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“He held out his hand to Calliope with her hands on the shoulders of the hooded figure. They stepped forward, and when Cali nudged her up onto the dais, the figure hesitated, but then lifted the hood. Her gaunt face and deep black hair shaded haunted black eyes. A nasty sibilance went through the crowd. “Everyone,” Doc said, “this is Bianca. Bianca, meet New Village.” As Rossi stared--as everyone stared--mouths wide open, Bianca took off her cloak. Her skin on her face, arms and legs was not only pale but gray, with scars that were ash-colored. Her eyes weren’t ringed with mats of goo like the man and animals they had burned before. However, those near the front could see, as her eyes flicked from one side of the amphitheater to the other, a thin line of cruddy black residue lined her eyelids and lashes like a gritty mascara. She was tainted.” — Rachel H. White