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important to him. He needs to know what the limit is, how much of his own life is left if he can compare it to hers.
    “Four days.” She snuffles very softly, wiping at her nose with her sleeve. “Like you give a crap.”
    He is hurt, the truth of it driving into his already wounded heart. When it settles over him, his grief numbs. Of course she feels that way. Alone out here for four whole days by herself?
    “How did you survive?” She amazes him. He’s barely made it through one night.
    “I’m smart.” She is limp, but he can feel her tension now, the hum of it that runs through her. She is ready to move at the first opportunity. “And small. Guess they like bigger targets more than me.”
    “I’m Reid.” It also feels important she knows his name.
    She shrugs. “Monica.” Her eyes flicker around them in a calculated pattern. “Don’t think I trust you now.”
    Fair enough. “Didn’t ask you too,” he says.
    “Did,” Monica’s eyes come back to his. “You said we could help each other. Well, I’ve heard that before.”
    Someone found her and abandoned her. It is the only explanation. How can he convince her he’d never leave her behind when he doesn’t know he wouldn’t? Nothing is sure anymore. And if the chance came up to rescue Lucy, he knows he’ll choose his sister over what remains of this little girl. Still, he lets the outrage of it show in his face.
    “I’m sorry.” It’s not much, but it seems to work on her. She shivers and sighs deeply, her tension going quiet for the moment.
    “Not your fault,” she says, “or theirs. Just, I’m younger and slower and they couldn’t wait for me. I get it.” She snuffles for the second time, her sleeve now dark from cleaning up her tears. “But it’s still not fair.”
    He’s been thinking the same. No such thing as fair in this place. Would he do what they others did? Run off without her? Would he let her hold him back? In that moment, he decides. No matter what happens, he’ll protect her if he can.
    “I’m not them,” he says. “Will you come with me?”
    Maybe if he reached her a day earlier or even before darkness fell. But he can feel her need overthrown by her fear of rejection, that instant of wanting to be part of something washed over in her eyes by her own instinctual drive not to trust him.
    “We can’t stay here.” Monica tries to pulls free but he won’t release her. It would mean letting go of the hope he had that they could run together. Still, he agrees with her. They have to move. Maybe if they find somewhere safer he can change her mind.
    “That cry.” Reid shudders.
    “They’re coming.” She gives another gentle tug and he finally lets her go. Monica sits up, but doesn’t run away. It’s a start at least.
    “What are they?” He knows he should let her run. There isn’t much in her anymore. But he can’t just let her go. She reminds him so much of Lucy for some reason, it would be like losing his sister all over again.
    Monica shakes her head, her filthy hair dropping a few leaves. “I don’t know.”
    “How did you get here?” His desperation is rising, tied to hers.
    “I don’t know.” Her words are breathed around a silent sob.
    “Why are they doing this?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know !” She might as well be screaming. Her whole being is screaming, shaking him up even though her frustration and fear is expressed at a whisper. Her face crumples and her little fists beat against him, her skinny body wriggling back and forth.
    “Shut up. I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. Just shut up!” She hisses at him like a small animal, her tiny hands now claws, slashing toward his face, his chest. “You’ll bring them here!”
    He barely has a moment to realize what she said. For the second time. Them. What does she mean, them ? Reid hasn’t even considered there could be more than one hunter. He is so overwhelmed by this news he almost misses her sudden reaction to