Signal unavailable. Every time Maggie tried to call Jessa, the signal was unavailable. She tried sending a text, but to no avail. They were marooned from outside communication.

"How long was I asleep?" Annora rubbed her eyes.

"Only about an hour,” Mrs Huff replied quietly, not wanting to disturb the napping Mr Huff. "How do you feel?"

"Tired still."

"You can sleep more if you need to."

"No, I want to be awake now. Where are Maggie and Tonia?"

The two girls stood up from their seats on the floor.

"We're here!" Tonia lay down on the bed next to Annora, who shuffled sideways to give her more room.

Mr Huff also snuffled awake. "Is anyone else getting peckish?" he said. "My tummy's rumbling."

"There's a vending machine at the end of the corridor,” said Tonia.

"Let's go and get some snacks, Stan,” Mrs Huff patted her husband's knee.

Annora waited until the room door had closed fully. "I think I'm going to die today."

Saliva caught in Maggie's throat.

"Don't you dare say that,” Tonia scolded.

"You think it too. And my parents do. Why else are you all here?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"To just be with you, to stay with you while all this is happening!”

“No. You heard what he said. You heard what he's going to do."

All Maggie could do was say what she was thinking. "Annora, I'm so sorry."

Annora looked at her and squeezed her lips into a half-hearted and wistful smile. "I know. I am too."

"Are you afraid?" Tonia whispered.

"I don't know. My parents always told me that death isn't something to fear, because when you live each day to the fullest, there's nothing to be scared of when it ends."

"My parents never talk about death,” Maggie said thoughtfully. "Not like that, anyway."

"Have I lived every day to the fullest?"

There was nothing they could say.

“I mean, how do you know if you've made the most of your life? All I've done is go to school and then do homework. Sometimes I dance. I like to put on a playlist and dance around my room until my feet hurt. I can't do that here, though. They don't let me listen to music."

"If you could listen to anything right now, what would it be?" Maggie asked.

"Hmm," Annora thought aloud. "I don’t have much energy, so maybe something classical. Something pretty."

Maggie smiled. "Good choice."

"I think you make the most of every day just by being yourself,” said Tonia.

"Really? How?"

"Annora, you're my most favourite person in the whole world,” Tonia replied. “You're the kindest person I've ever met. I mean, when my dad got arrested a few months ago, you made me a lasagna and went on an hour-long bus journey to bring it to me so that I’d have a real dinner. And when my charm bracelet broke and the little horse charm got lost, you spent the weekend going to every jewellery shop trying to find another one. It takes a really special person to go out of their way to help others."

"My favourite Annora Huff moment," Maggie chimed in, “was when Jessa was desperate to go to that concert. What band was it? I don't even remember. But I know she really wanted tickets, but they sold out too quickly. So you spent hours entering contests online to win tickets for her."

"It worked!" Annora smiled.

"I know! When you told her you got tickets… I don't think I've ever seen a smile that big."

Annora paused for a moment. "Do you think Jessa can stop him?"

"I don't know,” Tonia admitted.

"I think she can,” said Maggie. “She has Flynn, and Mr Fletcher, and Dr Mortlock, and Audrey and Rachel. That's a good team."

"I think he might be too strong for her,” Annora looked down. "He might be too strong for anyone.”