to the familiar dirt track leading t

e ye

place, since he' d volunteered for th

he fear, the endless shift

, his blood, the impos

acc

m HHS, sitting beside him, said a medal was

ted to see Sa

d h

live, that the ni

stoppe

rt pounding a strange r

ood on t

joy, but with something t

ered, her voice a

washing over him

rted f

y ba

s older brother, Mark, stepped out,

ehind Mark, their faces pale, eyes wid

you doing?" Alex

her, John, said, his voice t

mune. That's why I'm h

o people in the hot zones. You' ve been gone

ther, one hand protec

gaze fix

Visibly rou

ile welcome, struggled to process. Th

sn't hi