“Listen!” Sveta called out. “She said that because she was backed into a corner. If you keep on this course of action, you’re only making that worse!”

Capes were backing away from the Mother Giant now. Sveta was one of the ones who didn’t back off as much, because backing off would mean she was out of Amy’s earshot.

The imperatives might have been in evidence, here. So long as our side was retreating, their side wasn’t attacking.

But retreat meant giving ground to Shin we might never retake. Not like this.

“Your dad had his head injury. So did your mom. Your sister had her stay in the hospital. Shitty as it sounds, your entire family has its issues with control and labels and identity. Believe me, the time I spent with Victoria, I know!” Sveta called out. “You are a member of that family, for better or for worse. The only thing keeping you from being a part of that family is the decision you’re making right now! You will lose Carol, you will lose Mark! You’ll lose the chance to meet Victoria over iced tea twenty years from now, to talk and catch up!”

Amy shook her head.

My heart sank.

Seir stalked forward, Bamet at his side, his eyes glowing yellow.

Amy reached out, holding out her hand. Her other hand went to her heart, pressing down over her crimson coat.

“People have been telling me to get real and to get a clue for a while now. It’s about time I listen, right?”

“No,” Sveta said. “Listen to what I’m saying right now. Relax, get your guys to back down. You have a way forward.”

“I don’t want a way forward,” Amy said. Barely audible. “I don’t even like me. At all. Why would I inflict myself on my family?”

“There’s a thread,” Tattletale’s voice came through. “Trailing into the ground. She took meat from the giants and put it beneath you guys. The chest thing—that’s symbolic. Run!”

Breakthrough started running and telling others to run before Pearce had even finished communicating it. Courtesy of the Kenzietech.

Seir hopped backward, pulling Bamet out of the way, as Amy exerted her connection through what was apparently an imperceptible vein of flesh that reached down her body and into a pool of biomass underground. She must have been setting it up from early on, anticipating attack or already thinking about defense.

It erupted. A triangular jutting of flesh, stabbing up from the ground, barring Seir’s path.

Amy turned her head, reaching to her belt. She held what looked like a vial of chemicals.

“Lab Rat’s,” Tattletale reported.

“Going to lift her up, break the thread!” Moonsong called.

“Don’t!” Tattletale called.

Sveta lunged forward. At the same time, another growth of flesh speared up out of the earth. I couldn’t see the side that faced her, but I saw it yawn open, like it had a mouth.

To take in the vial.