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‘Please, Mark Just let it go I a bombarded from all directions I don’t think I can take ht now is a friend So at all from me’

To ot it I’ll be the best friend you ever had Tell me what I can do to help you’

I smile sadly at him I knohat ityou’re a friend that I can turn to is enough I’an this afternoon I’ll text you if I have any news, OK?’

He looks suddenly ?’

‘Yeah, my mom needs me’

‘When are you planning to come back?’ he asks anxiously

I shrug ‘I don’t know I bought a one-way ticket and I’ it by ear’

He nods slowly I have never seen him look so devastated I resist the desire to reach out and stroke his hand That would just be cruel In the end it is clear I will never love him the way he loves me

‘I guess it is goodbye,’ I say softly

He looks at me fiercely ‘What’s his name?’

‘What does it loomily

‘Tell ently

‘Zane His name is Zane’

His expression doesn’t change, but his eyes flash suddenly

‘Do you know him?’ I ask immediately

‘I know of him He is called Zane, but his real naerous man A ruthless killer,’ he says slowly ‘Think very carefully, Dahlia You could bemistake’

I feel a shiver go through me at the quiet horror in his voice Yet another voice in my head says, Yes, this is the name that suits him far better than Zane

Aleksandr Malenkov

Nine

Dahlia Fury

When I go back to the apartment Stella is awake Her door is open, the radio in the kitchen is playing, and I can hear herfruit toa banana then looks aithout saying anything

‘I’ for the States today,’ I say

‘Good,’ she says, and chucks the banana aggressively into the blender