyou-iwhere-ishe-iis-iinside?-iOr-ihow-imany-iwill-ibe-iguarding-iit?-iOr-iwhich-imountain-iit's-iin?"-iRose-iasked.

  James-ishook-ihis-ihead,-ihis-iface-ishowing-ihis-ifrustration-iand-idisappointment.

  "I-idon't.-iI'm-isorry.-iKnowing-iwhere-ishe-iis-ibeing-ikept-iand-ihow-ito-iget-ithere-iis-ithe-ibest-iI-icould-iget.-iFrumpkin-ieven-isaid-ithat-ihe-icouldn't-itell-ime-imore,-ieven-iif-ihe-iwanted-ito,-ibecause-iof-isome-iset-iof-irules-ior-isomething."-iHe-isaid.-i

  ###-iChapter-i44-i--iMaking-iPlans-i(part-i2)

  Rose-istood-ithere-ifor-ia-imoment,-ilooking-iat-ihim-iwithout-isaying-ianything,-ibefore-iturning-iaway,-iher-iface-iboth-iserious-iand-iworried.

  "Did-iFrumpkin-isay-ishe-iwas-iokay,-iat-ileast?"-iShe-iasked,-ifinally.

  "He-isaid-ishe-iwas-ialive.-iFor-inow,-ianyways."-iJames-isaid.

  "Then-iwe-ineed-ito-iget-igoing.-iWe-ihave-ito-iget-ito-iher-ibefore-isomething-iterrible-ihappens-ito-iher."-iRose-isaid,-iher-iface-igaining-iback-isome-iof-iits-icharacteristic-iconfidence.-i"If-iwe-iset-iout-inow,-iwe-imight-"

  "It's-ilate-iat-inight."-iMadeleine-isaid-ibluntly,-icutting-iher-ioff.

  Rose-istopped-iand-ilooked-iat-iMaddy,-iwho-iwas-ilooking-iat-iher-iwith-iher-icharacteristic-inon-expressive-istare.-i"But-iif-iwe-ileave-inow,-iwe-imight--i"

  "James-isaid-iEl
lie's-ia-icouple-idays-iaway.-iAnd-iI'm-itired."-iMaddie-isaid.-i"I-iwant-ito-isave-iEllie-ias-imuch-ias-iyou-ido,-ibut-iwe-ican't-ido-ithat-inow.-iWe-ineed-isleep.-iAnd-ifood."

  "But-"-iRose-istarted,-ibut-iafter-ia-imoment,-ishe-idropped-iher-ieyes-iand-isighed-iin-ifrustration.-i"Alright,-ifine.-iWe-ican-ifind-ia-iplace-ito-irest-iup,-iand-istart-iagain-iat-ifirst-ilight."-iShe-isaid.-i

  She-igestured-ito-ithe-iarea-iaround-ithem.-iSeveral-iof-ithe-ibuildings-iwere-istill-iburning,-iand-ia-ithin-ihaze-iof-ismoke-istill-idrifted-iabout-iin-ithe-iopen-ispace.-iThe-irest-iof-ithe-icentral-isquare,-iwhere-ithe-ivillage's-ipublic-ihousing-ioptions-iwould-iprobably-ihave-ibeen-ilocated,-iwas-ialmost-icompletely-idestroyed.

  "Any-iideas-ion-iwhere-iyou-itwo-iwant-ito-ibed-idown?"-iShe-iasked.

  James-ilooked-iaround-ithe-ispace.-iThe-ichoices-iin-ithe-iimmediate-ivicinity-ididn't-iseem-ito-icontain-ia-iwhole-ilot-iof-ipromise.-iThe-ionly-ipossible-ioption-ithat-ihe-icould-isee-iwas-ia-ismall-iwooden-ibuilding-itowards-ithe-ifar-icorner-iof-ithe-isquare,-iwhich-iseemed-ito-ihave-iavoided-ithe-irampaging-ifires.-iThough,-ieven-iat-ithis-idistance,-iit-ilooked-iramshackle-iand-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-isketchy.

  After-ia-ifew-imore-imoments,-iJames-ipointed-iover-itowards-ithe-ibuilding.-i"We-icould-itry-iover-ithere."

  Maddy-iand-iRose-ilooked-iover-iin-ithe-idirection-ithat-iJames-iwas-ipointing.-iRose-isquinted-iat-iit,-ibut-iMaddy-ijust-ilooked-iup-iat-iJames-iand-isaid-i"No."

  James-ilooked-iat-iher,-iconfused.-i"Why?-iWhat's-iwrong-iwith-iit?"

  "I'm-inot-isleeping-iin-ia-ibrothel-iwith-iyou."-iShe-isaid.

  "A-ibrothel?-iHow-ithe-ihell-ido-iyou-iknow-iit's-ia-ibrothel-ifrom-iall-ithe-iway-iover-ihere?"-iJames-iasked.

  Rose-iturned-ito-ihim.-i"No,-iMaddy's-iright.-iIt-iis."

  She-ipointed-ito-ithe-ibuilding.-i"Do-iyou-isee-ithe-ipainted-ired-icircle-iabove-ithe-idoor?"