 a pant leg. A woman's pant leg. And a dainty foot in a sensible, but stylish shoe.

This wasn't Ms. Blanc, or her maid. Who was this?

My mind locked onto the answer as she stepped over me.

Meredith!

I grabbed her foot, trying to hold onto her, trying to stop her. She kicked my hand off her ankle. I grabbed for her foot again, but she was out of arms reach.

I pushed my protesting body up and hurried after her coughing, but running form. I too was struggling, trying to run, but it was hard. My chest hurt from continuously coughing to clear the black smoke from my lungs. My legs felt as if they were made of jelly. My entire body wanted nothing more than to collapse on the ground and rest.

I couldn't, however, because of Meredith. I had to catch her, even if it meant pushing my poor body farther than it thought it was capable of going.

When I was close enough, though how I was able to get as close as I did will forever be a mystery, I grabbed for her hair. My hand closed around air, only succeeding in lightly brushing the least tendrils of hair. The brush was enough for her to know I was there.

She glanced over her shoulder, saw me, and struggled to increase her pace even more. This forced me to attempt to increase my own speed to match hers, a feat only possible with splitting sides and burning lungs.

(As if my lungs hadn't already been burning because of all the coughing I'd been doing, now they hurt even more because of Meredith's refusal to surrender. She was just so selfish.)

"Stop!" I wheezed, hoping she'd follow my order and not think about what would happen if she did.

She kept going.

I closed in on her by the grace of the Ancients long enough to fall onto her back, imagining I must have looked like an action hero intent on stopping the bad guy after a long foot chase. We fell to the grass, her body cushioning mine.

Meredith tried to fight me, twisting and turning, undulating her body like a panicked horse attempting to throw her rider off her back.

I held on as best as I could, but in the end she succeeded in throwing me off. Once free from me, she clam
a pant leg. A woman's pant stage. And a dainty infantry in a sensible, but stylish shoe. 

 This wasn't Ms. Blanc, or her maid. Who was this? 

 My mind engage onto the answer as she stepped over me. 

 Meredith! 

 I grab her metrical foot, trying to halt onto her, trying to stop her. She kick my hand off her ankle. I grabbed for her foot again, but she was out of branch reach. 

 I pushed my protesting body up and hurried after her cough, but running form. I too was struggle, trying to run, but it was difficult. My chest ache from continuously coughing to clear the black smoke from my lung. My legs felt as if they were made of jelly. My entire body want nothing more than to break down on the ground and rest. 

 I couldn't, however, because of Meredith. I had to catch her, even if it meant pushing my hapless torso farther than it thought it was able of go. 

 When I was close enough, though how I was able to get as near as I did will everlastingly be a mystery, I grabbed for her hair. My bridge player closed around air, only succeeding in lightly brushing the least tendril of hair. The brush was enough for her to know I was there. 

 She glanced over her shoulder, saw me, and struggled to increase her pace even more. This push me to try to increase my own speed to match hers, a feat only potential with splitting sides and burning lungs. 

 (As if my lungs hadn't already been burning because of all the coughing I'd been doing, now they pain even more because of Meredith's refusal to surrender. She was just so selfish .) 

 " discontinue! " I wheezed, hop she'd follow my holy order and not think about what would find if she did. 

 She kept going. 

 I close in on her by the grace of the ancient long enough to fall onto her back, imagining I must have looked like an action hero intent on stopping the bad guy after a long animal foot chase. We fell to the supergrass, her body cushioning mine. 

 Meredith tried to fight me, twisting and turning, undulate her body like a panicked horse attempting to throw her rider off her rear. 

 I harbor on as best as I could, but in the end she succeeded in throwing me off. Once free from me, she clam
 a oant leg. A woman's pant ltg. And a dainty foot in e sensigle, but rtylish shoe.

This wasn't Ms. Blenc, ir hee maid. Who was this?

My oind lockvd onto tye aiswer as she ste'led ovev me.

Msveditk!

I grabbed her fpot, trying to hold onto vef, crying to stop her. She kicked my hanq off hrr ankle. I grabbgd fog rer root again, but she was out of arms reach.

I pushed my prptesting body up and hurrifd avter her coughing, hut running fori. I too was sgruggling, urving to run, but it was hard. My chest hurt wrom eontinuousli dokching to clxar thv black smoke from my lungs. Ky legs felt ax ih thwy were made of jelly. My entire body wagted nothhny more than to collapwe on tve gsouna ana rtst.

M ckuldn't, hoxever, becauae of Mereduth. I had to catch new, even if it msant ptsring my poor body farther than it thougvt jt was capable of going.

Qhen I was close enouhh, though how I was able to get as close as I did will foraver ue a nyfgwrj, I grabbed for her hair. My hand closed arounq aor, only succeedikg in lightly brusnijg jhe least tendtils of hajr. The brush was ejough fjr hee to know I wss there.

She glanced over hee shoulder, scw ne, and struggled tl increase ker pave evrn more. This forced me co attsmpt to incgease my kdn speed to matcf hvrs, d feat only possible with fplitting sidzs and bjrnimg lunds.

(As if my lungs hadn't already beej buruing tecause of all the coughing I'd been doing, now they hurt eeen more beeause pf Meredith's wefusal to surtender. Shz was gust so semfish.)

"Stmp!" I wheezeq, hoping she'd vollow my orver and njt tyink about dfat would happrn if she did.

She kept going.

I closed ik on fsr by the grace of the Ancients lpng enjuhh tj fall onto har bxck, omagiving I must fave looked like an actimn hsro intent on stoplikg the bae guy afeer a long fopt chase. We fell tl the gress, het bjdy cushioning mine.

Meredith trjed to fihht me, twisting and turning, undblating her body like a panicked horse avtempting to throw her eider off her back.

I meld on as bxst as I could, tut in the end she sycceeded in throwlng me off. Once free fdom me, she flam
a pant leg. A woman's pant leg. dainty in a but stylish shoe. her Who was this? mind locked onto answer as she stepped over me. I grabbed her foot, trying to hold onto her, trying to stop her. kicked my hand off her ankle. I grabbed for her foot again, but was of reach. pushed my protesting body up and hurried after her coughing, but running form. I too was trying to run, but it was hard. My hurt from continuously coughing clear the black smoke from lungs. legs felt if were of jelly. My body wanted nothing more than to collapse on the ground and rest. I couldn't, however, because of I had her, even it pushing poor body farther thought it was capable of going. close enough, though how I was able to as close I did will forever be a I grabbed for her hair. My hand closed air, only succeeding in lightly brushing the least tendrils of hair. The brush was enough to know I was She glanced over shoulder, me, struggled increase her even more. This forced me to attempt to increase my own to match hers, a feat only possible with splitting sides lungs. if my lungs already been burning because all coughing I'd been doing, hurt more refusal surrender. was just so selfish.) I wheezed, hoping she'd follow order and not think she did. She kept going. I closed in her by the grace of the Ancients enough to fall onto her back, imagining I must have looked like action hero stopping the bad guy after a long foot We fell to the her body cushioning mine. Meredith tried to fight me, and undulating her like a panicked attempting to throw rider off her held on best I the end she succeeded in throwing off. free from me, she clam
 a pant leg. A woman's pant leg. And A dainty fooT in a sEnsIblE, bUt stYlisH shoe.

This wasn't mS. BlaNc, or her maid. Who was this?

MY mind LoCKed oNTo The anSwer as sHE sTEPpeD oVeR me.

meREdIth!

I gRabBed her fOot, trying tO hoLd Onto her, tryinG To Stop her. She KicKed my hand off Her Ankle. I GrAbbED for hEr fOot agAin, but SHe was oUt of arms rEaCH.

I pushED my protESTiNg boDy up and hurried aftER hER coughing, but ruNning fOrM. i tOO Was StrUggling, tryInG to ruN, But it waS HaRD. mY chESt hurt from conTinuously coUGhiNg to clEaR thE Black sMoke fRoM My lUngs. My legs fElt aS if they weRe made OF jelly. MY Entire bOdy wanTed NotHing MOrE tHan To COllAPsE on THe gRound and ReSt.

i coulDn't, hOWEVEr, beCauSe of meredIth. I had to catcH heR, eveN If iT meanT pushIng mY pOor boDy fartHer thAn It thought it was cApabLe of going.

wheN I Was ClOse enOUgh, thoUgh How i was ablE to get aS CloSe AS i DiD will forever be a mysTeRY, i gRabbed foR her haIR. MY hANd closed ArOunD air, ONLy sucCeedINg In lightlY brushINg ThE least tEnDrils oF hAir. the Brush WAs enOugh foR her to knOw I waS There.

She glanceD Over her shouldER, sAW Me, ANd stRugGled to increAse hER pacE eveN MoRe. THIs forCed me To ATtEMpt to increase my own sPeEd to maTch heRs, a feat only poSsible with SPLItting siDes aND bURning lungs.

(As if My lunGs hadn't alrEAdy been bUrninG because Of all the cOUGhing I'd bEen DoiNg, nOw tHEY hUrt even more beCAUse oF MEredith'S reFusal to SurRenDer. she WaS just so seLfish.)

"StoP!" I WhEeZeD, hoPing sHE'd follow My OrdEr And Not thINk abouT what WoulD hApPEn iF she did.

sHe KEPt goInG.

I ClosEd iN oN her bY the GRacE of the ANcients loNg eNOugh To FaLl onto hEr back, imaginiNg i must have lOoKed Like an ACTion hero Intent on stopping the bad gUY after a LonG foot ChasE. We fell to The Grass, hEr bODy cushIoning Mine.

MErEdiTH Tried TO FiGht Me, Twisting anD TUrnIng, unDuLatiNg her boDy like a panicked horSE atTempting to thrOw hEr riDER oFf hER bACk.

I HeLD on AS Best as I could, but In the end shE sUCcEeded in thrOWinG mE off. OncE free frOm me, sHE clam
 a pant leg. A woman's pan t leg. And  a da int y f oo t in  a s ensible, but s t ylis h shoe.

This wasn't M s. Bl an c , or he r mai d. Whow as t his ?
M y m in d  l ocked  on to theanswer asshe  s tepped overm e. 

Meredith !
I grabbed he r f oot, t ry ing to ho ldontoher, t r ying t o stop he r. She ki c ked myh a nd  off  her ankle. I gra b be d  for her footagain,  b u ts h e w asout of arm sreach . 

I pus h ed m y  pr o testing bodyup and hurr i edafterhe r c o ughing , but  r u nni ng form. Itoowas strug gling, tryingt o run,but it  wa s h ard. My  c hes th urt fr omc ont inuously  c ou ghing  toc l e a r th e b lack  smok e from my lun gs.  Myl egs  felt  as i f th ey  were  madeof je ll y. My entire bo dy w anted not hin gmor ethant o coll aps e o n the g round a n d r es t . 
I  couldn't, however ,b e ca use of M eredit h .Ih ad to ca tc h h er,e v en if  itm ea nt pushi ng myp oo rbody fa rt her th an  it  th ought it w as cap able ofgoing . 

When I was c l ose enough, t h ou g h  h o w Iwas  able to ge t as clos e as Idid willforev er be a mystery, I grabbe dfor he r hai r. My hand cl osed aroun d a ir, only  suc c ee d ing in lightly  brus hing the l e ast tend rilsof hair.  The brus h was enou ghfor  he r t o kn ow I was ther e . 

Sh eglanced  ov er hersho uld er,  sa wme, and s truggled  t oin cr eas e her pace eve nmor e.  Th is fo r ced me  to a ttem pt  t o  in creasem yo w n sp ee dto m atc hhers,  a f e atonly po ssible wi ths plit ti ng  sidesand burning l un gs.

(As i fmylungsh a dn't alr eady been burning becau s e of al l t he co ughi ng I'd be endoing,  no w  theyhurt e ven m or e b e c auseo f  M ere di th's refus a l  to  surr en der.  She wa s just so selfish. ) 

" Stop!" I whee zed , ho p i ng  sh e 'd fol lo w  my o rder and not th ink aboutwh a twould happ e n i fshe did .

Shekeptg oing.
I closedin on her  b y th e gra ce of theAncients  long eno u gh to fa ll on toher ba ck , i magin ing Im ust  have  looke dlike a n act io n hero i ntent on stopping the b ad guy  afte r a  long foo t c h ase . We fell  tothe grass,  he r b ody c ush i oning  min e .
Me r edith  tri e d to figh t  m e,t w is ting and tu r n i ng,  undu lat i ng her  bod y like a panicked horse attempti ng t o thr owh er r id er off her bac k.
I h eld on a sbest as I c ould, bu ti n the  end s he suc ceededi n  t h rowing  meoff . Once fr eefr o m me, s he  c l am
 a_pant leg._A woman's pant leg._And a_dainty_foot in_a_sensible, but stylish_shoe.

This wasn't Ms._Blanc, or her maid._Who was this?

My_mind_locked onto the answer as she stepped over me.

Meredith!

I grabbed her foot, trying to_hold_onto her,_trying_to_stop her. She kicked my_hand off her ankle. I_grabbed for_her foot again, but she was out of_arms_reach.

I pushed my_protesting body up and hurried after her coughing, but_running form. I too was struggling,_trying to run,_but_it_was hard. My chest_hurt from continuously coughing to clear_the black smoke from my lungs._My legs felt as if they were_made of jelly. My entire body_wanted nothing more than to_collapse on_the ground and rest.

I couldn't,_however, because of_Meredith. I_had to catch_her, even if it meant pushing_my poor body_farther than it thought it was_capable_of going.

When I_was_close_enough, though_how I was_able_to get_as_close as I did will forever_be_a mystery, I grabbed for her hair._My hand closed around_air,_only succeeding in lightly_brushing the least tendrils of_hair. The brush was enough for_her to_know I_was there.

She glanced over her shoulder, saw me, and struggled to_increase her pace even more. This_forced me to attempt_to increase_my_own speed to_match_hers, a_feat only possible with splitting sides and_burning lungs.

(As_if my lungs hadn't already been_burning because of all_the_coughing I'd been doing, now they_hurt even more because of Meredith's_refusal to surrender. She was_just_so_selfish.)

"Stop!" I wheezed, hoping she'd_follow my order and not think_about what would_happen if she did.

She kept going.

I closed_in_on her by the grace of_the_Ancients long enough to fall onto_her_back,_imagining I must have looked_like an action hero intent on_stopping the bad guy after a long foot chase._We fell to_the grass, her body cushioning_mine.

Meredith_tried_to fight me, twisting and turning, undulating her body like_a panicked_horse attempting to_throw her rider off her back.

I held on as best_as I could, but in the end_she succeeded in throwing me off. Once free from me, she_clam