“Just tell me what you want and be done with it.”
I can practically hear him smirk down the line. “My altruism has worn out, but I’m not a complete monster. Give yourself over to me and I’ll spare your family, those morons in the chapel—and I’ll restore little Kitty to all her formal glory. Thirteen for the price of one. You won’t get that good of a deal again.”
I pinch the skin at the bridge of my nose. Thirteen. As I tick off the numbers in my head, I realize he must know about Thierry too.Fuck.
“How do I know you’ll keep up your end?”
“She’s my sister, Zane, and they’ve been kind to her. I never could stand the bullies. I’m afraid that didn’t help her make many friends either. I have no reason to hurt the ones she has now, unless you make me.”
The light is green for a second time, but I have even less desire to obey it now that my choices have become so limited. From the moment I picked up the phone, my fate was set into motion.
“Tell me what to do.”
29
FULTON
Ipace. And pace. And pace. Days of pacing. A week.
I make coffee runs and bring home food for my friends. Vita swipes an IV and fluids from New Malcolm U to keep Kaye’s body from shutting down piece by piece, for all the good it’s going to do if we can’t get her to wake up.
Every day I watch Milo bend over her prone form and sweat with the effort of forming what tentative connections he can within her fractured mind. There’s no way of knowing whether he’s helping the problem or making it worse, and that’s a risk we’ll have to take because I’m not letting Zane anywhere near her again to check.
Every day we wait for some sign that she’s still in there.
Iwait.
The remaining Supers keep a constant vigil outside her door. They won’t leave. Not now, and not without her. No matter how much I wish we could keep them from the danger that is coming.
Adeon stabilizes Kaye’s blood pressure and holds the others’ fatigue at bay while Milo uses every cell of his healing power. Jaspar’s abilities provide the bridge between them, as well as offering some meager context from some of the memories they are attempting to string. Vita acquires and modifies equipmentto keep her physically alive. Eko and Agus bounce around, keeping an eye on New Malcolm. And Zane, though he hasn’t left his house sinceithappened.
I’m the only one who doesn’t have something to do. This isn’t a problem that can be solved with muscle and fire.
I’m helpless and I hate it.
“You should get some sleep.” Vita’s soft accent makes her voice melodic, beautiful, but only a fool would let that mask the sharp blade of her wit and intellect beneath.
“Have you been sleeping?” I ask.
She releases a laugh that comes out more like a huff. “So we’re not going to talk about it then?”
I scowl and take another sip of the long-cold coffee at my side. It leaves a coat of abrasive acidity on my tongue, but caffeine is caffeine and beggars can’t be choosers. “I’ll sleep after I kick Zane’s ass.”
She shakes her head. Walks away. We both know it’s a moot point. As much as I would love someone to take out my fear and frustration on, there’s nothing I could do to Zane that would beat what he’s doing to himself. Vita slows as she passesthe room, but doesn’t stop. It’s easy when you have a purpose. A goal to focus your energy on.
My phone vibrates lightly within the cocoon of my leather jacket. I silence it without looking at the screen. Whoever it is can wait.
“Fulton!”
I jump to my feet at the sound of my name. Adeon’s auburn head pokes into the hallway, exhaustion seeming to fill every line and pore etched into his face. I prepare myself to hear the worst. That our friend is gone forever, and there’s no getting her back.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
My heartbeat races to the beat of the ringer. I couldn’t answer even if I wanted to. I’ve forgotten how to breathe, how to speak, as every molecule of my being strains to hear what he’ll say next.
A smile curls the corners of his lips.
“She’s awake,” he says.
