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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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tenth Turning that, now.” Her teeth <strong>be</strong>gin chattering again.<br />

“Thirty years? You haven’t walked through any <strong>do</strong>or for thirty years?” She<br />

had <strong>be</strong>en lost since she was a child, three decades s<strong>to</strong>len from her. Ingress<br />

had left everything <strong>be</strong>hind; her family may even <strong>be</strong> dead by now, “If you got<br />

here, there must <strong>be</strong> a portal that can take you back. It’s only a matter <strong>of</strong><br />

finding it-”<br />

She smiled. Her teeth weren’t chattering <strong>be</strong><strong>cause</strong> she was cold... they were<br />

moving around inside her mouth, her gums twisting as the teeth shifted<br />

about. They rose and receded as I watched, chattering as they rattled<br />

against each other.<br />

“Uh…”<br />

She hissed at me. “Only takes ONE portal you steps through a-accident,<br />

t’drive th’ FEAR in<strong>to</strong> you. I went through thrice-ten, lost m’hand, burned<br />

m’flesh, and lost m’sense.” She looked at her feet. “N’more, n’more.”<br />

“I’m sorry... if I can find some means <strong>to</strong> help you, I will. Farewell.”<br />

As I walked away, she was still staring <strong>of</strong>f in<strong>to</strong> the distance, thinking about a<br />

glade from her childhood where two dead trees had fallen <strong>to</strong>gether.<br />

Chapter 10<br />

The light was waning as I wandered the streets, the once-golden glow<br />

melting in<strong>to</strong> a bleak rust-red. The cooler air <strong>to</strong>ok some <strong>of</strong> the bite out <strong>of</strong> the<br />

smog, and my s<strong>to</strong>mach rumbled a bit. That’s the funny thing about sicking<br />

up, I suppose. Right <strong>be</strong>fore you spill your guts on<strong>to</strong> the streets the last thing<br />

you want <strong>to</strong> think about is food, but after you clear the bile from your<br />

<strong>to</strong>ngue you’re hungry as the next hideously scarred amnesiac.<br />

I sifted through the makeshift <strong>be</strong>lt pouch I had made with a rag and some<br />

string. A couple coins, some bandages, a few charms and a knife I had s<strong>to</strong>len<br />

58

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