She was one of the Kitteh Armai. Howard knew what he had to do. He turned to Kristin for a moment and fumbled, “I love you.” Before she could say anything, he turned towards the running teen with the kitty and yelled to the others, “Run! If I’m not a there in two minutes, leave without me! Go!”

No one questioned him. They turned and ran. They knew if one Volunteer knew about them, more would follow.

Howard face down the oncoming adolescent. He was no fighter, but he had told Kristin his secret: he may as well die here because he was damned sure he couldn’t face her.

The teen leaped at him, all fingernails and elbows. Howard had never been in a fight before, and started slapping at her, trying to keep her sharp bits away from his face.

They ran into a book cart and fell over it, Howard landed awkwardly on his back on a pile of historical fiction. The girl landed on him and start clawing. Howard covered his face with one hand, and with the other, grabbed a copy of Ulysses and swung with all his might.