Twenty-two
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LILY WOKE TO the sound of the world ending.
The explosion catapulted her from sleep, and she bolted upright in bed with a gasp. Her room was still intact, but the sound of the blast echoed in her ears. In the distance, she heard the crack of beams breaking, and farther sounds of things giving way and rubble crashing to the ground.
What the hell was going on?
Men shouting drew her attention. Was it Monster? But no, they were speaking in a language she didn’t understand. The pop-pop-pop of gunfire followed and she threw herself off the side of the bed, to hide on the floor beside it.
She prayed Monster was all right, yet she couldn’t help clinging to a stupid, irrational hope.
Perhaps they’re here for me. Everything he’s told you might be wrong, and these might be
