Derrick feels the barriers go up and finds himself able to breathe freely for the first time since this ordeal began. He knows without looking that the woman — Morgan, he thinks — is still alive, and so he turns his attention to the other one…

…and draws up short. The girl lies there, eyes wide and unseeing, a rivulet of blood running from her mouth and another from the corner of one eye, and Derrick knows that it is already too late.

Acute subdural hematoma, he thinks, caused by ruptured cerebral aneurysm. He doesn’t understand how he can possibly know that.

Damn, kid, a new voice intrudes. Morgan was right about you. You really are something special. You’ve been a Break for barely 30 minutes and already you’re cherry-picking details from my brain.

A gloved hand is shoved into his face, offering to help him up from the ground. Derrick takes it and finds himself facing a disheveled young man about his own age.

Name’s Rumor, the newcomer says. Looks like we got here just in time.