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"I've been waiting for you to wake up." "How long?" Fran grimaced. "Who can tell in this hole? I'm not sure I even know what time is anymore." |
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"So you know about everybody!"
Fran nodded and her face crumpled. "I can really pick them, can't I!" She twisted her face uncontrollably. As much from pain at her weakness as the horror of their situation. Renee was close to hysteria herself, she didn't need a diagram to tell her what Fran was going through.
"Snap out of it, Fran!" The way she hissed the words, they were a slap to the older woman's face. A jolt from the real world. Fran stifled her sobs.
"We've got to get out of here, Fran. Do you hear me, Fran? We've got to get out of here!"
Wordlessly, Fran nodded her head.
"You've got to help."
"I'll do what I can, but I'm terrified, Renee. Honey, I'm really scared clear through. I don't think ... I can't help much. I'm too afraid."
"It's all right, Fran," Renee soothed. "Relax and you'll feel better after a while. After a while everything will be better."
"Will it, Renee? Really?"
Renee nodded and felt sick again. She knew she was lying to both of them. It would never get any better now. But could she say it?