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This time he listens.
Good.
I run… or try to.
Ezra catches me before I make it three steps. “You’re not going out there.”
“Why does everyone keep fucking grabbing me?”
“Because you keep running toward things that can kill you!”
“MY FRIENDS ARE OUT THERE!”
“I know.”
“Then move!” I snap as something tears through the ground between us.
Ezra grabs me, spins me behind him before driving his blade straight through the thick vine curling around us. Black liquid sprays across his forearm, and the thing recoils so violently I stop breathing.
It fucking recoils like he hurt it.
No. Nope. Absolutely the fuck NOT!
“What the fuck is that?”
“Not now.”
“Is that a fucking plant?”
“Technically.”
I stare at him. “TECHNICALLY?”
Before he can explain whatever the hell that means, Rhett barrels through the panicked crowd with his mask back in place. Someone crashes into him, and he catches the guy before he hits the ground, shoving him toward the barn before continuing toward us. “West gate’s blocked.”
Ezra turns to him. “South?”
“Worse.”
“North?”
“Still clear.”
“For how long?”
Rhett glances at the ground as another violent tremor rolls under our feet. “Place your bets.”
I grab his arm before he can say anything else. “Mariah and Ali. Did you see them?”
His eyes find mine through the mask. “Ali’s near the water station.”
My grip tightens. “Mariah?”
“Second fire.”
Exactly where Malakai said.
“Are they okay?”
