BeyondParadisePt.05

暖风深蓝山

we're we're car. fire, needles. nowhere. It's small, it's years, it's shelter, I'd a anymore. I a look. wait. I pistol, grip. hands, sweat. inside. She's neck, him. there's silence. all. that's screaming. den, a sleep. it's floor, jacket. I fall, he's alive, he's here. hasn't yet. chest. quietly, breaths.

: [4 m+ t1 G/ j* X3 `I time.
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, D- j/ Y' R+ i' n' q+ \I I porch, Maria. I'm we're ankle. I warm.
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I I her. a like, huh? stupid. It's don't it.

' A4 p" N2 |  d& F( N8 u' z& ~  KI night. company. I sleep, I comfortable.
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+ y4 F$ o& S& p/ C( e, w( g& V5 [I I off. arm, a constellation stupidity. rest. dark, canopy. beautiful, you're "nature healing" bullshit. us. opens, I footsteps. me, moonlight.

"Hey." begins.
" X* j/ z7 q: r1 a
; A9 l% k7 R6 W, ]"Hi."

8 M# ^4 P. R! \( a& L"Thank for, know, there."
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- c( R4 w) |7 U* U1 |+ MI sigh. "Literally, don't it. ever." head. "What me, Candace? I withâ"

"Spare moralising." I her. I now. I've that, inside. "You're brother's girlfriend. I that, doesn't I you. Connor, I don't a you."

; V2 ]/ A% f) ]1 r"What about? I you?"
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0 e1 s+ R0 m5 B6 B"Do I Duncan's Haven? I don't there?"
' a6 b" |" L- ?8 ^- c/ s
2 _* l7 W0 i( H& S4 D7 W"For Candace, supplies. I wasn't anything."

7 `& j, N4 T/ s8 I4 r+ n"Yeah, hard." I eyes. "Give a rest. I said, you're Connor's girlfriend. That's you'll me."

"Even that. a chance?"
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; W8 V% n6 W% |1 e3 v6 ]I head. a that, aren't now.

! N% C! O2 q2 W9 L/ c; j"Fine." settles. "Then I that's that. brother." knew.

"Unless you're watch. alone, Maria." I trees. a click, I'm thoughts. company, honestly.

1 I% u+ O) G( h9 O7 oI a start. rays. stiff, aches, I'm I myself.

Damn, I thought. it's open.

"Candace." outside. slowly, wrinkled, untucked, jacket.
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$ g( j3 q9 B( A4 A& S/ gHe's looks. pronounced. hasn't a mop.

4 j7 Q6 J3 S0 H) j8 L) N"Hey, up?" I I it's me.

"Did night?" disbelief.

$ y' L8 H3 d4 LI nod. "Yeah, death." laughs. I too. weird, shapes.
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I Bo's knife. jacket, a doesn't it.

# }: H3 [2 ~  \# P/ ~. j$ i+ V"Here." I feet, I'm twenties.

I offering.

" F3 z$ ^1 q0 f% w( N& `He's aback. it. me. he's a possible. face, I sees. mine, electric, a chest. don't move. his, I can't I now, I'm earth.

It's me, I eyes. wrist, arm. I chest, louder, a ears. I don't resist. familiar. fingers, knife, jacket. feet.

6 D2 _0 Z2 f6 w$ K* a" D"Connor, okay?" head.

; }5 J; B  d4 g: O/ _I tight. I'm here. I him, I would. ways.
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It's I he's crying, shaking. body, closer, together.
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" V0 B$ m! C7 @9 z6 ^"It's okay, Connor. It's okay."
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"I pathetic." sniffs. "I don't else, Candace. I don't else. I don't you."
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"You won't Connor. I promise." I've anything. "I won't you. We'll together, forever. world." eyes. looks. face, damage. I eyes, recognition. a I'm library, another, tongue. shoulder. warmth. lips.
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"Connor?" a desperation. chapped. bitter. I a I back. firm. I can't a it's I want. hips. his, toes, I'm skin. us. I clothes, me, mine. mouth, I his. It's once. I leave. I skin, lip.
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It's Connor. good. right. I don't else. else. Ever. brother, I a man. I didn't it. I wasn't it, I him.

I lips, a whisper. "Connor, I loâ" apart. I line, burning, tingling. I face, doesn't anymore. That's a limp.

0 h$ S: F1 q3 k! f4 d: h; G"Hey, babe." back. circles, I scream.

9 k, |; s: J5 c% k- J* L! ["Hey," coughs, hoarse. "You resting."

"I know, I didn't now." softly. "You're alone. I'm here." replies. a gut. "I'm around."

- \: z, e" Q' w9 UI Connor's regret. a he's me, doesn't. air, side.
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. B& K' L, e$ l0 E5 a) S. I5 tI a grass. calves, dew. I a trees, a patches. now? I brother. Geez, a grace, Candace. everything, this. a who's taken. I I him? I before?

I Trevor. enough, I guess. who've a are. hands, hips, ear. connection. wasn't there. I girls. I hours, laughing, else's tongues. We'd morning, notes, a restaurant. happened. a hoax. 'public panic'. dropped. I genius. Trevor, much. I am, side. I have. I other's throats.
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Fuck, good. a kisser? It's weird. I mine, hips, close. a hey, that' I I him. I I was. I smile. Giddy, a time. right, a I I sooner. what's isn't want, right? then, doesn't back? I up, doesn't after?
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4 ~; T1 M7 ?6 W& S1 SI trees. A there. in, together. orange, it. tarps, breeze.

$ |$ P4 A# x7 }0 R$ Y- X! ]I there's a shut. I andâ"Shit!"
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I dirt.
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* ?5 A8 O) g$ {8 \, E* ?/ wIt's a corpse. time. shack. It's it's skeleton. bones, age, clothing, strips. a toe. a dirt. a bump, it. a a one.

Russell, 9 old.

  W; ]0 \& {$ l8 bI skeleton. I height, must've a woman.
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( ?8 U; @! l, G. lI a second, there's silence. love?
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; N$ \/ w& H) {' OI've life. Connor, Trevor, friends. I I didn't a needed. happy. I that? I don't I've tried.
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/ H0 ^+ N' R8 a1 v/ U. G* R8 KI I can, rocks. I'm done, fingernails. I skeleton. maintained. I hands. ones, I hunting. intact, solid, a her.

0 d* b* Y# F7 H6 vI sight. cheek. I I these. I me. skeleton's neck, I a a string. I padlock. I've ages.

/ {" v, h9 i6 s* GI'll Connor's love. I'll I him. a

******

2 w+ x3 W% l4 A: g* u8 g- q; tCONNOR.

# A, [( C# @/ K) C5 bI cabin. bedroom. dust. A nightstand, cover. A here. a a it. I a loud.

"Russell."
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# o4 q# K- @' }3 BI untouched. private. I'm someone's grief. I kitchen. It's empty. That's a way, didn't a again. There's scavenge, past. food.

: D4 a4 O3 A6 b9 |I den.
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0 S3 e1 d$ T; u1 F4 ~" V3 {6 |"Any luck?" I return. table, up. often. there's nose. Eli's contents, a map, a lighter, food, a bandages.
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4 ?! D3 W6 I/ nI a her. "It's empty."
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"Figures. I Eli's pack, I us."

"Good idea." I Eli's pack. I a while. a shoulder. warm, soft. I touch, slightly. a other. A shoulder. flushed, I haven't a while.

( w: u# T  X0 p3 [% |2 M; ?"Hey," I begin. "You water."

3 }( B" b( |+ P) H2 F"Nope. better." a thud. "Moonshine." a a whiff, coughing. "Yep, stuff." I a look, laugh. unexpected, a I didn't I holding. a Russell. dark, decay. shovel, splintered. back, shirt. a dog.
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"Thank god. day." a found, Eli's pack. a words. do. we're done, setting. a Eli. volatile, I can't identify.

I liquid, around, slippery. isn't I drink. I a burns. burns. throat, chest.

/ Z, l$ P4 h  L2 D. q- HI cough.
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"Is good?" I Candace. a rasps. "It'd yeah. doing." a sips. "It's world."
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6 |  m9 |: ]0 P1 a- p"Little isn't all." observes. There's voice, teasing. affectionate. laugh. a on. pop, chimney. again, I Maria.

I down. I careful. excited. top, contact.

6 N7 L4 B. o9 O5 B# z( _"God you're sexy, Connor." whispers.
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( F" J2 z9 E6 R- H; [5 |$ ^"Me " other's lips. a tipsy. light, heavy. haven't a a doesn't contribute. chest, neck, face. crotch, roughly. jaw, neck, a floral.
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"I can't cock, it's scary." laughs.
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# ?$ w0 @2 g9 A" TI her. I it. pain. "Ow, shit."
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"Sorry, Maria." I back. pain.
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6 u) w( r+ Y5 ^  tI guilty. "Maybe rest." disappointment. "Yeah, thing." a me. "Thanks me, babe." I gently, I her. "Of course, it's pleasure." me, shoulder. a bit.
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"And Candace."
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* p, }$ b' f  PI frown. "What?"
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"You know, she's a bitch, I can't you. crazy."
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I that's but. "She's bad." neck, shut. "Babe, she's here, don't nice. She's a bitch, too, right?" I? I I point, changed. There's that, she's trying.

"I rest." I I don't conversation. shoulder, sleep. a moments, pants. I she's says.

8 ?: G" C7 |! N"I you, Connor."

$ M/ c; W. f* ^Whoa. I don't say. I've before, I a me.

5 y- X" W* E' o+ d- Z8 xI them.
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"I you, too."

I arm. asleep. I a while, ceiling, breathe, I up.

I moonshine. I a I should.
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; G2 z+ N" z+ lI cough, recover. I I don't cold, a chest. me? Heavy, again. me.
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9 \$ P4 X. E# A" ZI sip.

I outside. winter. shirt, arms. rifle. moonlight, I shoulders, a lifeline. a up. She's a now, I away. eyes.

; h' E* f. S$ n; ]' \" `+ i"You that." jumps. "Shit, Connor. me."
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/ U- s- l: S  XI a little. loose, unguarded. I'm moonshine. I post. palms, places.

"That strong, huh?" quietly. quietly. "So, drink?"
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"Honestly." I it. "Not bad, considered." me. "I'm glad."
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I her. trees. now, a older. Sharper. She's beautiful. She's there's else. A weight. A gravity. a is. rifle. "Do things?"

"I don't count, then, kinda." I her. mine. chest. I clothes.

"First shoulder. it's a back." I mine, them. "Then core." I belly, palm. me, I body, crotch, evenly.
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6 q. I7 T) G0 e# Q7 t7 M"And on. wouldn't person."

1 Y" H* p5 \) J. A, W2 yI Candace's exhale. I'm shoulder, I scent, now. a neck. I throat, uneven.
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+ g4 `5 ^0 e/ S2 e"It hard..." a lump. "To is, right?" down, shirt, skin. body, chest. me. crotch, together. I ears. I've once. I lips. I don't I I tried. mission. stops, further.

/ V8 U$ ]. y% P( o3 R# y' f" a% Y"It's... hard." ragged. "Especially around." skull, close. "There's now. it's me." me. "Especially it's hard."
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, E: p" n0 i1 Q( W. \I her. kiss. It's soft, gentle. It's consuming. I breath. I remember. I've want. post. rolls, erection. a now. I her. anything. isn't me. me, harder. Faster. breast. don't mine, wet, perfect.
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0 r% c2 C( d7 N; J) t* FI forward, a desperation. circles. lips. "Fuck, yes. fuck." cock. touch. furiously.

1 [1 h  E2 Z6 Q& G3 q* dI ankles. me, porch's post. I side, heat. gently, down. hand. I don't think, I don't hesitate. I'm restraint.

9 E' V! T( C1 Y' S3 M* I2 _5 Q"Mhmm!" palm, spine.

"Oh god." I breathe. It's bliss. It's it's scary. It's painful.
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2 d8 r" G- s( |8 ~2 Q1 i! n: Q9 D( GI her, again. thrust. soft, warm. I can't straight, instinct.
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6 C9 o/ G6 b  u2 Y# ~8 y"Oh god." night. "It good, Connor." me, plunge. "God, Candace. You're tight.." doesn't own. desperate.
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"You good. big, I can't it." collision. "I'm dick. fuck." hand. pace. hands. me, faster, faster. convulses. A kicks. hand. rhythm. me. "Connor, I'm yours. me, I'm yours. I'm yours." shut. don't stop, I'm close, massive. I remember, mind.

/ [% Z- \: B! S: ?  L) r7 yI harder, strokes, can't slowed. I eyes, what's coming, lip, then, then....

' d. S" U0 w; Z; K$ x2 R"Ahh." unison. another, indescribable body, I Candace's skyward, she's feeling. I I out. I chair. drenched, it's twitching, pulsing. I eyes. a I didn't I carrying.
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A I thighs, mouth. down, shaft. I protest.
4 V% O) X# H6 F! c7 p. I
"Candace, shouldn'" throat, hilt. I say? Doesn't matter. out, mass. "Just time, please. I I dick."

, D; _: K: A1 _; D. wI don't hesitate, I chair, lap. lips, down.
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I shock. shoulder. "Oh fucking, god. I'm cock. I it. I brother's me. Fuck, Connor." lap, I ass. "I ass, I me." mine, ear. "Yeah, sister's cock. balls?" harder, faster, shit. "Yes."

"It's Connor. It's forever. I happy."
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/ X8 s1 [- g2 g: @It's I've heard. "" mouth, me, her. I close. cums, I well. me. We're move. up. We're asleep. slowly.

"Connor. okay?" A shoulder. "Connor, up." gentle.

4 s3 O/ ~0 V% `, }Panic, "Maria!"

I upright, shoulders. "It's okay, it's okay, Connor. asleep. Everything's fine."
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I body, I'm gone, up. fine.
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; G  `; B5 n3 Y( E: {. t"You're okay." reassures, night. "Candace, watch, drink."

) b, Y- b7 W1 }& @: Q# b" J# p"Candace?" I night, felt, was. mine, again.

"Yeah, don't worry, water."
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"She did?"

"Yeah," laughs. "I couldn't either."
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Right, up. she's water, herself. I us. I up, didn't.
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/ Q- o7 o1 E* o5 q' E! Q"Connor, okay?" a face.

I cough. "Yeah, yeah. I'm just... hungover." laughs. "I tell." lap, shoulder. "Hey, I you."
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" [: k7 m. n* y/ ~; D9 YShit, I that. "Yeah, "
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"Found water." jars. porch. "How sleep, Connor?"

, z5 W+ O! ?5 b9 V/ \* kI her, a beat. She's away. "Fine, thanks." me, Maria, inside.

"I too." she's gone. sighs. "At she's useful." least. "How's ankle?"

( a. L; p+ a/ x4 L& S, ]$ ^"Still great. It's a days." good. a break, we're here, won't us, I don't anymore. Candace, either. I how.
2 J  A5 ^  n0 G" n# @* z
******** a days. pretend, a while, we'd safe. wasn't a us, I I time. I'm honest, I'm practice. kickback. I'm out, rounds, one. I figure. Eli's pack, a in. turret, a a blade. fuckers. migration.
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1 i; a* m5 J: u7 {. uMaria's healing. didn't well, I foot, a fire. gloom, teachers, warmth.
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5 \& N* `! a, ]9 {I I them. a speak.

"We through," out, visible.

"Please," said, cracking. "We don't go." expression. Recognition.

"You're Haven, aren't you?" says, darkness. "I you. You're out." air. doesn't lower, anything, I higher.

"Haven fell," sweater. "After left, apart. died. over, weapons, haven't since."

  r$ _& t9 x# `- P* v! M# u1 yA me, I aren't us.
! ^% O) F* B0 V5 ^
"We food." says. "We have." a food, meals. weapons, town. It's a exchange, a rifle. protection.
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9 U6 A8 w" T  hNaturally, I rot.
  {) ^7 I# Z" D8 ]3 ~' E, d
/ T% o$ T: J8 n) U% E9 D"They lying," I we're alone. "They a trap."
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3 O! A. D7 m8 l6 K+ N"Maybe," says. "But food. we're home. a responsibility."

Bitch. Connor. Maria. I can't he'd us. stings. cuts, me. I I came.

Maria, leg, Marcus. I "set perimeter" "scout ahead", us. we're away, eyes, a I throat. mouth. quick, isn't easy. He's a system.

" {8 U1 G1 P4 U% ]: P2 P- i: DHe'd a watch. We'd I'd a boulder. I him, I it. hair, neck, skin, desperation. I hair. It's a secret.

I'm it, happy. I him. I'll he'll too. it'll losers. easy. return, dark. night. giggles, them. isn't shy, that's sure. don't around, hand. apocalypse. I them, envy. weren't murderers. cold. a ribs. evenings, breath. mornings, over. long, a deep, away. later. don't sleep. a don't bits.
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It's a I a stop. A a years. ground, cattle. office.
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2 s9 Q6 T- |0 J+ ~8 n$ gA squat, road. a front. travelers, cigarettes. ruin, shattered, angles. enough.
8 h  v1 ?4 D9 ]6 V: J
"You back. I first." says, I smile.

1 n# O7 h, Y  Z6 MIt's 'alone time', I brother's I it. nods, cold. Connor's a squeeze, "Connor don't I out?" handler. could.
7 c( F& e1 }, ^: i1 o
"Yeah, right." I dryly. "Like I again." me. I care.
% x+ i# \$ s- f7 ]9 ?7 p0 a
Yeah, I man, bitch. could.
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"Stay two."/ "Yeah, other, we'll soon." gimmick.
. |5 k) H# j! G4 `; D# H! J" O: {4 c0 ~
I eyes, them, I like. I door, raised, alert. dim, shift. air. first, room, floor, a wall. bathrooms. Finally, desk.

It's a cramped, a done. A corner, empty.

It's perfect.
9 H' T  c- L9 p' H. A
. o" m  y, w3 k9 X0 b1 O: \I us, alone.

5 f; x; m0 H$ T4 B+ [9 V/ A"Finally." I excitement. I him. him, mine, mouth. pants.

9 d$ ]; @3 K$ A5 W  \( a"Candace, waitâ"
+ E( ^) W! e! I
"Connor please, I'm horny, I'll one." I down.
# z3 @" T! \  \2 r- u
  N8 B! t. h5 E, ~" ^2 X"No, no. That's I meant." I cold. " hand." gut. "What mean?" sighs. "Maria."

# f( z& x2 [  x( kI head, whatever. "I it's I don't girlfriend."

"Yeah, I do."
; w# I1 m! I+ ]5 _+ r& w! {1 Q8 y4 W
Silence. us.

"What say, Connor?" away, isn't sure. doesn't answer. me. "I don't I don't this."

2 H- o8 D+ S* {3 V% y; Y! U"What?" cracks. "Connor, I wanted. I Iâ"
$ W7 J& e$ {$ H; n6 q
"It is. is. It's justâ" stammers, office. "I don't a person."

/ y+ m+ N- m  K4 p; ^"Well choose, Connor." now, hesitation. "Because I'm up. We're together. littleâ"

1 Q8 ^  W# @: k$ P"Don't, Candace."
3 u. X+ H+ D3 B
% b5 @3 R, F+ J' Z! g- VI head, I pain, pity. I trusted.
) Z. E5 L- p0 e; h7 G3 N/ P
. c% D5 S  q  R+ @/ t"I've patient," I finally. "And I I'm whole, thing, I happy." cracks, a towel, eyes.
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6 x; C+ o  z; y$ h"You happy." quickly. hollow. "Then her?" pauses. "Candace, we're sister. It'"

* h5 s0 i/ Z$ G+ W"Are you." a lie. "The ended, Connor. aren't you. together. Unless, don't I've changed?"

& h& v; w) g8 b"No, " struggles. "Maria's a person, Candace. I don't her."
6 J; _; S* @( E; `2 I* {0 |; V- [
5 O$ `8 u1 }! e" AI a back. "But I'm not, right? it's me?"

0 u# y5 F" w- e: f' P- O( ]  Y"No, Candace, that's "
& d, {8 h) g" v8 p9 X
"Save it." I hand, turn, rifle. "And I wouldn't you're girlfriend."
4 N/ q0 g" q2 ?5 G8 {
. ?+ f) _6 E" q/ qI office, shoulder. ears. cold. a soup. off. Marcus, Maria. me? I a leper, wall, knees.

, ]) G; a' H' j1 n' i" K6 U: ]2 n4 ?"Haven flaws," says, Marcus', "but I showers." a everyone. 'flaws' she's fire.

. p8 ~9 G8 U) _& A- p  k"What miss, before?" asks, soft. a moment. I faces.

8 `" n8 s/ u5 X- \"For me, theaters," says. "It a anything."
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"I mowers," says, quietly. "Really, machinery, grass. Yeah." eyes, I in, a a again.

"What you, Connor?" asks. a second, thinking. "Probably microwaves."
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. l: N7 v* G" v3 r- B3 n5 E"Microwaves?" asks, furrowed.

"Our a time," says, there's voice. tender. "So we'd food. wasn't great, together." pauses, I face. "I don't know. I lost." squeezes. "That's beautiful, babe."
3 h1 W8 L1 N) Y9 t9 k, \3 h# @
I floor, me. I'd a I a party. I'd table, mother's cold, I be. with. I back.
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; N6 v0 U# A$ N1 B+ xI stupid. stupid.

"What you, Candace?" me. "What most?"
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Everyone's me. I gazes, expectation. I'm alone. a I get. a I to.

I'm I mine. I feet.
4 ^+ Z  j! Y  f5 j$ L( P4 H( A( s
"I'm watch." I anyone.
8 f8 [& N4 \7 m7 z; q
I door. me, I Connor. I snow.
0 L, L2 m0 J& s
, _# s: R9 g0 S. m0 R7 b( {"I you, babe."
) U% A" P/ e( ^* ~8 [! Z* b: ?
I handle. It's I've it. me. metal. he'll back. eternity. comes.
; c* F+ r, G  D4 |6 }
"I too," replies. shut. tears. I night.

I direction, perimeter. alive, velvet. don't pain. eyes. I sick. I thinking? I me? I've him, I've through. head, a over.

+ r8 r7 v! H$ N' G+ B4 ZI grass. jeans, I don't it. I don't failure. I now? I here? I don't this, world. I else. choose. him.

I I ended, I wasn't I fall. I grasp.

I rifle, me. love? me. it's out. bad? I it.

6 e* B/ d. K, {+ ?- ], `: kA it, vehicle.

We're path. they're now.
+ |+ z1 {0 f6 G: U6 M
"Shit!"
* D6 Q# W7 e& \6 L% S& {* G7 z
I feet, rifle, stop. burn, fire, I don't a second. I there. now. I closer, I something's wrong. open. on, night. I a stop. I heads.
. k% v% j+ p# Z2 X1 R% m* Z; R
% d5 U: S* F4 S; M7 @6 c% N+ C) |"What you're doing?" I ask, there's voice.

"Maria inside. move." quickly. "Connor you." adds.
  w1 b4 `( r. g9 W5 I3 b2 H
I a second, way. a hand, Marcus' waistband, I Bo's knife. that's own. up. it.

I off. "I assholes." twitchy. I bone. me. I , I'm to. ground. I expect, earth. throat, me.
2 B0 e" ^4 a7 k3 I) p+ ^  ^  {
7 z- E* d! }+ c+ Z9 A. ?"You stage, bitch!" face.
3 f" u9 D. t% e9 f
I struggle, purchase. edges, burning. He's strong. He's me. I waistband. I side. screams. I chest, ground. I knife, eyes.

) Z( i5 J, s4 ?8 f1 O4 fI office, okay.

, K9 |% B% }! k"Connor!" I inside, floor, him, together. out. him, prone, consciousness.

"Candace, okay?" raw, desperate. There's a head. "Marcus up."

0 ~0 d8 Z8 i+ g2 |3 J7 BI floor. I Maria. doesn't she's up. she's there, she's up.
' w6 q# I2 q  @, X% J- W
Outside, I closer. vehicle, horde. minutes, done, now. there's forward, Connor, done.
0 M% g. X% \* v! `9 R( o4 W" C
I Maria's skull.

7 F$ r0 ]8 c0 O( s, [) t) X+ U"Candace, doing?" asks, there's voice.

Maria's barrel. I smell. "How she's them?"
* j3 A$ G2 p7 @0 U
"Because she's us, Candace. her. Maria."

  o! N" C+ E( d  P) G% C5 q"Candace, I we've dif" begins.

"What Duncan's Haven?" I head. ground. "I wasn't anythingâ"
; c7 I0 z" I* L4 G2 E
2 f0 v! c4 k# I& q# `7 ]"Liar!"
, i( B+ o. \; X, q( M9 L# z, ^6 f
"Candace, don't this! me!" yells.
0 N# k/ I: X% p+ g# r; u% P1 j5 W
"Every wasn't them."

"What?" me.
1 {8 x0 V; }* Y1 V- ]0 Z5 |
"I a bitch!" I temple.

"I'm lying!" says, pleading.

0 w: y* D# n$ ~) X, C8 x( e"Candace, stop! us, she's them." eye, I loose. He's feet.

"So it." I whisper. feet. He's me. thenâ
' ~1 C' M7 o& [$ e$ e3 X' |
5 f5 Z3 X9 H/ w# |/ |"Okay." Maria's breaks. "Okay. I was." tracks. "What?"
9 m( P" J% w+ v0 d* I
"I there." now, face. "I me. I a choice."

I rifle. I it. "Good person, ass." down, he's time. "But.. but.. Why?"

"You her," whispers. "I didn't care. I I a favor."
5 @1 c, m+ F- f& G
I laugh. I have. closer.
! n3 l. n4 b2 |# t9 I6 t
"We later, Connor. here. There's a coming." frozen, a face, eyes. crying, shaking. over.

"We now!"

% p8 G7 R( @9 F- ~" r! I8 T: u$ t# WFinally, him. present. running. trucks. us, way. I turret. fire. running. move. us, ground. military. close. faces, blinding.

I rifle.
3 L2 N- j- Z7 B
No, this. us, precise, formation, raised, masks.

# D4 d0 c, y9 c+ UA out. booming, others. us. "Down ground. Now!"

"Every down." knees. follows, me. I throat.

6 c9 x/ Y, f: Q6 |3 mI rifle. "Get back!" I yell.
9 x; z9 c9 ^3 b9 T& R" B
: y8 r* i! N1 h& ~/ U# h"Put down, now!" A back.

"It's okay," whispers, else. "It's okay." light, closer. I'm moving. hands. "We're through." closer.

5 M8 y  b5 C9 s"Back up!" faster. I right. softly. "Candace, please."
' n6 M% H9 N/ e
"Last chance! down." whirls.

' w8 d4 i2 l& t, `* N/ a% [7 F4 s& I3 NI'm crying. I down. surrender. going. I tried. I I tried. I eyes. mine.
+ {* i& l3 Q# d5 {
"I you." I softly. we're die, I know. I don't back. I wait. speak.

"Wait! Wait!" A closer, slowly, tentatively. "Candace?"
8 G' {  c- |  ?5 r3 Q
6 `* V! W% B3 |9 iI freeze. voice. helmet. recognition. He's a beard, same. blue.
/ ~( x5 n/ p1 F7 G$ I: u) p$ |4 f
"Trevor?"
) a0 w& b( d) Y! R
"Candace you?" closer, me. hands. "I dead. I I'd never...."
! R8 d) g+ g5 b1 y: S
1 M# ?9 l5 S. s0 LIt's impossible, yet, is. It's him.

0 c0 r. ]8 H6 T& @# \$ {"Trevor, people?" asks. eyes, face, me. back, quickly. "Yes! girlfriend. She's me."
1 e! m; D) L# ~$ _* {) X1 e
Girlfriend.
; f' `& d; {2 t  T8 d" E% r# @
I Maria's us.

"I them." around. "I them!" hear. a moment, I can't see, narrowing. tension.
% E; u7 y7 N8 y7 B$ n* |0 o* l
"Sir," calls. "The diverging." us, horde, again.

) S  I3 c# ^, X5 w/ d2 v& @+ M"Vehicles four, flanks." move. "Trevor, they're responsibility now."
- C- o  v* g! _; e* K$ G: Z4 }
"Yes sir." replies, assurance. instinctively Bo's knife, I jeans. more.

# j8 t  ?+ K7 Q) T: I! F"Take Paradise."