o P

lingering effects of Sam's Alpha Command made my

she was desperate, and I was suppresse

useless cow!"

onto my lap. My skin blistered where the bread touched

her back. She stumbled, hitting

knife block on the counter. A

victim?" she sneered.

e. Before I could move, she slash

elling of copper-spraye

, dropping the knife and collapsing o

done?" I whispe

on the stairs. Sam bu

blood. He saw me standing over her, c

't sniff the air to realize the blood was

round my throat, lifting me off my

is saliva hitting my face

y airway was closing. Not from his grip, but from the Wo

oaned from the floor. "She...

ke a sack of garbage. I hit the floor h

looked down at me, hi

," Sam growl

of the house, heading

s al

ing. My vision blu

itchen floor, my fingernails scratching a

ears ago. *Universal Antidote.* A r

tairs, step by agonizing

the jewelry box over. The s

t with my te

like liq

the toxin. *I lay there for an hour, shivering, my body weak and trembling. The antid

, wiping

n't die slowly. It was mur

stand, using the

ng photo of us-Sam and me, smiling under

rden. Sam had planted these roses for m

rom the shed. My hands shook so ha

ses. The fumes

t a

oos

e, consuming the flowers

e, swaying, the heat drying

ors opened, and six warriors in full tactical gear step

shed to catch me as my

said, supporting my

ece of paper from my pocket-a standa

*The warrior took it and pinned i

go," I

't loo