No, I didn't just hear that. It can't be true; this is Harper we're talking about. He is normally so alive, even when he used to get sick I had to practically drag him to his bed to rest. Magog larvae couldn't get him. He, he's like my little brother, how could I let this to happen to him?
I should ask Trance if what she's saying is actually true, it couldn't be though; it couldn't possibly be true so there was no point in asking, no point in perhaps getting it confirmed.
I wish someone would say something, anything to break this dreadful silence in which all of us are standing, so shocked, not one of us making a sound. Trance has obviously been crying and Rommie is just staring straight ahead. Dylan and Tyr don't seem to believe it either. This is Harper, you can't kill him.
But he isn't dead yet, he will still be alive with those…things stuck inside of him. I can't believe that I hadn't been more careful with him, as soon as the magog had boarded us I should have been with him and protected him. I didn't stop to think about him even when I threw the nova bomb at the war ship, I hardly thought about him, so intent on the promise I had made to Dylan, and now it has come to this.
Rommie suddenly shuddered and tears started to fall. That's it, it's impossible to hold it back any longer, I can feel a huge scream build inside me and I bite my lip, feeling like I am going to burst. Then the tears came in gulping sobs and I'm running. I have to get to the Maru, I'd be safe there. I couldn't bear anyone to see me like this, I was the strong one and I can't let them down.
At that thought the tears started, silently at first, damp tracks running down my face, then I just let go. All I saw before Dylan enveloped me in a gentle embrace was Beka biting her lip to stop herself from crying out. I don't want to even imagine what she was going through.