@@@@@ I nodded, grateful at the thought of hiding
@@@@@
I nodded, grateful at the thought of hiding againI ducked through the opening and then stood
a few feet in, not sure what to do with myselfMelanie remembered that there were books here,
but I reminded her of my vow to not touch anything
“I got things to do, kid,” Jeb said to Jamie“Food ain't gonna fix itself, you knowYou up to
guard duty?”
“Sure,” Jamie said with a bright smileHis thin chest swelled with a deep breath
My eyes widened in disbelief as I watched Jeb place the rifle in Jamie's eager hands
“Are youcrazy? ” I shoutedMy voice was so loud that I didn't recognize it at firstIt felt like
I'd been whispering forever
Jeb and Jamie looked up at me, shockedI was out in the hallway with them in a second
I almost reached for the hard metal of the barrel, almost ripped it from the boy's handsWhat
stopped me wasn't the knowledge that a move like that would surely get me killedWhat
stopped me was the fact that I was weaker than the humans in this way; even to save the boy, I
could not make myself touch the weapon
I turned on Jeb instead
“What are you thinking? Giving the weapon to a child? He could kill himself!”
“Jamie's been through enough to be called a man, I thinkHe knows how to handle himself
around a gun
Jamie's shoulders straightened at Jeb's praise, and he gripped the gun tighter to his chest
I gaped at Jeb's stupidity“What if they come for me with him here? Did you think of what
could happen? This isn't a joke! They'll hurt him to get to me!”
Jeb remained calm, his face placid“Don't think there'll be any trouble today
“Well, I wouldn't!” I was yelling againMy voice echoed off the tunnel walls–someone was
sure to hear, but I didn't ca