made weeks ago, the

the worl

eigning a restles

uest room. Her laugh, low and

bare feet silent on

or was

lla, tangled with

seared int

steady, precise, he' d f

pe, Pennsylvania. A dying s

ild again. A c

e collapse like

n, terrifying groan of failing s

r eyes wide

t moved, shoving her down, co

ht, the searing p

, gone in

ved her.

en amazed. "A breakthrough, E

efore he saw Isa

celebrated the return of his han

strength, his

d, as they whispered about

wasn't l

d into the New

ion settled in hi

way out. His