CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Evan
Thursday
9:42 pm
25 hours, 7 minutes until the falling
We stared at the book. My words hung like an unwanted confession of love.
What is the falling?
The wall clock ticked off a full minute—never had sixty ticks taken so long. The sound was soon replaced in my mind with Pearl's heartbeat, growing fainter with each passing second. I stood. "We better keep moving."
Henri nodded.
We left the blue room.
"You have a sister," Henri said.
I smiled, but only because it seemed like the right thing to do. We arrived at a narrow door. Henri rattled the handle. Locked. Her eyes lit. "Can you break it down?"
I wrapped my fingers around the knob.
"I already tried," she said.
I peered inside the lock with my mind, trying to remember the sensation of the unlocked shackles. I heard a tiny click. Pressure from the stored up sapience in my veins released. My migraine all but evaporated. Turning the handle, I pushed the door open. It creaked long.
I thought you weren't using sapience?
I forgot—my instincts had taken over.
Keep it up. I'll be running that body of yours by the end of the night.
"But I just..." Henri said.
I coughed. "Must've been stuck."
She stepped through the doorway, glanced over her shoulder. "Are you coming?"
I stared at Henri, trying not to imagine Mazol whispering in her ear.
Use pain. Make her tell you what she's up to with Mazol.
But I want to hold her, to feel her lips on mine.
You can't stay.
I have to get used to the idea of being alone. Of never seeing Henri again. I moved to pass her, but she stopped me, her hand on my chest. Could she feel the pounding? I tried to push past. She moved her hand to my face, forcing me to look in her eyes, so close I could feel her breath.
"We"—I swallowed—"have to go."
She leaned up, so our lips almost touched. "I'm sorry Evan."
I didn't breath. She kissed me on the cheek then took my hand. A moment later, I think my legs began to move, one in front of the other. Walking.
We passed through the next room and the one after that. Henri's hand so small, calloused, soft. Trembling. I wanted to live in that moment forever. But something began to twist inside me. Her hand hardened. Her skin chilled.
What's Henri sorry about?
Don't ruin my last few hours with Henri. Please.
What's she doing behind your back?
I searched her face for a clue. She stared straight ahead, her eyes wet at the corners. I tried to remember the kiss, to concentrate on how her skin felt so soft against mine, but I couldn't stop the images of her and Mazol from flooding my mind. Her skin felt rough now. I scanned her again. Her face, frozen; and her tears turned to flaking chrome.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Evan Burl and the Falling, Vol. 1-2 Page 33
