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.

I time.
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3 H8 P* b0 j3 c( y0 n( [) E1 ]I I porch, Maria. I'm we're ankle. I warm.

I I her. a like, huh? stupid. It's don't it.

I night. company. I sleep, I comfortable.
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" y  d9 e6 E' d+ Y0 cI I off. arm, a constellation stupidity. rest. dark, canopy. beautiful, you're "nature healing" bullshit. us. opens, I footsteps. me, moonlight.
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"Hey." begins.
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"Hi."

"Thank for, know, there."

! ~9 |9 i! T( ~. I) V2 j# S0 Q+ jI sigh. "Literally, don't it. ever." head. "What me, Candace? I withâ"
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"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."
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* p4 D1 W, L3 w9 C; P1 R: `1 T. ?"What about? I you?"
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; `: _0 w* J3 S9 e' o"Do I Duncan's Haven? I don't there?"

"For Candace, supplies. I wasn't anything."

1 a, d% ?3 V8 e7 R1 ^* J7 y3 P"Yeah, hard." I eyes. "Give a rest. I said, you're Connor's girlfriend. That's you'll me."
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, V# {# r( C7 B9 M; x& y"Even that. a chance?"

9 F/ a6 K( M9 H- \( G1 {# LI head. a that, aren't now.
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"Fine." settles. "Then I that's that. brother." knew.
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1 z& }* c3 w' U"Unless you're watch. alone, Maria." I trees. a click, I'm thoughts. company, honestly.

I a start. rays. stiff, aches, I'm I myself.

. C' p' U2 Q1 [9 h$ A* y1 jDamn, I thought. it's open.
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"Candace." outside. slowly, wrinkled, untucked, jacket.

- \% m9 V6 |9 n# S" g/ d: THe's looks. pronounced. hasn't a mop.
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0 g$ J8 M( ^# r" d9 ?"Hey, up?" I I it's me.

2 F6 U" Y; ^1 [+ o"Did night?" disbelief.
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I nod. "Yeah, death." laughs. I too. weird, shapes.
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I Bo's knife. jacket, a doesn't it.
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/ B0 ?) B+ A3 I2 |9 J"Here." I feet, I'm twenties.
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; _6 ?+ M4 V3 E3 E2 x  s/ xI offering.

7 h) O# A7 i" s( _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.

: z6 [2 K& b, \' m5 ]" XIt's me, I eyes. wrist, arm. I chest, louder, a ears. I don't resist. familiar. fingers, knife, jacket. feet.
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"Connor, okay?" head.

6 R" G2 v$ m# k1 r- U/ _' P' QI tight. I'm here. I him, I would. ways.

! D* f+ `* |/ \It's I he's crying, shaking. body, closer, together.
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) Q" W% _% `5 G8 Z" o5 C"It's okay, Connor. It's okay."
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! e1 d1 w( A) h+ h, a2 \' ?( [) Z"I pathetic." sniffs. "I don't else, Candace. I don't else. I don't you."

% H% V' E% r- Z2 A# D: n. j"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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( b" K- L4 K" o4 v( y2 |. a- D8 _"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.

/ O  O# R8 y1 ]; s! p% g"Hey, babe." back. circles, I scream.
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"Hey," coughs, hoarse. "You resting."
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" s+ I4 c& d. ]"I know, I didn't now." softly. "You're alone. I'm here." replies. a gut. "I'm around."
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I Connor's regret. a he's me, doesn't. air, side.
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$ X7 |" ~/ e7 [. g4 b2 O4 I4 _I 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?
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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.

8 `% B+ p. p# FFuck, 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?

- Z( y8 J" C4 v4 QI trees. A there. in, together. orange, it. tarps, breeze.
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+ h* D; W, V& l! z3 ~( r  ^I there's a shut. I andâ"Shit!"
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1 v2 v. I7 D. ?! ^- B: GI dirt.
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$ |4 f% h3 S1 X, ^& a$ BIt's a corpse. time. shack. It's it's skeleton. bones, age, clothing, strips. a toe. a dirt. a bump, it. a a one.
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Russell, 9 old.

I skeleton. I height, must've a woman.

I a second, there's silence. love?

% i# E$ `9 g, l' l6 vI've life. Connor, Trevor, friends. I I didn't a needed. happy. I that? I don't I've tried.
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I I can, rocks. I'm done, fingernails. I skeleton. maintained. I hands. ones, I hunting. intact, solid, a her.
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0 j4 V0 N1 S  a+ {6 `4 T2 N  O5 AI sight. cheek. I I these. I me. skeleton's neck, I a a string. I padlock. I've ages.
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I'll Connor's love. I'll I him. a
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******

CONNOR.

! l4 C/ C. Q4 T0 ?, ^9 W: N: V7 Z* A! uI cabin. bedroom. dust. A nightstand, cover. A here. a a it. I a loud.

) A: N0 c1 X- ~0 R6 m"Russell."

I 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.
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I den.
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- o8 S. [6 `. x7 p- v"Any luck?" I return. table, up. often. there's nose. Eli's contents, a map, a lighter, food, a bandages.
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I a her. "It's empty."
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: y4 ~2 D" _; b" s$ A' W4 T"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.
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"Hey," I begin. "You water."
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"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.

) H8 t% q- a1 [: b( j7 O' p"Thank god. day." a found, Eli's pack. a words. do. we're done, setting. a Eli. volatile, I can't identify.

: C) c$ w$ t6 ]' ?  k' `3 G7 xI liquid, around, slippery. isn't I drink. I a burns. burns. throat, chest.
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$ W; }+ o0 D3 ^$ iI cough.
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"Is good?" I Candace. a rasps. "It'd yeah. doing." a sips. "It's world."
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. ~( C# K# V* U- S"Little isn't all." observes. There's voice, teasing. affectionate. laugh. a on. pop, chimney. again, I Maria.
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I down. I careful. excited. top, contact.
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1 K8 N2 S) ^' m( q0 S1 K* z( \"God you're sexy, Connor." whispers.
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"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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, `8 _- O; o. w0 J8 P"I can't cock, it's scary." laughs.

I her. I it. pain. "Ow, shit."

# m" J, B0 F2 t"Sorry, Maria." I back. pain.
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I 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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, m, y# f/ R; T  H2 m! d8 N3 W"And Candace."
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( t- R: a' h4 |# b0 [1 C. WI frown. "What?"
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"You know, she's a bitch, I can't you. crazy."
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0 E; S2 S: B: wI 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.
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% M  M# `8 I; i7 m( D  v5 S"I rest." I I don't conversation. shoulder, sleep. a moments, pants. I she's says.
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% N' x9 l, O4 A; K3 a"I you, Connor."
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8 L" g9 E: l! n  ^- n0 m2 ^Whoa. I don't say. I've before, I a me.
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I them.
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"I you, too."
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I arm. asleep. I a while, ceiling, breathe, I up.
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' {) d! }! W& X) kI moonshine. I a I should.
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I cough, recover. I I don't cold, a chest. me? Heavy, again. me.
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( `4 N2 G# ^+ I$ L) zI sip.
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( \2 H# b$ l. V: U- u' N% RI outside. winter. shirt, arms. rifle. moonlight, I shoulders, a lifeline. a up. She's a now, I away. eyes.
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"You that." jumps. "Shit, Connor. me."

/ m9 U  ]$ s  a' M8 K- aI a little. loose, unguarded. I'm moonshine. I post. palms, places.

7 D( D, G% C3 ~: E8 H"That strong, huh?" quietly. quietly. "So, drink?"

6 O- A% N0 W6 Z4 J! C: T8 ^"Honestly." I it. "Not bad, considered." me. "I'm glad."
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7 Q) t0 `5 n( L2 [  y0 [I her. trees. now, a older. Sharper. She's beautiful. She's there's else. A weight. A gravity. a is. rifle. "Do things?"
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"I don't count, then, kinda." I her. mine. chest. I clothes.
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"First shoulder. it's a back." I mine, them. "Then core." I belly, palm. me, I body, crotch, evenly.

# R: t2 t. i8 o- L$ M2 R6 ~"And on. wouldn't person."

I Candace's exhale. I'm shoulder, I scent, now. a neck. I throat, uneven.
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& W* q1 p; f% c/ {2 ?, W"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.
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"It's... hard." ragged. "Especially around." skull, close. "There's now. it's me." me. "Especially it's hard."
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  B5 ~' ~# x' N6 m' ]! yI 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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8 e# _! J0 p7 g3 r2 t+ L2 ~I forward, a desperation. circles. lips. "Fuck, yes. fuck." cock. touch. furiously.

I ankles. me, porch's post. I side, heat. gently, down. hand. I don't think, I don't hesitate. I'm restraint.
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0 X% o9 e5 [* g' d"Mhmm!" palm, spine.
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/ F. y- z  R1 \"Oh god." I breathe. It's bliss. It's it's scary. It's painful.
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  _& O) F- P2 F# \. u3 W) ^I her, again. thrust. soft, warm. I can't straight, instinct.

/ ~/ S' `9 Y; K+ v9 B"Oh god." night. "It good, Connor." me, plunge. "God, Candace. You're tight.." doesn't own. desperate.

"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.
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I harder, strokes, can't slowed. I eyes, what's coming, lip, then, then....

& o, o$ n7 w  q' m5 }6 i) g"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.
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"Candace, shouldn'" throat, hilt. I say? Doesn't matter. out, mass. "Just time, please. I I dick."

I don't hesitate, I chair, lap. lips, down.

7 l: ~' [9 C+ M# g, qI 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."

; `8 h9 P/ @8 a$ z"It's Connor. It's forever. I happy."
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6 Z, a2 F1 }% Y- }) }- F8 N3 J' Z5 fIt's I've heard. "" mouth, me, her. I close. cums, I well. me. We're move. up. We're asleep. slowly.
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"Connor. okay?" A shoulder. "Connor, up." gentle.

9 Y! ]& j5 Q: w# e$ {# iPanic, "Maria!"

0 c" G8 e* s: C0 P3 x% c& EI upright, shoulders. "It's okay, it's okay, Connor. asleep. Everything's fine."

I body, I'm gone, up. fine.

"You're okay." reassures, night. "Candace, watch, drink."
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/ J/ D) c* n5 a$ I+ F" k- I: B"Candace?" I night, felt, was. mine, again.

( s! I, n/ A. U$ x* z3 S6 F! W- |"Yeah, don't worry, water."

"She did?"
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"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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"Connor, okay?" a face.

5 k6 r; |/ N5 s! M8 KI cough. "Yeah, yeah. I'm just... hungover." laughs. "I tell." lap, shoulder. "Hey, I you."
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9 X# `* E4 X" ?) o& s- _Shit, I that. "Yeah, "
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"Found water." jars. porch. "How sleep, Connor?"

* N8 t' s& I  f, l. o8 \+ fI 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?"
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"Still great. It's a days." good. a break, we're here, won't us, I don't anymore. Candace, either. I how.

- F* n9 Z8 I1 J: ^" X******** 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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Maria's healing. didn't well, I foot, a fire. gloom, teachers, warmth.
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' `' i1 j& ?3 {1 ]* Z! K; A( ?I I them. a speak.
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"We through," out, visible.

"Please," said, cracking. "We don't go." expression. Recognition.
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% a( Q$ i1 ~7 B( E* x* X) A"You're Haven, aren't you?" says, darkness. "I you. You're out." air. doesn't lower, anything, I higher.

. B: Y# N( \2 n! I0 ~. P8 O6 e( Z"Haven fell," sweater. "After left, apart. died. over, weapons, haven't since."

A me, I aren't us.

" e% x( ^; S5 h6 ["We food." says. "We have." a food, meals. weapons, town. It's a exchange, a rifle. protection.
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! B5 W. O* `) ~Naturally, I rot.
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1 \+ d$ S1 a: j3 E$ u"They lying," I we're alone. "They a trap."

8 h  v. o0 u4 w9 I"Maybe," says. "But food. we're home. a responsibility."
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Bitch. Connor. Maria. I can't he'd us. stings. cuts, me. I I came.
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3 K% M" y" P- i+ Y) k) j0 fMaria, leg, Marcus. I "set perimeter" "scout ahead", us. we're away, eyes, a I throat. mouth. quick, isn't easy. He's a system.

He'd a watch. We'd I'd a boulder. I him, I it. hair, neck, skin, desperation. I hair. It's a secret.

) [2 K# O8 \4 zI'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.

It's a I a stop. A a years. ground, cattle. office.
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A squat, road. a front. travelers, cigarettes. ruin, shattered, angles. enough.

9 G( ^: @9 F, ]3 L: l0 W"You back. I first." says, I smile.
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& e' v- [1 C$ v& Y: G2 UIt's 'alone time', I brother's I it. nods, cold. Connor's a squeeze, "Connor don't I out?" handler. could.

; e* B' i( e- K! O( `3 E"Yeah, right." I dryly. "Like I again." me. I care.

Yeah, I man, bitch. could.
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$ F; d7 L" V: f* Z" o"Stay two."/ "Yeah, other, we'll soon." gimmick.

5 ?2 l" S; z1 K9 D2 OI eyes, them, I like. I door, raised, alert. dim, shift. air. first, room, floor, a wall. bathrooms. Finally, desk.

. f  U) d; T# [/ l& L6 g1 `+ KIt's a cramped, a done. A corner, empty.
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2 x3 q# f8 a: Y5 i+ tIt's perfect.
, ?4 Y) X3 E! ~
' @# P2 h) F# VI us, alone.
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( P  m3 y# l% z$ _" I% a$ B  V"Finally." I excitement. I him. him, mine, mouth. pants.

, }, l7 \$ U/ C9 z9 X"Candace, waitâ"
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6 W8 K" \& q) f1 A) V) a& e"Connor please, I'm horny, I'll one." I down.
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( J3 j3 O5 N  ?6 g; s"No, no. That's I meant." I cold. " hand." gut. "What mean?" sighs. "Maria."
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1 Y" r1 W* U" S1 e. D/ oI head, whatever. "I it's I don't girlfriend."

"Yeah, I do."

) A: o6 J: s, W' v: ~; d# rSilence. us.
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: T) i7 f+ n# ~  l$ f; `"What say, Connor?" away, isn't sure. doesn't answer. me. "I don't I don't this."
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8 `9 K; |( g% X1 `3 p"What?" cracks. "Connor, I wanted. I Iâ"

4 p/ z( C9 p0 y4 P% B) D# b"It is. is. It's justâ" stammers, office. "I don't a person."
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! E$ e: M1 M! P5 b4 j5 s* X2 Q& U"Well choose, Connor." now, hesitation. "Because I'm up. We're together. littleâ"

: e* {8 T7 y! N) \2 u"Don't, Candace."
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I head, I pain, pity. I trusted.
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"I've patient," I finally. "And I I'm whole, thing, I happy." cracks, a towel, eyes.

"You happy." quickly. hollow. "Then her?" pauses. "Candace, we're sister. It'"
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"Are you." a lie. "The ended, Connor. aren't you. together. Unless, don't I've changed?"

"No, " struggles. "Maria's a person, Candace. I don't her."

2 j8 b) D+ S# B, Q7 II a back. "But I'm not, right? it's me?"

5 t* \2 q' L0 v"No, Candace, that's "
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. h' k! T3 _8 N: \/ Q+ ]"Save it." I hand, turn, rifle. "And I wouldn't you're girlfriend."
1 b2 E7 K- D! \
4 S, V3 [- T! R  E: MI office, shoulder. ears. cold. a soup. off. Marcus, Maria. me? I a leper, wall, knees.
/ |6 v- `5 M- Z, ~& s0 v
3 ^0 ~* e5 P6 d4 |4 ?1 u) \, _"Haven flaws," says, Marcus', "but I showers." a everyone. 'flaws' she's fire.

6 h5 T' o4 s# Z7 x: l$ c"What miss, before?" asks, soft. a moment. I faces.

"For me, theaters," says. "It a anything."
. a5 b, l- Z; G" _( T
/ n) o$ [( s- w3 L7 ~8 u"I mowers," says, quietly. "Really, machinery, grass. Yeah." eyes, I in, a a again.
6 x$ l( K- [, m, Z3 i/ U
"What you, Connor?" asks. a second, thinking. "Probably microwaves."
9 V9 u! |0 E% \( D+ G. v$ X& t
"Microwaves?" asks, furrowed.

( M5 g% \: M+ c- D& C% l1 V"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."

* [4 v& P# `0 D2 H3 @3 dI floor, me. I'd a I a party. I'd table, mother's cold, I be. with. I back.
+ c6 l' _( g: o7 P; p
0 a6 B# X9 o" w9 H1 e$ kI stupid. stupid.
2 m; H  |8 H  }' E2 o
. {: n7 D5 B, V- e"What you, Candace?" me. "What most?"
" @# p' B9 v  L# d2 L- C
3 u( o7 M5 N/ |. _5 F# GEveryone's me. I gazes, expectation. I'm alone. a I get. a I to.
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I'm I mine. I feet.

( I5 I3 d" c* f- m"I'm watch." I anyone.
. Z! d0 P5 F5 b5 E' Q: f0 ^
I door. me, I Connor. I snow.
5 u  k0 O. j; ?( i% _8 h
"I you, babe."
2 O5 V; ~! _8 n( @( |  F( [
I handle. It's I've it. me. metal. he'll back. eternity. comes.
. T4 L* _0 F% q! C2 J4 i
' y2 g4 G1 h$ A8 Y8 }"I too," replies. shut. tears. I night.
! R/ u* B- v: ^- p; W- q
I direction, perimeter. alive, velvet. don't pain. eyes. I sick. I thinking? I me? I've him, I've through. head, a over.
/ c3 m! I* A* n
I grass. jeans, I don't it. I don't failure. I now? I here? I don't this, world. I else. choose. him.

3 V2 S$ C2 e; K4 t  ?6 \% o5 RI I ended, I wasn't I fall. I grasp.
+ s0 R6 y* S4 Y. b& H/ q* n: ]* o. S
I rifle, me. love? me. it's out. bad? I it.
& }' s( A% I; {4 h) f% \1 d
A it, vehicle.
; j. c: I, g1 Y
& L) E4 {) h$ g, y7 J8 h7 cWe're path. they're now.

3 R5 f: ~& T5 C$ k% X$ t! C"Shit!"

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.

+ v1 `* J: d; \$ w! Y# C"What you're doing?" I ask, there's voice.
  y' W0 a6 Q" a$ z6 }( L  c+ N, V
"Maria inside. move." quickly. "Connor you." adds.

I a second, way. a hand, Marcus' waistband, I Bo's knife. that's own. up. it.

2 v" S/ W- K. QI off. "I assholes." twitchy. I bone. me. I , I'm to. ground. I expect, earth. throat, me.

7 Z0 i3 ~9 j; O$ X"You stage, bitch!" face.

6 f2 k3 _9 K3 f8 u% S' H, Y1 vI struggle, purchase. edges, burning. He's strong. He's me. I waistband. I side. screams. I chest, ground. I knife, eyes.

) w1 T4 i  i* B" t% tI office, okay.

"Connor!" I inside, floor, him, together. out. him, prone, consciousness.

; D" C9 _& w9 I2 X* W"Candace, okay?" raw, desperate. There's a head. "Marcus up."

1 z" h: `! r% v! k+ w( ^1 e( A/ JI floor. I Maria. doesn't she's up. she's there, she's up.
' k; Y6 K/ h# c5 o4 I3 f2 q* n
Outside, I closer. vehicle, horde. minutes, done, now. there's forward, Connor, done.
0 Z* s' g" O0 c( C: f% F  t* f, q
I Maria's skull.
; U5 _5 i& M3 s0 s4 ~4 s" Q
" M$ d2 M7 o; s. F"Candace, doing?" asks, there's voice.

Maria's barrel. I smell. "How she's them?"
& y2 `4 n" A7 ?* L4 O* M) Q
5 t5 S' y- X9 s: @: T2 z0 }"Because she's us, Candace. her. Maria."

"Candace, I we've dif" begins.

"What Duncan's Haven?" I head. ground. "I wasn't anythingâ"
& u8 T3 ^$ U- f- n
6 G* R9 S+ j* q) n"Liar!"

"Candace, don't this! me!" yells.
3 U' ]9 `1 g4 s( M- B5 C" \  z- @
/ X9 O3 O" d' M9 p% L& f. P6 v"Every wasn't them."

8 t4 a8 N" a$ }$ Q"What?" me.

"I a bitch!" I temple.
( Z3 G* \9 b+ l( `
8 O: j7 n; p, q"I'm lying!" says, pleading.

1 [. I6 g0 |6 ]; w# a( C"Candace, stop! us, she's them." eye, I loose. He's feet.
1 g0 v( @& ]3 l- o
: ?0 \$ T% O* H5 f/ L5 m"So it." I whisper. feet. He's me. thenâ
* m. P2 u" ]- `8 b0 _5 m
"Okay." Maria's breaks. "Okay. I was." tracks. "What?"

"I there." now, face. "I me. I a choice."

I rifle. I it. "Good person, ass." down, he's time. "But.. but.. Why?"
9 \4 ?- V0 }( k6 C8 ^
"You her," whispers. "I didn't care. I I a favor."
% A5 b0 Z, K" q* E* g& u
% f5 |  m6 o1 X  u( F. w" aI laugh. I have. closer.
3 ~4 v" D  D7 Y
"We later, Connor. here. There's a coming." frozen, a face, eyes. crying, shaking. over.

% h/ ]$ ^6 E" r' I"We now!"
  ^) P# R& B; G5 J, R2 Z, O
Finally, him. present. running. trucks. us, way. I turret. fire. running. move. us, ground. military. close. faces, blinding.
3 A5 Z+ e! O6 v; u9 M( t1 I
I rifle.

No, this. us, precise, formation, raised, masks.

. p6 L8 v6 Y' ?$ \1 d8 N' N) C, |6 JA out. booming, others. us. "Down ground. Now!"

"Every down." knees. follows, me. I throat.
& q+ S3 L/ O$ v% y" y/ S4 v! A- v
+ B9 [: {" K5 z4 C. wI rifle. "Get back!" I yell.

"Put down, now!" A back.
, e  r4 B: j. J1 F' i9 @" ^6 L) N
% I; _! a- Q  n3 m, [* a5 e. l"It's okay," whispers, else. "It's okay." light, closer. I'm moving. hands. "We're through." closer.
) w- G: E, P( s/ Q
6 z- g7 P: ]5 t; \# w0 ?0 x; C"Back up!" faster. I right. softly. "Candace, please."
  N. z# V0 @) K5 P0 R& D/ `
"Last chance! down." whirls.
2 n+ e3 x6 n0 y9 f6 n+ t" `' m3 M
I'm crying. I down. surrender. going. I tried. I I tried. I eyes. mine.
6 u$ \4 e) n) Y4 l& b6 A' A0 f5 f; q
"I you." I softly. we're die, I know. I don't back. I wait. speak.
: B' }1 m& C- a
"Wait! Wait!" A closer, slowly, tentatively. "Candace?"

/ V% i  c1 N/ z0 [I freeze. voice. helmet. recognition. He's a beard, same. blue.
$ {4 y, y% s  E+ O; U) v( j
"Trevor?"
" M* p( \: P8 c# p: V8 }( |/ l' T
"Candace you?" closer, me. hands. "I dead. I I'd never...."
* f6 W, ^3 J$ e8 n* G- u3 K
It's impossible, yet, is. It's him.
8 B) O) [# m* ?  s5 F
. a9 W2 M# T& F4 G' c( {"Trevor, people?" asks. eyes, face, me. back, quickly. "Yes! girlfriend. She's me."
: D  f7 s9 o, n8 l( r- g; d
Girlfriend.

8 a# u( w5 W, T' YI Maria's us.
5 @4 d) m% A' p2 h$ o7 o: {" G
"I them." around. "I them!" hear. a moment, I can't see, narrowing. tension.

"Sir," calls. "The diverging." us, horde, again.
6 I2 `2 x. [# d% w) E/ s  e
. J& v# r- K/ Y* X4 \" p6 g"Vehicles four, flanks." move. "Trevor, they're responsibility now."

! H& \8 G( p+ u2 Q. _"Yes sir." replies, assurance. instinctively Bo's knife, I jeans. more.
( ?! J" f) p2 p8 q7 T3 ^
"Take Paradise."
( j3 W* F% t9 T$ [