Coldly, she replied, “Don’t you see? Everything has changed. The situation is different now, and far worse than I feared. I have struggled with my decisions for far too long, and now it is finally time. I wouldn’t expect you to ever understand.”

She looked at him shrewdly.

“Everything is coming to an end,” she hissed through clenched teeth. She was suddenly extremely aware of the heavy bulk in the backpack she was carrying.

He opened his mouth to reply, but they were suddenly both thrown to the ground, and it was all she could do to make sure she didn’t land on the volatile pack, accidentally setting it off.

“You’ve taken too long!” the old man shouted, “The building is rebelling!”

The girl opened her mouth to reply, but -