I RAN THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF SNOWFLAKE Corp like a wild woman.
The thick glass holding back the glacier mirrored my reflection, revealing a wraith—a sickly ghost that’d already passed on and couldn’t accept it.
I ran faster.
I have to find Frank.
How long had we been in the dreamscape?
Perhaps he’d made a breakthrough. Maybe he’d finally found a cure.
My bare feet barely touched the ground as I hurled myself toward the main lab where Frank had set up base to save us.
A wave of nausea rolled through me as I tripped. My heart stopped for a few horrifying beats, sending me crashing against the wall.
Hurry!
Gritting my teeth, I struck off again, staggering, swaying.
I tried to shout Frank’s name. To beg him to help, but a mouthful of blood came up, splattering my chest and leaving black droplets trailing after me like crumbs.
I ran faster, the long blue nightgown Frank had sourced for me flapping like broken wings.
Grey specks danced on the edges of my vision. I tasted blood again, rotten and wrong. Dizziness turned me weak. I blinked back stars—
Stay awake!
The lab taunted me just ahead. The door slightly ajar like a saviour, light spilling into the corridor.
Panting hard, I stumbled to a stop and went to push the door wider—
“...can only save one,” Frank’s voice hit me square in the face, tears wet and thick in his tone.
I shrank back as Dillon snapped, “You do this and she’ll hate you for life, Frank. Therehasto be a way to save them both.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried?!” Frank roared. “I killed her parents. I lied and killed my best friends, all so I never had to witness anyone else harmed by this awful fucking program. I did that to save lives, and it’s fucking killing me that I can’t save hers. She’sdying.” Something crashed as if he threw it. “This is the only way I can think of. We’ve run out of time. They have hours, Dil.Hours. And...I can’t let her go. Even if she never talks to me again. Even if she banishes me and hates me for the rest of her life, I have to try.”
“You’re seriously suggesting we murder him in hissleep? While she’s lying right next to him?”
My heart seized. Horror flooded me so violently I had to slap a hand over my mouth to stop a sound from escaping.
“They’re not sleeping. They’re in some source realm where there’s no denying they were able to help each other, but now...now it’s just killing them faster.”
“I don’t understand,” Dillon argued. “You literally just admitted they’re keeping each other alive.”
“They were. But the power is too strong now. Each time they enter the source, it gives their bodies a bit more time, but it also increases the strength of the very power that’s killing them, don’t you see?”
“But—”
“A butterfly only stays in the chrysalis until it’s ready to emerge!” Frank yelled. “Whatever balance they found with each other doesn’t matter anymore because they’ve served their purpose. The parasitic power has nothing left to feed on. It’s over. There’s nothing manmade at this point that can stop it.”
“If it’s over, then how do you think killing him will save her?”
“I don’t want to killanyone.” Frank sniffed with genuine grief. “But if I have to choose between her and him...I’m sorry but it will always be Rook.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Dillon snapped. “Besides,you don’t get to make that choice. You know she’d rather die with him than live without him. Youknowthat. If you take that choice away from her—”
“You’re her damn bodyguard!” Frank yelled. “It’s in your literal job description to keep her alive under any circumstances.”
