Page 27 of Fresh Flesh

“I understand. Hopefully when you arrive, Maisie will already be safe.”

I held that hope too, but I did not dare to give breath to it.

Mlarx and I get on our zoomers and travel cross country. Since we now know where we are going for certain, there is no need to linger near the train tracks.

We travel for over ten hours straight, only stopping once to stretch our legs and answer biological necessities.

We arrive at the farm and immediately begin our investigation. None of the Grens or humans we ask have seen her. They stare blankly at our images of Maisie and shake their heads.

It’s enough to make me want to give in to despair again. However, Joras contacts us before I can get too worked up.

“I have a report from a farm further north that a human escaped recently.”

“Was it Maisie?”

“Based on the description, it had to have been. Besides, can you think of any other humans with enough spirit to even contemplate an escape?”

“No, I cannot. Do they know where she was headed?”

Joras’ voice grows tight.

“She was trying to talk the other humans into running away with her to the mountains.”

“The mountains?” I sputter. “But it’s already nearly winter, and the mountains will be freezing.”

“I know. I’m already looking for her.”

“Keep at it. Mlarx and I are on our way.”

And I can only hope that we reach her in time.

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