eonealloverme,Iledintoher,wantingthemomenttolast.Mostoftheshorterdleshadburneddown,andsadlyIrealizedthatourtimewasnearlyover.

    "Speck,."

    Shemurmuredinhersleepandpulledmecloser.Ipriedawayherarmandrolledout.

    "Wehavetogo.Dontyoufeeltheaironyourskinging?Thedawnsabouttobegin."

    "ebacktosleep."

    Igatheredmythingstogether."Wewontbeabletoleaveunlessweghtnow."

    Sheliftedherselfupbytheelbows."Westay.ItsSundayandthelibrarysclosed.Westayalldayandread.Nobodywillbehere.Wegobackwhenitsdarkagain."

    Forafleetingsed,Isideredheridea,buttheverythoughtofstayingintownduringdaylighthours,gdiscoverywithpeopleupandabout,filledmewithaholyterror.

    "Itstoorisky,"Iwhispered."Supposesomeonehappensby.Apoli.Awat."

    Shedroppedbackdowntothebla."Trustme."

    "Areyouing?"Iaskedatthedoor.

    "Go.Sometimesyouaresuchachild."

    Squeezingthroughtheexit,Iwonderedifitwasamistake.IdidnotlikearguingwithSpeckorleaviherebyherself,butshehadspentmanydaysonherownawayfromcamp.Mythoughtsbouncedbadforthbetweewochoices,andperhapsmyworriesoverSpeckaffectedmysenseofdire,forIfoundmyselfquitelostsoonafterabandoningher.Eaewturnbroughtunfamiliarstreetsandstrangehouses,andinmyhastetoescape,Ibecamemorehopelesslydisorieaown,agroveoftreesinvitedmeintoitswarmcloak,andthereIpickedatrailfromthreeoptions,followingitstwistsandturns.Inhindsight,Ishouldhavestayedputuntilthesunhad