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get.”
                The teen barely struggles. Such as his wounds are, he was not far from passing. When he stops moving completely, the Guard lowers his ear to the teen’s mouth to listen for signs of life. He closes his eyes and absorbs the stillness and the silence. Satisfied that the teenager is gone, he stands and smiles maliciously. He looks toward the Eatery and clears his throat. “Boss!” he yells out before running for the Eatery.
                The Boss turns his head at the sound of the Guard’s yell. The kids in the Eatery begin to stir and the Doctor works her way to the Boss just in time for the Guard to arrive.
                “What happened? Where is—” The Boss is cut off by the Guard.
                “It’s not good. He’s all…” The Guard gets closer to the Boss and the Doctor and whispers something no one but they can hear. The Doctor places both hands at her mouth to stifle her gasp. The Boss looks back at the kids at the tables. They sit silently still, waiting to hear the worst.
    “You are all to stay here. Anyone who disobeys ensures all of you go to the Ban.” The Boss walks out of the Eatery followed by the Guard and the Doctor.
                As soon as they are out of sight, the kids all start talking to one another, looking for an answer.
                “Did he get the Sick?” Marvin looks up at Lauren.
                “I don’t know. I couldn’t hear anything.”
                “It’s not the Sick,” Joe says to Lauren. “Remember what we saw in the Doctor’s office earlier?”
                “Yeah.”
                “I’ll bet that’s—” Joe is cut off by Mason who has made his way to the front of the Eatery.
                “Listen up. I’m not going to the Ban. So all of you are going to stay right here until the Boss gets back. Is that understood?” Mason tries his best attempt at acting like the Boss. It’s not a good impression.
                Joe stands up but Lauren grabs his arm.
                “Is that understood Mud Slinger?” Mason taunts Joe.
                “Joe. What about the Ban?” Marvin asks.
                “There’s not enough room in the Ban for all of us,” Joe says loudly enough for most of the Eatery to hear him. Lauren stands up alongside him followed by Marvin who stands up on the bench.
                Lauren picks Marvin up and sets him on the floor. Then the three of them make their way toward the entrance of the Eatery. Mason steps in their way to block them.
                “I’m not going to the Ban because of you, Slingers.” Mason says with as much authority as he can muster.
                More kids stand up, ready to follow Joe and Lauren. Lauren looks back to see even more of them on their feet. Many remain seated, some afraid of the Ban, others afraid of Mason and the Guard.
                Lauren turns to face Mason and smirks. “You sure about that?”
                The three of them, joined by many others, move past Mason and out of the Eatery.                       They run through the tunnel entrance to the Junction. There are enough of them filing through the tunnel that they should be running into each other. But years of practice makes it a smooth movement with no stumbling or bumping into one another or the walls.
                The Boss turns around to see them moving towards them. He tries his best to stand in the way of the body. “Get back in the Eatery, every one of you.”
                His words fall on deaf ears as all of the kids see the body lying at the foot of the Ladder.
                “Please, all of you, go back. You don’t need to see this,” the Doctor pleads. “Marvin…”
                Marvin stares. He knows he sees something bad but