for those few seconds , alex felt like a kid on an adventure with her dad . all the problems of the world and the issues with her father no longer seemed relevant . the shimmering gold planet was still in their peripheries , luminously spinning in its celestial orbit . maxim stole one last glance out the window before returning to the controls

at which point she realized that she had n't heard any outside doors opening or glass breaking or alarms that would indicate donna had escaped . but marner had followed frannie -- she remembered him pounding on the office door -- so donna should have been able to get away . her breathing was just getting back to normal when she heard the door open . she froze , hoping in a little part of her soul that it was donna , even though that would mean that she had n't escaped

evaline shrugged , but i could see how much it cost her to appear casual . '' and you ignored the directions on the message from the ankh . you did n't go to fannery 's square . instead , you risked your life to find me . you saved my life . '' i remembered again how utterly tied in knots my insides had been after i reversed my decision to go to fannery 's square

the face cracked and a leg fell off . '' no ! no ! '' i winced and rubbed my temple . '' olivia , knock it off . my head is pounding . '' '' no ! i do n't wan na leave ! ms. liz - '' my temper snapped . '' ms. liz is n't your mom ,
olivia