“There they are!” Ruddy said. He pointed at the truck coming down the road toward them.

  Xeke pulled over. The old car they’d stolen from the base was almost out of gas anyway. Ruddy yanked open his door so hard it almost flew off the hinges. He ran to help Teri out of the truck.

  She shrank away from him.

  “What’s wrong?” he said.

  “Nothing,” she said. Her voice was raspy.

  “But I only wanted to … okay.” He stepped back. He couldn’t figure out what to do with his hands, so he put them in his pockets.

  Teri’s eyes were puffy and red. She’d always been a little too thin, but now she looked like she was on the verge of starvation.

  What did they do to you? Ruddy said. You look terrible.

  Teri gave him a withering look and made a point of climbing out of the tall truck all by herself.

  Ruddy sighed.

  Xeke was rummaging through the trunk of their stolen car. He tossed a lug wrench to Ruddy. “We might can use this,” he said. “And I’ll siphon what’s left of the gas into the truck. Teri, can you hide me if I use my powers?”

  “Yeah. Probably. Just ... go ahead,” Teri said.

  Xeke glanced at Corey, who nodded. A stream of gas snaked through the air from the car’s tank into Corey’s truck.

  Xeke studied Teri. “You good?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Jesus, I just woke up from a coma. Leave me alone and let me think for a minute?”

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  Xeke held up his hands. “Sorry.”

  “Just hurry,” Teri said. Her voice shook. “They killed all those people. And Julie is still close. We have to go.”

  “Wait, what happened?” Xeke said. He turned to Corey again.

  “New Burtchville is gone,” Corey said. “DSSA wiped the town off the map.”

  Ruddy’s face went pale. “It’s because we killed General Hines, isn’t it?” The image of Hines falling to the ground flashed through his head for the millionth time.

  “No,” Teri said. “Julie didn’t care about the general or anyone else. She was trying to kill me. Hines was her excuse.” She looked away. “All those people died because of me.”

  Ruddy glanced at Xeke and swallowed. A line from the Aliens movie went through his head: Nuke ’em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

  “Are they still chasing us?” Ruddy said.

  “They think I’m dead,” she said. “They’re still looking for you, but I was the priority. And if they find out I’m alive, more people are going to die, including all of you, so let’s stop talking and go!”

  “Well,” Xeke said. “I guess we’d better hit the road, then.” He twisted the cap back onto the fuel tank.

  “I’ll drive,” Ruddy said. They piled into the truck.

  Ruddy turned the key and held it too long. The starter made a grinding noise. Xeke and Corey tensed.

  “Oops,” Ruddy said. His face turned red. “So, uh, where are we going?”

  “West,” Corey said. “We’ll be in the Sacramento Mountains before too much longer and it’ll be harder to find us. It’s impossible to hear talents through a mile of rock and earth. Even if they do pick something up, it won’t be a matter of plotting a straight line to us. There’s no greater challenge to a manhunt than mountainous terrain.”

  “Teri won’t let them find us anyway, will you?” Ruddy said. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror. She was staring out the side window and didn't seem to hear him.

  “The mountains aren’t going to be a picnic for us, either,” Corey said. “We need to find clothes, blankets, supplies. But let’s get some more distance before we stop. We’re in for a long drive.”

  “You guys get some rest,” Ruddy said. “I’ll handle the driving.”

  He tried to focus on the road ahead, but his eyes kept darting to the rearview mirror. Teri was still staring out the window.

  I don’t blame her for being mad at me, he thought. I wasn’t there to save her when she needed me. She’ll probably never forgive me.

  If only he could go back in time to the cabin, before they met Xeke—back when she’d been his friend.

  He blinked back tears and tried to focus on the road ahead.