As much as I would prefer to be far away from all of this, it's easy to choose between the people shooting at us and Mathias and Lucy.

I close my eyes for a second, and pretends it's an air raid at Maidsend, and I'm running for a shelter there. I was never hit there, and so I won't be here; simple enough to let myself believe. Still, I give john a look, not loosening the tight grip I have on his hand.

"Don't let go, all right?"