full

“Rearview” by Sean "Duroc" Silva (read by Ta'kom)

In this dark twist on “The Three Little Pigs”, one of the pigs, in an attempt to flee from his troubles, ends up stranded on the side of the road when a mysterious wolf offers him a ride.

Tonight’s story is “Rearview” by Sean “Duroc” Silva. Originally featured in Allasso Volume 2 and nominated for a Coyotl award, Rearview was reprinted in The Coyotl Awards anthology. Duroc has also had stories featured in Different Worlds, Different Skins and Roar Volume 4, all of which were featured on The Voice of Dog. He was the original founder of the Furry Writers’ Guild and currently lives in Texas with his partner and numerous puppies while spending way too much time and money on video games.

Read by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/rearview-by-sean-duroc-silva

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog,

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

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fellow

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traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Tonight’s story

Speaker:

is “Rearview”

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by

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Sean “Duroc”

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Silva.

Speaker:

Originally

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featured in

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Allasso

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Volume 2

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and nominated for a Coyotl award,

Speaker:

Rearview was reprinted

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in

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The

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Coyotl

Speaker:

Awards

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anthology.

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Duroc

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has

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had

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stories

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featured

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in

Speaker:

Different

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Worlds,

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Different

Speaker:

Skins

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and

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Roar

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Volume 4,

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all

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of

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which

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

featured

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on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

He was the

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original

Speaker:

founder

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of

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the

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Furry

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Writers’

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Guild

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and

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currently

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lives

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in

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Texas

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with

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his

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partner

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and

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numerous

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puppies

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while

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spending

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too

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much

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time

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and

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money

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on

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video

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games.

Read

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by

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Ta’kom

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Ironhoof,

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the

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Equine

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Charmer.

Once

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upon

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a

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time,

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there

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were

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three

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little

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pigs,

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with

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whom

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you

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may

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be

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familiar

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by

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reputation.

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But little pigs

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do

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not

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remain

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little, and

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Once

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Upon

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a

Speaker:

Time

Speaker:

has

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a

Speaker:

troubling

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habit of

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turning

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into

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Here

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and

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Now.

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And

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the

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things

Speaker:

we

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face,

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on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

roads

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alone

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at

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night,

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can

Speaker:

topple

Speaker:

our

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safe

Speaker:

illusions

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as if

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they

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were

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built

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of

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straw.

Please

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enjoy


“Rearview” by Sean “Duroc” Silva


Those eyes.

Those

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fiery,

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malevolent

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eyes.

They

Speaker:

were

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still

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there,

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staring

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at

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me

Speaker:

through

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the

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rearview

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mirror.

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And

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they’ll

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probably

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follow

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me

Speaker:

forever,

Speaker:

like

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the

Speaker:

headlights

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of

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a

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

trailing

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behind

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me

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

lonely

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

road.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

whose

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they

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were.

Speaker:

Because

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even

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though

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that

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was

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my

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plump

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

and

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stubby

Speaker:

snout

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

in the

Speaker:

reflection,

Speaker:

those

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eyes

Speaker:

certainly

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weren’t

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mine.

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They

Speaker:

hadn’t

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been

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mine

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for

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quite

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sometime

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now.

That’s

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when

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a

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loud

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noise

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startled

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me,

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causing

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my

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focus

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to

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shift

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away

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from

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the

Speaker:

mirror

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and

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over

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to

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the

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darkness

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that

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stretched

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out

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beyond

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the

Speaker:

glass.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

jarring

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cacophony

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of

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a

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car

Speaker:

horn

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brought

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

senses

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reality,

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and

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

twitching

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

hundreds

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

feet

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running

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across

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the

Speaker:

roof

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of

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the

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vehicle.

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I must’ve

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dozed

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off

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again,

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probably

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because

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of

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the

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continued

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rhythmic

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drumming

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noise

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coming

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from

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the

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

downpour.

Yet…

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it

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was

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mesmerizing

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in

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a

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way,

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listening

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to

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the

Speaker:

rain

Speaker:

hammer

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on

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the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

while

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I

Speaker:

watched

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the

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

passing

Speaker:

vehicles

Speaker:

illuminate

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

those

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tiny

Speaker:

droplets

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

water.

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It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

glisten

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as

Speaker:

if

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someone

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had

Speaker:

dumped

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bag

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full

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

diamonds

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

windshield.

Then

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my

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eyes

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moved

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over

Speaker:

to

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the

Speaker:

road,

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and

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I

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watched

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vehicle

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after

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vehicle

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rocket

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by

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me

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from

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where

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I had

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parked

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my

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car

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on

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the

Speaker:

shoulder.

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They

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were

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streaking

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down

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the

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highway

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in

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a

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line

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of

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endless

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tail lights,

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looking

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like

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a

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trail

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of

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glowing

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ants

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as

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they

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marched

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along

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a

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black

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canvas.

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They

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were

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still

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traveling

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though,

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which

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was

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what

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I

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should’ve

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been

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doing.

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That’s

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when

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I

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realized

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I

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couldn’t

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continue

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to

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sit

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here

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and

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stare

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out

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the

Speaker:

window

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when

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I

Speaker:

knew

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damn

Speaker:

well

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it

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wasn’t

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safe

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for

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me.

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I

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had

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to

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find

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a

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way

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to

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get

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moving

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again,

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even

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though

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I

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didn’t

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have

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the

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foggiest

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idea

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where

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I

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was

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headed

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or

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what

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I

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was

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going

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to

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do

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when

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I

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actually

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got

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there.

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Not

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like

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it

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really

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mattered.

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I

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just

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had

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to

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go.

I

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needed

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to

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get

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away.

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a

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couple

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more

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vehicles

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passed by

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I

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reached

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down

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with

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my

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thick

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cloven

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hand

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and

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grabbed

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the

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key,

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which

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was

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held

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in

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the

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ignition’s

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tight

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grasp.

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I

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turned

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it

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one

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slow,

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agonizing

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click,

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hearing

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the

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soft

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jingle

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of

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the

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other

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keys

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imprisoned

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on

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that

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cold

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metal

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ring.

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Then

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I

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mouthed

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a

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quick

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prayer,

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begging

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for

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it

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to

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please

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start

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as

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I

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turned

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the

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key

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the

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remaining

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distance.

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The

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car

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moaned

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and

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growled,

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protesting

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like

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a

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sick,

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angry

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dog

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that

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didn’t

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want

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to

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get

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out

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of

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bed.

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I

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finally

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released

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the

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keys.

That

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settled

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it.

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The

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car

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was

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dead,

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and

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I

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was

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stranded.

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All

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on

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the

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one

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night

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I

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happened

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to

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leave

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my cell

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phone

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on

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the

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dresser.

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It’s

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what

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I

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get

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for

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leaving

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in

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such

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a

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hurry.

“Damn,”

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I

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muttered

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before

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taking

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in

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a

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shuddering

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breath.

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Then

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I

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rubbed

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my

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snout

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with

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my

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wiry haired

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arm,

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aggravating

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the

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already

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irritated

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skin.

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It itched

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even

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worse

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now,

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burning

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me

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with

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an

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agonizing,

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relentless

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ache

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that

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wouldn’t

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go

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away.

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It

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just

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wouldn’t

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stop,

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kind

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of

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like

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all

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the

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other

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things

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happening

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to

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me

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back at

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home.

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that

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seemed

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to

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be

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the

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trigger,

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it

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brought

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everything

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rushing

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back

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to

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me

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in

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a

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sudden

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flood

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of

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thoughts

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and

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images.

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It

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overwhelmed

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me,

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to

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the

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point

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where

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I

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couldn’t

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even

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think

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straight

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and

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I

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started

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panicking

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and

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twitching

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nervously

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in

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the

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seat,

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frantically

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looking

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around

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for

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any

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possible

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way

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to

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make

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it

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all

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stop.

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But

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no,

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my

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mind

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just

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continued

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running

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out

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of

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control

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and

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I

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didn’t

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know

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what

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to

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do,

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but

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yet,

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I

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could

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see

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all

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those

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things

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flashing

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in

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my

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mind

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over

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and

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over

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again

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until

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it

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was

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impossible

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to

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see

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anything

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else.

Why?

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Why

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was

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this

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happening

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to

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me?

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I

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just

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didn’t

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understand

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it;

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none

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of

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it

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made

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sense

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anymore.

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There

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were…

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those

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things.

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Odd,

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strange

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things

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going

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on…

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like

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my

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stuff, it

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was

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out

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of

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place

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all

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over

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the

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house.

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I

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mean

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my

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wallet,

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my

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keys,

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my

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medications,

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even

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the

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damn

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toothbrush

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wasn’t

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where

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it

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was

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supposed

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to

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be.

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Nothing

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was

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where

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I

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remembered

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it—nothing.

And

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then

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there

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was

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the

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money

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that

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vanished

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from

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the

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lockbox,

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and

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the

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open

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windows

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and

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the

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unlocked

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doors

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and

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the

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missing

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clothes,

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and

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the—oh

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god…

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those

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bleach

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stains

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in

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the

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carpet.

What

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were

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they?

I

Speaker:

don’t

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remember

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them

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being

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there

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before,

Speaker:

ever.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

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know

Speaker:

why,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

where

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they

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came

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from,

Speaker:

it

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was…

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it

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was

Speaker:

all

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driving

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me

Speaker:

insane.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mean,

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if

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someone

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had

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been

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in

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the

Speaker:

house,

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I

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would’ve

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smelt

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them,

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right?

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There

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would’ve

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been

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scents

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all

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over

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the

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place,

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but

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there

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weren’t.

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There

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was

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just…

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that

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odor.

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Like

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disinfectant

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or

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something,

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and

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it

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was

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everywhere,

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all

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the

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time,

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but

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I

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don’t

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I…

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I

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figured

Speaker:

I

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was

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going

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couldn’t

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I

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it

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was

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all

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coming

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at

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me

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so

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fast

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I

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didn’t

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know

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what

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else

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to

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do,

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so…

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so

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that’s

Speaker:

when I knew

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I

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had

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to

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leave.

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I

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had

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to

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get

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away.

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where?

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Where

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could

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I

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go,

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out

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of

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no

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less?

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It

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was

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notion,

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but…

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really,

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what

Speaker:

choice

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did

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I

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have?

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Speaker:

first

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I

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thought

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about

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going

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to

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see

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last

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to

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wood

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then

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I

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remembered

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was

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his

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partners

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on

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important,

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which

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was

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like

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him.

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was

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of

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brother

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he

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was.

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want

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to

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talk

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with

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me

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had

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a

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better

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chance

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with

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him

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then

Speaker:

I

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did

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Woodley.

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had

Speaker:

it

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us

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The

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last

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time

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was…

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it

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had

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to

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be

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day

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daddy

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went

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to

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trial;

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and

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that

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was…what—like

Speaker:

twelve

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years

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ago.

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felt

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sort

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of

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used

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tell

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us

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the

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three

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of

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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without

Speaker:

a

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care

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in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world…

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

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acted

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like

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brothers.

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Like

Speaker:

friends.

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when

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momma

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was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

alive.

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Speaker:

so

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that

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was

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about

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the

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

decided

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to

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get

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in

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the

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car

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and

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start

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driving.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t

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depend

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on

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my

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brothers

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to

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help

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me.

Speaker:

That

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I

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was

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sure

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about,

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and

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figure

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out

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someplace

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eventually,

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on

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my

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own.

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Speaker:

is

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how

Speaker:

I

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ended

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up

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here;

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with

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the

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pounding

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on

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harder

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than

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before,

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were

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laughing

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

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incessantly.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

just

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wanted

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it

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all

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to

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stop.

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And

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it

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did

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pair

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brightened

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my

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of

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So

Speaker:

I

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for

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Speaker:

of

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seconds

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into

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the

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driver’s

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seat

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get

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the

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Speaker:

I

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felt

Speaker:

my

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heart

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in

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my

Speaker:

chest.

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term

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a

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pig

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Speaker:

strangely

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ironic

Speaker:

at

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that

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moment,

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

if

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I

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were

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actually

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able

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to

Speaker:

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Speaker:

I

Speaker:

would’ve

Speaker:

been

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was

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Or

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was

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person

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broke

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into

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my

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house

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me?

Speaker:

No,

Speaker:

no,

Speaker:

no,

Speaker:

I

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mean

Speaker:

that

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was

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Someone

Speaker:

wouldn’t

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Speaker:

around

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me

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like

Speaker:

that,

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would

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they?

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Would

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they?

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twitched

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against

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Speaker:

I

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watched

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a

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Speaker:

driver’s

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door

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of

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Speaker:

vehicle

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behind

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me.

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It

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streaked

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my

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it

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looked

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for

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another

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to

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hesitate

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making

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side,

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Speaker:

it

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made

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

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Speaker:

a

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Speaker:

in

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my

Speaker:

throat.

Speaker:

I

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couldn’t

Speaker:

help

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at

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the

Speaker:

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for

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few

Speaker:

seconds

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

reacted

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cracked

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

window.

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Speaker:

troubles?”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

figure

Speaker:

questioned,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tone

Speaker:

slightly

Speaker:

elevated

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

him

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over

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the

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passing

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cars.

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

tried

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not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

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was

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wolf.

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I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

by

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Speaker:

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earthy

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breath,

Speaker:

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it

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made

Speaker:

me

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wonder

Speaker:

if

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

Could

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

smell

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

fear?

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Were

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

instincts

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sharp

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enough

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

on

Speaker:

that?

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Speaker:

I

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Speaker:

I

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cracked

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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to

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get

Speaker:

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him.

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Speaker:

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of

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Speaker:

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figure

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was

Speaker:

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Speaker:

by

Speaker:

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Speaker:

sopping

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

it

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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couldn’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

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face,

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Speaker:

because

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

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Speaker:

red

Speaker:

hood

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

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Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

in

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf’s

Speaker:

protruding

Speaker:

muzzle.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

cars

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roared

Speaker:

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Speaker:

temporarily

Speaker:

illuminated

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

visage

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

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Speaker:

those

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

out

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against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

darkness. It

Speaker:

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Speaker:

startled

Speaker:

me.

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Speaker:

headed?”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

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asked.

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Speaker:

voice—it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

deep.

Speaker:

Very

Speaker:

masculine,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

enticed

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

strangely

Speaker:

pleasant

Speaker:

sort

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

quite

Speaker:

pin

Speaker:

down.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

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Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

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to

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his

Speaker:

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It

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was

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

uneducated,

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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appeared

Speaker:

to

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

made

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you

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take

Speaker:

notice.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

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Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Maybe

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

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Speaker:

out?

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Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

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think

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

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Speaker:

I

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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if

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this

Speaker:

wolf

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wasn’t

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

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Speaker:

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Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

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was

Speaker:

running

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away.

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on dammit, think.

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Florin,”

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Speaker:

me

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in

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its

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prey.

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south

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Speaker:

pondered

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

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Speaker:

moment,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

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myself

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before

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I

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Speaker:

answered

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

nod.

“You’re

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

home,

Speaker:

ain’t

Speaker:

ya?

Speaker:

Well,

Speaker:

you’re ‘n luck, cause I’ma headed

Speaker:

right by there.

Speaker:

I’ll

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

lift.”

“Well,

Speaker:

umm…

Speaker:

I—I don’t think I—”

“Hey, don’t

Speaker:

worry ‘bout

Speaker:

it,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lupine

Speaker:

insisted

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

backed

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

door. “Let’s

Speaker:

jus get

Speaker:

ya outta

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rain.”

I

Speaker:

hesitated

Speaker:

stepping

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

somehow

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

glued

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seat. But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

pried

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hoofed

Speaker:

fingers

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

steering

Speaker:

wheel

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

noise

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rain

Speaker:

increased

Speaker:

dramatically

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

vehicle,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

so,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shout

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

heard,

Speaker:

especially

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

drove

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

drowned out

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

sounds.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

headed

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

larger

Speaker:

vehicle,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

bushy

Speaker:

gray

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

swaying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fro

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hypnotist

Speaker:

swinging

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

watch.

I

Speaker:

moved

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rear

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trunk

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

hatchback.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

duffel

Speaker:

bag

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

slamming

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

locking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

push

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

keys. The

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

flashed

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

vehicle

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rushed

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf’s sedan,

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

passenger

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

fumbling

Speaker:

around in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car.

Speaker:

Another

Speaker:

vehicle

Speaker:

sped

Speaker:

by,

Speaker:

blinding

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

flew

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sprayed

Speaker:

fine

Speaker:

droplets

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

face.

When

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

car,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

radio

Speaker:

blaring,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

child

Speaker:

seat

Speaker:

strapped

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

passenger

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

struggling

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

loose.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

struck

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

odd.

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pup

Speaker:

carrier

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

pup?

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

sped

Speaker:

by,

Speaker:

showering

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dip

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

road,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

reminded

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

moving.

“It’s

Speaker:

okay.

Speaker:

I’ll

Speaker:

sit

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

opening

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rear

Speaker:

door.

The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

agreement

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

headed

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

driver’s

Speaker:

side.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

threw

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

bag

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

in,

Speaker:

quieting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

noises

Speaker:

outside

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

slam

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

radio

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

clearly

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

song “Brick

Speaker:

House”

Speaker:

thumping

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aged,

Speaker:

tinny

Speaker:

sounding

Speaker:

speakers

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dashboard.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

lupine

Speaker:

driver

Speaker:

stepped

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

immediately

Speaker:

shut

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

radio

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

situating

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wheel,

Speaker:

adjusting

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

lowering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hood

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

coat.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

damn

Speaker:

taxicab.

“Sorry ‘bout

Speaker:

that,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

child

Speaker:

seat. “I

Speaker:

jus

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

grand mama’s

Speaker:

place.

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

pretty

Speaker:

rare

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

passengers

Speaker:

anymore,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mean.”

Deep

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

should’ve

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

inquired

Speaker:

more.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pup

Speaker:

carrier

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nagging

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

brain

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

odd

Speaker:

reason,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Lord

Speaker:

knows

Speaker:

why, I

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

go.

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

nerves.

“I

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

law

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

carrier

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

seat?”

The

Speaker:

sentence

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

shot

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mouth,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

slap

Speaker:

myself

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

irritated

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

wash

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lupine’s

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

glared

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rearview

Speaker:

mirror.

“Only

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

forward

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ya have

Speaker:

airbags.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

junk—”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

paused,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shake

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head, “airbags

Speaker:

weren’t

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

yet.”

Way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

friends,

Speaker:

jackass.

Speaker:

Now

Speaker:

shut

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hell

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

drive. “Sorry—I…

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

curious,

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

all.”

That

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

satisfy

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

glanced

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

line

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

vehicles

Speaker:

littering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

highway.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

going.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Lord,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

going.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

here.

Speaker:

Anywhere

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

here.

“So

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

introduce

Speaker:

myself,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chipper

Speaker:

tone. “The

Speaker:

name’s

Speaker:

Mike

Speaker:

Hooten,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

friends

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

Hooter.”

I

Speaker:

hesitated

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

mine

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rearview

Speaker:

mirror.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wanted.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

supposed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

trouble

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

out.

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

eventually

Speaker:

dribbled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

reply, “I’m

Speaker:

Ben.”

Speaker:

No—no,

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

real

Speaker:

name,

Speaker:

idiot.

“What?

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

name?”

Speaker:

Mike asked,

Speaker:

switching

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

road

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

again. “Do

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

gotta

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

huffy

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

puffy

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

outta

Speaker:

ya?”

He

Speaker:

chuckled

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

certainly

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

humor

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

occupied

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

rationally,

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

clearly.

Quick—a

Speaker:

name.

Speaker:

Give

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

a fake one, hurry. “It—it’s Huffington.”

Crap.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

ridiculous.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Mike

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

perplexing

Speaker:

look,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hairs

Speaker:

all over

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

straight.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

must’ve

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

shaking

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dang

Speaker:

fish

Speaker:

out of water.

“Ya alright

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

partner? You sure

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

sumthin’

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

ya all knotted up.

Speaker:

You ain’t in

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

kinda trouble,

Speaker:

are ya?”

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

now.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

right.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

quell

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

curiosity—and

Speaker:

fast.

“No—no,

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

heavens,

Speaker:

no.

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

just… I—I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

week

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I… I’m

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

awhile.”

“Oh…

Speaker:

well,

Speaker:

okay.

Speaker:

Jus don’t

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

twist

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

nuthin’.”

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

laughed

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

surprised that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

clever

Speaker:

pun equally

Speaker:

amusing. “Lighten up there, ol’ boy. I ain’t one

Speaker:

a’

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

wolves

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

momma

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

younger.

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

guy

Speaker:

tryin’

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

guy

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

all.”

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

respond.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

know how

Speaker:

to, and Hooten

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

attention

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

driving.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

rode

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

silence

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

ten

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

so,

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rain

Speaker:

beat

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

streaking

Speaker:

headlights

Speaker:

flew

Speaker:

past

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

directions.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

caused

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

flashes;

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

dark,

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

dark.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyelids

Speaker:

heavy.

Speaker:

Made

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sleep.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to.

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

hadn’t

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

night’s

Speaker:

sleep

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

month.

And I

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

situation.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mean,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sleeping

Speaker:

pills

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

help,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

dang

Speaker:

sure.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

caused

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

paranoid

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

thing,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

drinking

Speaker:

simply

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

worse.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

certainly

Speaker:

lose

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

job.

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

lose

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

all,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

what?

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

just…

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

what might

Speaker:

happen…

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

down right

Speaker:

scary.

Speaker:

That’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

felt the

Speaker:

panic

Speaker:

building

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

boil

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

shifting

Speaker:

around in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seat,

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

myself

Speaker:

calm.

Don’t

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

Ben. Not in here.

Speaker:

Please…

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

now.

“So,

Speaker:

Mr.

Speaker:

Huffington,

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

goin’

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Florin?”

That

Speaker:

jarred

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

weird

Speaker:

hearing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fake

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

name

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Hooten’s

Speaker:

mouth,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

snapped me

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

attention.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sudden

Speaker:

swell

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

panic

Speaker:

begin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

subside.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

racing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me, and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

wondering

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

I had

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

asleep.

Speaker:

Did

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

black out?

Speaker:

Did

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

miss

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

important?

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf’s

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

lap.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

reply,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me.

Why?

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

toy

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this? Why couldn’t he simply shut up and

Speaker:

drive?

Speaker:

Or

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

kill

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

with?

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

waiting

Speaker:

for?

An

Speaker:

answer?

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

answer

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stop

Speaker:

glaring

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

eyes.

“I’m

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

visit

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

brothers,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

muttered

Speaker:

back. “One

Speaker:

lives

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

Florin,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

leaves

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hill

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

Badger

Speaker:

Flat.”

“Sounds

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

deal

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

So

Speaker:

what’s

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

occasion?”

“Oh—uhhh, it—it’s family

Speaker:

business.

Speaker:

Nothing

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

talk

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

though…

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

mind?”

“Not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

problem.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

relate

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

comes

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

matters.

Speaker:

Got

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

problems

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

own.”

“Thanks,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

apprecia—”

And

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

ringing.

Hooter

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

fumbling

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

center

Speaker:

console,

Speaker:

causing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

swerve

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

continued

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

blast

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

annoying

Speaker:

chime. It

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shriek

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

crying

Speaker:

piglet

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

to an obnoxiously upbeat electronic

Speaker:

tone,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

start

Speaker:

bleeding

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

stop.

Speaker:

Finally,

Speaker:

Hooter picked

Speaker:

up the

Speaker:

device

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

screen. But

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw a

Speaker:

wretched

Speaker:

snarl

Speaker:

form

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

muscles

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

tighten

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

grimaced

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sudden

Speaker:

twinge that crawled

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

spine.

“Sorry

Speaker:

I… I

Speaker:

gotta

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

this,”

Speaker:

Hooten

Speaker:

muttered.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

teeth

Speaker:

grinding

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

spoke.

Speaker:

Something

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

bad.

Speaker:

Really

Speaker:

bad.

I

Speaker:

choked

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aching

Speaker:

lump

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

throat

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

flip

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

raise

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ear.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

strident,

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

piercing

Speaker:

howl

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

resonate

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

speaker,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

loud,

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

choice

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

clearly.

Speaker:

That’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

mistake.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

should’ve

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

gotten

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

dang

Speaker:

car.

“Hey!”

Speaker:

Mike

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

slightly

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ear

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

yelling

Speaker:

intensified. “Wai—wait

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

damn

Speaker:

minute.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hell

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

screamin’

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

for?”

The

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

answered,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

muffled

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

moved

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head.

“Now

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

here,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

supposed

Speaker:

to,

Speaker:

aw’ight?

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can’t

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

your—”

Another

Speaker:

pause,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hoofed

Speaker:

fingers

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

digging

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

worn

Speaker:

leather

Speaker:

seat.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

muffled

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

louder

Speaker:

now.

Speaker:

More

Speaker:

aggressive.

“Well,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

ya didn’t

Speaker:

invite

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

Tom,

Speaker:

Dick,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Harry

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

momma’s

Speaker:

house,

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

I wouldn’t

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

interruptin’ nuthin’,

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

I?”

I

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

laugh

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

howling

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

stomach

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bit,

Speaker:

especially

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Hooten’s

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

brushing

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seat.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

pissed.

“No!

Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

screwed

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Now

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

blamin’

Speaker:

all of

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

me.”

Hooter

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

realize that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

drifting

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shoulder

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

tires

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

banging

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rumble

Speaker:

strips.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

swerved

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

road,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

smacked

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

window.

“No.

Speaker:

Screw

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

stupid

Speaker:

bitch.

Speaker:

And don’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

bring

Speaker:

Kayla

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

mess

Speaker:

either,

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

hearin’

Speaker:

me?

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

leave

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

daughter

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it!”

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

talking

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other end

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

quieted

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

way.

Speaker:

Hooten’s

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

hammering

Speaker:

against the

Speaker:

seat

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

much.

“Don’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

threaten

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that. If

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

daughter

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

swear

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

God

Speaker:

I’ll—Mary Ann?

Speaker:

Mary?

Speaker:

You—”

That’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

pounded

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wheel

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

throwing

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dashboard

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

loud

Speaker:

crack.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

vehicle,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

broken.

Speaker:

Hooter

Speaker:

slammed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

steering

Speaker:

wheel,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

repeated it

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

times,

Speaker:

producing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

solid

Speaker:

thumping

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

twitch

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

pants.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

quietly

Speaker:

begging

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

conversation

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

quickly

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

possible,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

beginning

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

regret

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

wish.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

attempted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

breath,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tension

Speaker:

hovering

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

confines

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

suck

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

lungs.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

oppressive

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

worse

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

before.

Speaker:

Much,

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

worse.

The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

hung

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

breathed in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

sigh

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

muttering, “I’m… I’m

Speaker:

sorry

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

that.

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

jus…”

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

how,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

managed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

inhale

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

start

Speaker:

speaking. “It’s

Speaker:

okay, I—I

Speaker:

understand

Speaker:

that…

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

know,

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

happen,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

replied,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

fake

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

escaped

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mouth.

Speaker:

Probably

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

something,

Speaker:

anything,

Speaker:

I didn’t

Speaker:

care

Speaker:

what,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

changed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

conversation.

“Yeah,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I…”

The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

trailed

Speaker:

off,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

bend

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

slightly

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seat.

Speaker:

Hooten

Speaker:

belched,

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

groan

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wheel.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

swerved

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Hooten

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

straightened

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

panting.

“Hooten…

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

stop.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

good.”

He

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rumbling

Speaker:

growl,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

seconds

Speaker:

later

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

flipped

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

blinker.

A

Speaker:

blue

Speaker:

sign

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

lettering

Speaker:

reflected

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

headlights that

Speaker:

read, “REST STOP 1 MILE AHEAD”.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

sped

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

exit

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

tore

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

ramp

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

quickly

Speaker:

parking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

slots.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

stormed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rain,

Speaker:

slamming

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

raced

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

men’s

Speaker:

bathroom.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

disappeared

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

darkness.

Only

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

appeared

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

working

Speaker:

here,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

none

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

facilities.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

completely

Speaker:

dead,

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

couple

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cars

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

littered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

parking

Speaker:

lot.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

movement

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

though.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sneaking

Speaker:

suspicion

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

probably

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

sleep.

Speaker:

Yet

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was,

Speaker:

sitting

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

stranger’s

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

throw

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in the restroom.

I contemplated leaving. My brain

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

shouted

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me, “Just

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

bag

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

run,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

idiot.

Speaker:

Go!”

But

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bathroom,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

poor

Speaker:

schmuck

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

there.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

must’ve

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

wife

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone,

Speaker:

or a

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

ex-wife

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

probably

Speaker:

screwing

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

miserable

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

daughter.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

horrible

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

live.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment,

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

happening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

month

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fade

Speaker:

away.

Speaker:

Yeah

Speaker:

sure,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

freaking

Speaker:

mess,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

damnedest

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

out.

Speaker:

Even

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

sounded

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hell

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hand basket.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do?

Speaker:

Run

Speaker:

away.

Speaker:

Good

Speaker:

Lord

Speaker:

Ben,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

try

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

decent

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

guy

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

return.

And

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

decided

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car.

I

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bathroom,

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rain

Speaker:

assault

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

attempted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

block

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

cloven

Speaker:

hand.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

anything,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

tripped

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

hoof

Speaker:

clipped

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

busted

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

concrete

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

walkway.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

smell

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

knocked

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

backward.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

covered

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

snout,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stench

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

Hooten

Speaker:

gagging

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

one of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stalls.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

heavy,

Speaker:

clumpy

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

fluid

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

expelled

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

hit

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

toilet

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

below,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

belch

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mouth.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

coughed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

choked,

Speaker:

muttering

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

like ‘fucking

Speaker:

bitch,’

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wondered

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

stepped

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

anyway,

Speaker:

hearing

Speaker:

Hooten

Speaker:

spit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hack

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

toilet

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

flushed

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

evidence.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stall,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

wiping

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

arm,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

drifted

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

meet

Speaker:

mine.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

ones

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

clouded

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

anger

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hatred,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

channel

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

stomped

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

me.

“Hooten?

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

alrig—”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chance

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

finish

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

question.

The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

collar,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

become

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

swung

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wall.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

break

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

pain

Speaker:

bit into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

skull.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

entire

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

woozy

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

energized

Speaker:

simultaneously,

Speaker:

sending

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

twinges

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

nerves

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

limbs

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

jump

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

contract

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

spasm.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

sensation,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

ended

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

remembered

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

flash

Speaker:

lit

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyelids.

“Do

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

fuckin’

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

alright

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

you?”

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

suddenly

Speaker:

popped

Speaker:

open.

My

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

hurt

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

hell,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tinkering

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

hitting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

senses

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

around.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

wake

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

dark,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

smelled

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

piss

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

vomit.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

snout

Speaker:

twitched

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stench,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

zeroed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

focus.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

lupine

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

belonging

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

reason

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

shirt

Speaker:

collar.

Who

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heck

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

guy?

“What

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

you—get

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

me!”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

moving

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

in-between

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

push

Speaker:

outward

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

force

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

apart. “Who

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hell

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

are?”

Glass

Speaker:

crunched

Speaker:

underneath

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hoofs

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

pushed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

glancing

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

broken

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

brushed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

checked

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

blood.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

any.

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

pieces

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

stuck

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hair.

How

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dirty

Speaker:

public

Speaker:

restroom

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

guy?

Speaker:

Dammit,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

fucking

Speaker:

head.

I

Speaker:

rubbed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

skull

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

attention

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

backing

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

shaking

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

start

Speaker:

crying

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

flaky

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

pansy.

Speaker:

Guy

Speaker:

must’ve

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

mind;

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

drunk,

Speaker:

homeless

Speaker:

bastard

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

looks

Speaker:

of it.

“Look, Ben—I’m… I’m sorry, ‘kay? I…

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

jus

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

it,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf said

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

contact

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me. “I’m

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

lot

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

stress and…

Speaker:

I’m really sorry.”

Ben? Who the hell is Ben? “I’ll

Speaker:

say.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fuck

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

wrong

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

anyway?”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

pissed,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

figure

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heck

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

on.

“Look,

Speaker:

I…

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

jus

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

ya

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cab,

Speaker:

alright?

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

after…

Speaker:

well,

Speaker:

this.”

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

motioned

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hands

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

added, “Again,

Speaker:

I—I’m

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

sorry.”

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

heading

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mirror.

Speaker:

That’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

nice

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fall

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shatter

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

waste.

Speaker:

So

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reach

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

save

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

obliteration.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pointed—you

Speaker:

know,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

broken

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

be.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

cloven

Speaker:

hand and

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

free,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

thankfully

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

porcine

Speaker:

skin

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

rough

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

slice

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

gripped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chunk

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

tighter.

“Yeah.

Speaker:

Yeah,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

bet

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

sorry.

Speaker:

Real

Speaker:

sorry,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

myself

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

walking toward him. “I’m gonna make sure

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it.”

> * <

When

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

panicked

Speaker:

flash

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

awareness,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

wake

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

horrid

Speaker:

nightmare.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

noticed

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

blinked

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

haze,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

realize

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

blacked

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

something.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

yet,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

car,

Speaker:

parked

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

road

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

Hooten…

Wait.

Speaker:

No.

Speaker:

No,

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

car.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

Hooten’s

Speaker:

car.

Speaker:

So

Speaker:

then…

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

driver’s seat,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hell

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

Hoo—

Then

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

smelt

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

pungent,

Speaker:

burning

Speaker:

odor

Speaker:

assaulted

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

nostrils

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

someone

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

waved

Speaker:

smelling

Speaker:

sauce

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

face.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

moved

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hands

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

snout,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scent

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

stronger

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stronger.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

saturated

Speaker:

everything,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

interior

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

because…

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

smell,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

distinct.

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

blood.

Speaker:

Dried

Speaker:

blood…

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

mine.

“No.

Speaker:

No,

Speaker:

no,

Speaker:

no—please,

Speaker:

no,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

muttered

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

myself,

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

panic

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cab

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hands

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wouldn’t

Speaker:

touch

Speaker:

anything. “This—this

Speaker:

can’t

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

happening.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

please.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

can’t—it—”

And

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

them.

They

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

dark,

Speaker:

sad

Speaker:

reflection

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rearview

Speaker:

mirror.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

eyes.

Speaker:

Those

Speaker:

fiery,

Speaker:

malevolent

Speaker:

eyes.

But

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

time…

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

question

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

whom

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

belonged

Speaker:

to.

This

Speaker:

time…

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

mine.

They

Speaker:

always had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

mine.



This

Speaker:

was “Rearview”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Sean “Duroc” Silva, read for you by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer.

As always, you

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web at thevoice.dog, or

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

wherever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

podcasts.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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