Tears filled Lana’s eyes. Her head moved slowly, side to side. “I don’t want to,” her voice said.

  Lana lifted the gun.

  “I don’t…,” Lana whispered.

  She took aim. Inside her head a scream a scream a scream.

  “Lana, no!” Dekka cried.

  Lana didn’t hear the shot. But she felt the gun buck in her hand. She saw the jet of flame.

  And she saw Edilio fall straight back.

  She saw him land on his back.

  His head bounced as he hit.

  Lana shifted her aim. Sights lined up on Dekka who seemed paralyzed in shock.

  Lana squeezed the trigger.

  Click.

  Click.

  Dekka raised her hands. Her expression was furious, determined. But she did not use her power. Her eyes flickered. She lowered her hands and rushed to Edilio.

  Dekka knelt over Edilio. She gasped. Pressed her hand against the wound in his chest. Trying to hold the blood in.

  “Lana. Lana,” Dekka pleaded with tears running down her cheeks. “Help him.”

  Lana stood confused. The gun wasn’t working. Why wasn’t it working? The question was not hers, the thought not her thought.

  The gaiaphage was confused. Why did the weapon not kill? It did not understand. So much it knew. But not everything.

  The gun slipped from Lana’s fingers. She heard it clatter on stone.

  “Lana, you can save him,” Dekka pleaded.

  I can save no one, Lana thought. Least of all myself.

  Lana took two steps back.

  The last thing she saw was Dekka rushing to Edilio.

  Lana returned to her master.

Hunger, Chapter 39