“You will die.” “I guess. I don’t know.” She shook her head, trying to pick through her feelings. “I used to think I was alive just because I kept getting away. If someone didn’t put a bullet in my head, I was winning. I was still breathing, right?” She looked at the blackened land around her, feeling tired and sad and alone. “But now I’m thinking it ain’t like that. Now I’m thinking that once you got enough dead looking over your shoulder, you’re dead anyway. Don’t matter if you’re still walking and talking, they weigh you down.”

“When I think of Tomodachi, I think of your mother. Your mother, she too lose her baby. She lose you. That very sad thing for her. Maybe she come looking, and she not find you. You not there when she come. She think you dead for ever. But she see you in her mind. Now as I speak maybe she see you in her mind. You always there. I know. I have son too. I have Michiya. He always in my head. Like Kimi. They dead for sure, but they in my head. They in my head forever.”

“I know I just met you, Susan,” Ravyn whispered against her ear. “But I think I love you.”She froze her hand on the latch as a wave of anger went through her. Instead of warming her, those words went over her like ice. Looking at him over her shoulder, she glared at him. “You think? You think you love me? You don’t know?”His face baffled, he scowled at her. “Why are you so angry? I’m trying to die here… for you. Nobly.”“Then you should have just dropped dead and not opened your mouth to piss me of. You think? Think? What is that?”

“You look…” he shook his head looking her up and down, “You look delicious. If I don’t get you out of here, I’m going to devour you like it’s my birthday, and you’re my cake.”

“Look honey, I ain’t buying what you’re selling so get out!”“You prefer to be lying here or in the morgue?! Things got outta hand last night but at least you’re alive! If we wanted you dead, don’t you think I would have drained you by now, or dragged you outta here! We are trying to help you!”“And I’m sure Jaws was just trying to help Quint! Get out!”

“What?” Eric shook his head. “Angel Moreno is into talking to chicks now? When did you turn into a total wuss?"Angel shrugged, and took another bite of his food. He avoided looking at Eric; suddenly not sure he wanted to talk about it. “I don’t know, dude, she’s just cool to hang with, I guess.” Eric nodded, as if he got it. “So, you’re not into her? I thought she was pretty hot.”“I’m into her, you ass, just ‘cause I didn’t bone her the first night. Not all girls are like that, you know.”Eric grinned. “So, you did get shot down.”