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"It's been this way ever since I left. But I don't remember how that happened."
Arlo tilts his head to the side. "What are your symptoms?"
I push out a breath. "What I already told you. Lightheadedness. An inability to recall events. I can't member the names of people I used to know. Hell, I'm not even sure I’d recognize them if they came to me."
Arlo's jaw drops. "That's what happened when I took my tainted medication. Everything was foggy and I constantly got lightheaded."
My ears perk up. "Really?"
"Sometimes, when I came home from school, I was so dizzy I fell on my bed. I couldn’t even take off my shoes or backpack. I simply toppled over and laid there while I tried to figure out what to do."
"How did it stop?"
"The only thing that helped me was when Dr. Gianluca prescribed me new medication. My lightheadedness cleared up instantly."
“That’s happening to me, too. When I think too hard, my head spins and my brain goes blank. I haven't passed out this month, but I've come close a few times."
"Did they give you pills here?" Arlo's expression turns serious.
I shake my head. "I don't think so."
"Maybe they drugged you with something else."
I force myself to recall if this is true. But I can't. "I don't remember."
Rusty squeezes my hand. "How long have you been with Benedetto?"
“One and a half months."
"Maybe they injected you with something before you left," Rusty offers. "Try harder. It could be wearing off by now."
I think as hard as I can. That's when my arm tingles.
I glance down and suddenly, the vision of someone injecting a huge needle into my arm in the hospital ward flashes through my head. I'm screaming in my memories, but right now I'm calm.
"Oh my God. Theydidinject me with something in the hospital."
"How long? Did it happen more than once?"
"They did it every month." I sniffle. "They said it was part of our monthly checkup to keep us safe and healthy. It was an HIV preventative—or so they told us.”
Rusty nods. "Your memory is returning." He rubs my palm. "Try to remember how you got out of here. Maybe you can figure that out."
I squeeze my eyes shut. I have a vague memory of someone slipping something into my hand and guiding me through a dark space. The smell of water reaches my nose and makes me want to gag. The walls are slimy and damp. But I can't recall where I am.
"I'll keep trying." I stare into Rusty's eyes. "I won't let you down."
32
BENEDETTO
The man leadsus down a hallway and beckons us into a locked conference room.
I snarl at him and reach for my gun the second he shuts the door. "Tell us where you took our boys."
Constantine grits his teeth. "You have five seconds to come clean before we blow this place to smithereens. We've already alerted the authorities."
The man picks up a bottle of scotch. "I don't think so."
