River was reading the girl behind the counter, now. Bits and pieces. She was afraid.
"She's afraid," River said to Lois. "Of me."
She tilted her head, watching with wonder. There was something about a newspaper, and an article, and...
A picture.
River's mouth opened into a gasp. She looked at Lois like she'd been slapped, like Lois herself had drawn it. It wasn't even possible, no one had been there, and River hadn't been in control, hadn't...
The shop was quiet enough that the sound of a patron receiving a text message was startling.
River's nostril's flared. If that picture was circulating, she could run. She could get away, yes, but it would come with a cost. She'd have to hurt people.
"You should not have put me in this position," she said to Lois, shaking her head.