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The woman came out coughing. She was older, her dark hair stuck to her head. Her eyes were wide and freaked out.

“Marina?” I asked. “You’re safe now.”

She held up a hand, clearly focused on not falling apart. “I’m… all right.”

The others arrived to help pull her out.

I scanned around for North, my worry growing.

“North?” I yelled.

“There was another guard with us,” Kitt said. “Gus.”

I sucked in a breath. “Kitt, I’m sorry, he didn’t make it.”

She pressed a hand to her mouth. “No.”

“I’m sorry. We were there with him at the end. He wasn’t alone.”

Then I spotted something in the darkness, on the ground. It was white with blue on it.

Frowning, I walked over. Then I saw what it was.

My pulse went crazy. “Jameson!”

I snatched up the small robot. “North had this. Hudson gave it to him.” I spun. “North!”

We all started shouting.

“North!”

I turned and that’s when I saw the carbine on the ground. Just beyond it, was a cocoon on the far wall. It was large and still wet. Freshly made.

I saw it move weakly.

My heart lodged in my throat. “North!” I ran.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

North

Igasped for air.

It was hard to breathe.

Fuck. My face was covered entirely by the sticky substance. I couldn’t see a thing. Every breath was hard work.

I dragged in another one, my lungs burning.

Wooziness made my limbs heavy. It couldn’t be lack of oxygen affecting me yet. Maybe it was the damn sedative Jess’ tests had detected.

Soon, I’d pass out. Jess’ face filled my mind. So beautiful, tough, strong.

In such a short time, she’d made me feel so much. I felt like she’d woken me up. I hadn’t realized how much I’d held myself back. I hadn’t wanted to risk falling in love with someone, in case I lost them. I knew up close and personal how dangerous life could be.

Then I thought of my parents. The love they shared. All our big extended family of friends.

So much love and hope.