Nora reached the shelter alive because Waddell's soldiers ran like people who understood the difference between procedure and permission.
They carried her through the side entrance on a stretcher with rainwater dripping from the wheels. The medics had already cut away the grocery apron. One kept pressure on Nora's side while another called out numbers that made Jade's hands curl against the table edge.
Tessa came in behind them with blood on her hand, soot on her jaw, and her phone still raised.
The cafeteria saw her and stalled.
Mason Bell started clapping.
One small pair of hands sounded uneven and too loud in the room. Caleb joined next. Marcy Alon covered her mouth and cried while clapping. Soldiers followed with gloved palms against sleeves because nobody knew whether noise helped and everybody needed to do something besides stare at Nora's blood.
Tessa looked horrified by the attention.
Jade crossed the room before anyone turned her into a symbol.
