“It ain’t going to happen, babes, ‘said Dognut. ‘I know what you’re thinking, but we ain’t gonna be overwhelmed. We can do this. ‘No, we can’t.’ ‘Yes, we can.’ Dognut kissed her fiercely, the briefest of kisses, and then he raised his sword above his head. ‘Let’s do this. You and me, girl, let’s take it to them! Dognut and Courtney against the world!”

“Courtney!’ he shouted, but didn’t know if she could hear him. Where was she?‘Courtney!’There. He forced his way over to her and pulled the sickos from her back. She was bleeding from small cuts all over her, and her right arm was red from shoulder to fingertips, but she was still battling with her knife. DogNut took hold of her and started to drag her away, ignoring the sickos that grabbed at him from all sides. All his energy was ebbing away. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this up. ‘Come on, Courtney,’ he said. ‘Don’t give up. You and me, girl. You and me.’‘You and me, Dog,’ said Courtney. ‘Love you, girl…’‘Love you, too…”

“It ain’t going to happen, babes, ‘said Dognut. ‘I know what you’re thinking, but we ain’t gonna be overwhelmed. We can do this. ‘No, we can’t.’ ‘Yes, we can.’ Dognut kissed her fiercely, the briefest of kisses, and then he raised his sword above his head. ‘Let’s do this. You and me, girl, let’s take it to the,! Dog nut and Courtney against the world!”

“Get off! Get off me, ‘Felix sobbed, sounding like a little kid. Marco kicked at the sickos, slashing with his knife. It was no good, though— there were just too many of them — and he himself toppled over, landing on his friend and smothering him.‘It’s all right Felix, ‘he said. ‘I’m with you. It’s all right. You’re not alone. ‘He felt for Felix’s hand held it tight, as more gym bunnies blocked out the light, swamping them.”

“Are you by yourself, darling? I can’t bear the thought of you dying alone.No, mum, I’m with my friend. I’m with Courtney…Courtney…He called out her name. ‘Courtney,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry…’But Courtney was already dead.”