“I’ll do it,â€? Theo murmured. “If you’re sure this is going to work.â€?

“I’m positive it will. I’m happy that you have agreed to this, Theodore.â€?

“When?â€? Theo asked.

“We were planning to do it tomorrow, but since we’re ready, it’d be a waste to wait any longer.â€?

The car screeched to a halt- but I stopped it, not the brakes. “Today?! No…NO!â€?

I snapped the handcuffs off and blew the car door away, clattering somewhere in the street. I leaped into the road, where other cars were zooming past. It was all so loud, but I avoided each one, sprinting to the grass.

I heard Dr. Karon and Theo behind me, trying to get around the cars with more caution than I’d had, and I sped up.

Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t do that… I couldn’t make my own brother do that for me!

The sounds gradually quieted down as I ran around trees.

It was impossible to keep moving at the speed I’d been going; trees were impossible to dodge in advance because there was no noise, no sign that they were there.