Page 13 (1/2)

Kendra scooted across the floor so she could lean against her bed The stingbulb expanded so gradually that she could not discern the change unless she looked away for a few ain

Should she invite Haden and Cody to run aith her? If they ratted her out, she would lose her only opportunity to escape The preed men were bitter about what Torina had done to theht have no interest in breaking out After all, Torina was providing theht not find elsewhere

But was it fair to deny theht quietly long to rejoin normal society They could certainly fit inside the capacious knapsack, although Hadendown the ladder They had both treated her well It would be wrong to simply abandon them

She didn’t need to share the specifics of how she planned to flee She could wait to tell thereed to join her If they chose not to accept the offer, she didn’t have to mention the duplicate or the knapsack They wouldn’t even know she had escaped--they would assubulb continued to slowly grow Kendra wondered at what point it would begin to look huainst the bed, Kendra rested her eyes, assuring herself that she would not doze How could she sleep with the prospect of a desperate escape loo, the silent house, the diainst her, and she slipped off to sleep

Kendra was aroused by a crunching, cracking sound like green wood splitting Still an irregular shape, the stingbulb was now larger than Kendra Fingers had broken through the purplish husk of the fruit and were peeling it away Kendra crawled over to the oversized fruit and helped widen the hole as quietly as she could e

Soon Kendra sat back and watched an identical copy of herself squir the sa when she was pricked!

"I’m Kendra," Kendra informed the newcomer

"I can’t see you," the duplicate said

"Can’t you see in the dark?"

The duplicate paused before answering "Nope I should be able to I can reuess my powers aren’t transferable," Kendra reed "What am I to do?"

"I’ve been imprisoned by an evil lady," Kendra said "I need you to pose as ht about this for a moment "No problem"

"You know you’re a fruit," Kendra said

"I’row?" Kendra asked

"Far from here I couldn’t think very clearly back then I love this body!" She flexed her fingers, then took a deep breath "Soa fruit?" Kendra wondered

The duplicate furrowed her brow "Vaguely Nothing was as sharp or iht and heat, a sense of growing, of being nourished by theseparated from the tree A tenuous connection remained until I exited the husk By that connection the row into a replica of you"

"You even have uess The sa like you from the first instant I sampled you"

"Weird," Kendra said

"So all you want uess I have a few more instructions"

"I exist to follow thee any sensitive information to the

Sphinx, Torina, or anyone Keep the secrets you know at all costs Second, learn what you can about their plans, and then try to escape and notify me" She recited Grandpa’s cell phone nu"

"I remember"

"Keep your eyes and ears open Take whatever opportunities you can to har Star"

"I will You can count onto invite Haden and Cody to join you?"

"What do you think?"

The duplicate shrugged "Seeht," Kendra said "When I return, after I’h thebars and toss it to the ground"

"Gotcha"

"You’ll only follow ht?" Kendra verified "The others would love to find you out and change your allegiance"

"I’ll only obey you I’ll do a good job Unless you mess up, the Sphinx will never know I’et you to use my powers," Kendra said "You’ll have to make up excuses"

"Leave it to me"

"What time is it, anyhow?"

"I can’t see, remember? Isn’t there a clock on the desk?"

"Oh yeah," Kendra realized "It’s almost 3:30 AM I’d better hurry" She went to the door "I’ll be right back"

Tiptoeing into the hall, Kendra crept over to Haden’s roo it open, she slipped inside and crossed to the adjustable bed where Haden snored softly She shook his bony shoulder "Haden, wake up," she hissed

Haden bunched up his covers and rolled away fro, Haden sat up "What is it?" he asked

"It’s Kendra"

"Kendra? What tieneral direction, but his eyes weren’t quite looking into hers, a reh she could see, he could not

"Late Haden, I think I have a way to sneak out of here I’ if you want to come with me"

He considered the proposition for a moment "You’re serious"

"Yes I discovered a sure way to escape So safe and reliable"

"When?"

"Now or never"

He cleared his throat "I’d better stay I would just slow you down"

"You really wouldn’t slow me down Don’t stay behind for my sake"

He scratched the side of his nose "I never expected an opportunity like this" He patted his chest, frowning "All things considered, I think I’d better stay I’uess I won’t be able to co held captive anymore"