Apple was flushed and still giggling by the time they headed for the safe house. Fresco knew she would have loved to stay longer, but the park was filling up and neither of them were in a position to answer questions from curious kids.

She continued to hold his hand, swinging their arms back and forth, humming a song under her breath as she skipped along beside him. It was the first time he felt normal in as long as he could remember.

The power blow of a kid on ...