E.J. Squires

Biking up the same mile-and-a-half long asphalt hill is so much harder when I know that at the end of the journey I__l either be an outlaw, or I__l be dead.

Well, as I see it, the only way to win is to play the game and beat everyone at it. And I mean, who__ to say you can__ make your own rules?_ I say.__poken like a true outlaw,_ Nicholas retorts.I smirk, a little guiltily. __ suppose. Thank goodness you went along with it. Anyone else would have refused to register me or left me to Master Douglas._ Shivers go up my spine.__artners in crime.__ laugh at first, but then think about it. __hat__ kind of sad.___r exciting._ He stares at me for a moment. __ell, speaking as your registrar, you need to get some rest.___re you ever going to let me have any fun?_ I ask.__ot until the sun stops shining.___ell, technically it goes down every night_ I say.__ot in this country.

Passing him with frightening speed, I see him sailing downward with his open parachute. __t won__ open!_ __ull harder!_ Looking down, I estimate that at this speed it will only be a matter of seconds before I collide with the black lava rocks below. They rigged it! is all I can think. President Volkov won. I lost. I failed Gemma. I failed Nicholas. I failed myself. All of a sudden, someone rams into me from behind and hooks his arms and legs around my body. I look back and see Cory. __ou__e crazy!_ I scream as we spin out of control.__ know!_ He smiles like he really is, but he feeds off of this kind of insanity. __old on!_ The ground is so close and I can see the green grass and smell the scent of it mixed with the sulfur. He helps me turn around and I lock my arms around his thick shoulders, my legs around his firm hips. We__l die together, and he doesn__ seem to care one bit. He really is insane!

Mai whispers, __hy did she have to leave? When she was there, I knew where I had her; she was safe.___ou of all people,_ Nicholas says, __hould know that freedom is more important than being safe.

Mai whispers, __hy did she have to leave? When she was there, I knew where I had her; she was safe.__hen she was there? I winder. Who is __he_ and where is __here?_ I knew where I had her? Who are they talking about? Me? __ou of all people,_ Nicholas says, __hould know that freedom is more important than being safe.