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The gate was tall and ended in sharp spikes. Marcus wasn\u2019t strong, but hunger had made him light. The streets had taught him how to climb.<\/p>\n
The metal bit into his fingers. He slipped. Scraped his knees. Felt warm blood mix with the cold. He kept going.<\/p>\n
When he reached the top, he carefully swung his body over and dropped down the other side, landing hard and nearly twisting his ankle.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n
He ran to Lily.<\/p>\n
Up close, she looked worse. She wasn\u2019t shivering as much anymore\u2014and Marcus knew that was dangerous.<\/p>\n
Without thinking, he pulled off his blue jacket. The cold slammed into him like knives, but he wrapped it around Lily\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you\u2019ll be cold,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m used to it,\u201d he said through clenched teeth. \u201cYou\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n
He wrapped her in the blanket too, moved them to a corner of the porch where the wall blocked the wind, and sat with his back against the brick. He pulled her onto his lap, pressing her against his chest to share what little warmth he had left.<\/p>\n