“ go d o w n , girl. ” he snarls. “ don’t
make this so hard on yourself. i’d rather not return
d a m a g e d g o o d s to her grace. ”
last chance. she uses what little’s left to jolt him up and over, landing him on his back. there are stars when she stands, and she sways - but not before slamming her boot into his shoulder once or twice. vern stumbles back, gasping for breath.