The Awakening
Page 37
His fingers bent and curled in every direction, cracking and quivering until theyappearedlonger,thinner,andunusuallyfeminine.Hewaspanting,hiseyes
clenchedshutinobviouspain,andjustwhenEvethoughtshecouldn’tbearthe
sightofitanylonger,everythingstopped.
EvestareddownatArmaan’shand—whichnolongerappearedtobehisat
all—andwasstunnedintosilence.Hisarmwasnowmuchlonger,hisfingers
slender,andthepalmofhishandwasmarkedwithathinscar.
“Holyshit,”Evemumbled.“Yourhand—”
“It’s your hand. And arm.” He wiggled his fingers and admired his new appendage.“Prettydynamic,huh?”
“Howdidyou do that?”
“Ifiguredouthowthesecondskinworks.”
“Igatheredthat.Please,enlightenme.”
“It’smind-controlled.IimaginetheformIwantittotake,andlikethat,it’s
done.” He stuck his arm out before her. “Touch it. Go ahead. It feels totally real.”
Evehesitated,thenlightlygrazedherfingersalonghisforearm,sending
chillsrunningthroughherbody.Sheflippedhiswristandcomparedhispalm
withhers—thescarswereidentical,aswerethefinelines,eventhe
fingerprints.
“Thisis…”
“Amazing?”
“Creepy.”Sheshuddered.“Likesomethingoutofasci-fimovie.”
Armaan laughed. “There are limitations, though. The second skin relies on memory,soIcanonlychangemyselfintosomeoneIknow—someoneI’ve
seenfacetoface.Ican’tjustinventapersonaoutofthinair.”
“WhichexplainswhytheInterlopersaretakingoverpeople’slivesinstead
ofjustcreatingnewones.”
Armaanheldhishandsinfrontofhisfaceandanalyzedthedissimilarities.
“It’sremarkable.Thetransformationitselfisunpleasant—”
“Itsoundedlikeyourboneswerebeingcrushed.”
“And it felt like it, too,” he grumbled. “But once that part is over, it feels completelynatural,asifI’vealwaysbeenthisway.”
Eveeyedhisarm—orrather, herarm—andagainfeltatremorofnervous
energy race through her. She shoved her hands into her pockets and tried to appearunaffected.
“Howdoyouremoveit?Howdoyougobacktonormal?”
“Ijust willthefluidtoreleaseitselffrommybody,andlikethat,it’sdone.”
Hepaused,hissmilesuddenlywideasifhehadasecret.“Butthere is another way—awaythatcouldworkinyourfavor.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
Hefiddledwiththeequipmentonhisbed,hishandsworkinginperfect
synchronicityasiftherewerenodifferencebetweenthetwo.
“EachtimeIremovedthesecondskin,InoticedthatIbecamehot—like,
reallyhot,almostasifIhadsomesudden,overpoweringfever.”
Evethoughtbacktoherrun-inwiththeInterloperinJason’sdorm.“When
Garyattackedus,hewassweatinglikecrazybeforehisskincameoff.”
Armaansmiled.“Exactly.”HegrabbedhisBunsenburnerandopenedtheair
hole until a blue flame surged at the burner. Without hesitation, he thrust his fauxhandintothefire.
“ARMAAN!”Evescreamed.
“Relax,Eve,”hereassuredher,“itdoesn’thurt.Andlook.”Henoddedathis
hand,whichwasnowdrippinglikecandlewax.Thesecondskintrickleddown
his fingers, exposing his tan, knobby knuckles. Finally, he lifted his arm, removingitfromtheflameandexposingwhatappearedtobehisown,normal
handemergingfromthegooeyEve-hand.Heturnedtoherandgrinned.
“Extremeheat—itdoesthetrick.Itmeltsthestuffrightoffwithoutdamaging
thebodyunderneath.”
“So,ifwewanttoexposeanInterloper,wejusthavetolightthebastardon
fire,”Evesaid.
“Whichisn’texactlyagreatoption.Youcan’tjustrunaroundwitha
flamethrowerignitinganyoneyoususpectisanalien.”Hewipedhishandclean
and gathered the remaining liquid in a small petri dish. “But I figured it’s a startingpoint—somethingyoucouldworkwith.”
EvelookedatArmaan’smessybed—thearrayofsupplies,theslime-filled
dish—andthengazedathisarm,nowbacktoitsoriginalform,perfectlyintact
andunscathed.
“You’remakinghistory,Armaan.Youknowthat,right?”
Hesmiledbashfullyandglancedathiswatch.“Youbettergetgoing.My
roommatewillbebackanysecond.”
Shecockedherheadtowardthedoor.“Didyouwanttocomewith?Youcan
showtheguysyourdiscovery.”
Heshookhishead.“Ihavetoheadtothemedicalwardanyway.”
“Ofcourse.Thevolunteerworkneverends,”shebarbed.
“Actually,I’mnotavolunteer.Well,notanymore,atleast.”Heliftedhischin
withfalseconfidence.“I’manassistantnow.”
“Anassistant?”
“It’sreallyjustafancytermfor personal servant.”Heshrugged.“I’mworking fortheward’sonlyhumanovussurgeon—Dr.Dzarnoski.Haveyou
heardofhim?”
“Vaguely.Furstwastellingmeabouthimawhileback.He’soneofthebest
inthecountry.”
“Yeah, one of the best and a real hammer. I’ve gone from fetching you to fetching coffee.”
Evesighed.“Letmeguess,beinghisassistantwillhelpyougetintomedical school?”
“ItwillifDzarnoskiwritesmealetterofrecommendation.”Hebeamed.
“But just having the opportunity to learn from him, maybe even discuss his
research…”Hestaredoffacrosstheroomashedaydreamedaboutthe possibilities. “For that, I’d get his coffee forever. It would be worth it.” He glanced back at Eve and rolled his eyes. “Hope that Lionel Vandeveld guy is enjoying his new spot in the medical program. Some of us actually have to workourwayup.”
EvechuckledtoherselfassheleftArmaan’sroomandmadeherwayoutof
ClarenceHall.ShewasheadedtoPercy’ssuiteintheRutherfordTower,where
hercomradeswerewaiting,undoubtedlystewingoverflimsystrategiesand
unsoundtheories,andsoforamomentshefelttheslightestbitexcitedthatshe
had something to offer. As she waited in the tower elevator, the memory of Armaan’sarmflashedbeforehereyes,bubblingandbendinguntilittookthe
formofherownhand.Sheclosedhereyes,tryingtoridherselfofthe
disturbingvision,andwhensheopenedthemagain,shehadreachedPercy’s
room.Sheopenedthedoorandhurriedinside.
Beforeshecouldutteraword,shestoppedshort,hereyeswideasshegaped
atanew,equallydisturbingsight:thesightofJason,Percy,andSancho
surroundingafourthfiguresittingatthekitchencounter.
“Oh,heyEve,”Jasonsmiled.“Wemetyourfriend.Howcomeyoudidn’ttell
usabouther?”
Eve’s throat tightened. Friend, she thought to herself. The word almost sounded offensive. As if choreographed, the girl swiveled around on her bar stoolandflashedthemostself-satisfiedgrinEvehadeverseen.
“Hey, friend,”JJchirpedwithawink.
Evegrowled.“Whatis shedoinghere?”
“She’sshowingusallofherdifferentprograms,”Percyanswered,nodding athersleek,po
lishedscratchpad.
“Yeah, she’s incredible.” Sancho turned to JJ, his eyes bulging. “You’re incredible,didItellyouthatyet?”
Sherolledhereyes.“Afewtimes,actually.”
“Shesaidyoutwodiscussedthisalready,”Jasonadded.
“We discussedthis?”Evesnapped.“God,you’rearealpieceofwork,JJ.”
“Wait,amImissingsomething?”Jasonlookedbackandforthbetweenthe
twogirls.“Aren’tyoutwofriends?”
Evescoffed.“Hardly.”
“Butwaitasecond,”Sanchosaid.“Youhavetobefriends.Sheknowsall
aboutourresearch.”
“That’sbecauseshehackedmyscratchpad!”
“Hey,inmydefense,Ibeggedhertogetmeinvolved,”JJchimedin.
“Desperatetimescallfordesperatemeasures.”
Eveturnedtohercomradesandcrossedherarms.“Look,shecan’tbehere.”
Sheloweredhervoice.“Wedon’tknowanythingabouther—”
“Well,apparentlyI’m incredible, ”JJquipped.“Youdon’tneedtoknowmuch else.”
“Shecouldbean InterloperforChrist’ssake!”
JJlaughedaloud.“That’sthedumbestthingI’veeverheard!Imean,really,
doI looklikeadamnalien?”
Eveandherfriendsstoodinsilence,sharingawkwardglancesasJJ’s laughtertrailedoffintoanuncomfortablehush.
“What?”shefinallyasked.
“Shedoesn’tknow,”Jasonmumbled.HelookedoveratEve,perplexed.
“Youdidn’ttellheraboutthesecondskin?”
“Of courseIdidn’ttellher.We’renotfriends.She’snotinthegroup.”
“Wait,what secondskin?”JJquestioned.“Whatareyouguystalkingabout?”
Againthegroupwasquiet.Evemutteredunderherbreath,irritatedatJJ’sgall.
Theboysstaredatoneanothersheepishly.Theyhadbeeninfiltrated,outwitted
byasmallgirlwearingpurplesneakers,andtheembarrassmentwas
writtenacrosstheirfaces.Percyclearedhisthroat,breakingthestillness.
“Okay,JJ,what’stherealstory?”
JJflashedacomplacentsmile.“Lookguys,mymethodsmaybe
questionable,butmyworkspeaksforitself.Yes,IhackedintoEve’sand
Jason’sscratchpads—”
“Wait,”Jasoninterrupted,“youhacked myscratchpadtoo?”
JJsighedandcontinued.“Butthat’sbesidesthepoint.Ihaveaccessto
Billington’sdatabase.That’showIfoundoutabouttheirundergroundShelter
andthecolossalmessthey’vecreated.IknowallaboutFaironandthe
infamous list—thelistthatBillingtonlost.Haven’tseenitmyself,butdamnare theyshittingthemselvesoverit.”SheturnedtoJason.“Iknow everything.Well, everythingexceptforthis‘secondskin’bullyoukeepramblingabout.”
“TheInterlopersaredisguisingthemselvesashumans.”
“Jason,”Evehissed.
“They’rewearingaliquidcoating—asecondskin—thatmakestheirtrue
identityundetectable.”
“Whyareyoutellingherthis?”
“Shedeservestoknow,”heanswered,firmly.“Atleastforherownsafety.”
Evescowled.“Well,nowthatyou’vebeenbroughtuptospeed,youcan
leave.”
“Easeoff,princess,I’mjusttryingtohelpyou.”
“Why?Whythesuddeninterestinwhatwe’redoing?”
JJshruggedhershoulders.“Ihavemyreasons.”
“Andtheyare?”
“Myreasonsarenoneofyourbusiness.”
“Great,”Evegroaned,turningtohercomrades.“Sowe’resupposedtotrust
her,butshecan’teventrustus.”
JJlaughed.“God,withyourlevelofparanoia,you’dthinksomeonewas
lookin’tokillyou.”
Eveopenedhermouthtospeak,butnowordscameout.Herfacereddened;
shethoughtofGary’sominousmessage,Furst’sdreadfulwarning,andthe
ashylettersthathaddecoratedherclassroomwalls.
“Wow,”Percymuttered.“Talkaboutputtingyourfootinyourmouth,JJ.”
“EveisFairon’snumberonetarget,”Jasonexplained.
“It’snotjustthat,”Evemuttered.“Ireceivedadeaththreat:‘ DieChime.’ It waswrittenallovertheclassroomwalls…inashes.”
“Good Lord,”Percysaid.
“Doyouhaveanyideawhodidit?”Jasonasked.
EveglancedatJJ,stillperturbedbyherpresence,andreluctantlycontinued.
“IfoundashesalloverMadison’sbed.”
“Youwerethreatenedbyyourown roommate?”Sanchogasped.
“Whendidthishappen?”Jasoncutin.
“Yesterday.”
“Andyou’rejusttellingus now?”
“Well,Iwould’vesaidsomethingsooner,Jason,butIwasalittledistracted
byyour ass-kicking rampage—”
“Holdon,letmegetthisstraight—thekingoftheInterloperswantsto
dissectyou,andthequeenofdiamondswantstokillyou?”Percycringed.
“SuckstobetheChimeraBitch.”
“Doyouthinkshemeansit?”Sanchoasked.“Doyouthinkshe’llfollow
through?”
“Idon’tknow.”Eveshookherhead.“Itdoesn’tmakesense.Ithoughtshewas
justupsetaboutJason.”
Percyshrugged.“Maybesheis.”
“Upsetenoughtowantme dead?”
“Hellhathnofurylikeawomanscorned.”
“So,whatarewegoingtodoaboutit?”Jasonasked.
“Nothing,”Eveasserted.“Ambushingherwillonlyfuelthefire.”
“Eve—”
“She’s my roommate. She’s my problem,” Eve maintained. “We have more importantthingstoworryabout.”
“Icouldn’tagreemore,”JJbrazenlyinterrupted.“Thesoapoperacanwait.”
Sheleanedbackinherseatandsmirked.“Look,you’rebarelytreadingwater
withtheInterlopersasitis.It’stimetofacefacts:you needme.”
Evegrumbled.“Isthatso?”
“Stillnotconvinced?”JJactivatedherscratchpad.“Fine,I’llproveittoyou.”
Shehunchedoverhercomputerandranherhandsalongthescreen.Eveand
theothershoveredaboveher,watchingasrowsofnumberscloudedthe
display.JJdraggedherfingertipsacrossselectdigits,pluckingthemfromthe
screen until they floated in front of her in holographic form. She rearranged thenumbers,creatinglong,complexformulasthatEvedidn’tunderstand,then
sentthembackintothedisplayofhercomputer.
“Whatareyoudoing?”Sanchoasked.
“HackingintotheShelter’smainframe.”
Hiseyeswidened.“Balls.You’relikeacomputergoddess.”
JJcontinued,reorganizingrowafterrowofnumbersandsymbolswith
unremittingfocus.Finally,animageappearedonherscreen,andshewaved
herhandaboveit,projectingitasathree-dimensionaldisplay.
Evestaredatthehologram—itwasasmalldevicewithasinglebluebutton
initscenter,amechanismshehadseenbefore.
“Theycallthisthebeacon,”JJsaid.
“Right,theInterlopers’communicationdevice,”Evesaid.
“You’refamiliarwithit?”Sheminimizedthehologram.“Good,thenIcan
skipthetediousexplanationsandgetstraighttothepoint.Ifyouguyscanget
your hands on one of these things, I can crack it for you. That means yo
u’ll havetheinsidescoopontheInterlopers’agenda,andontopofthat—”
“We’llknowaboutanattackbeforeithappens,”Jasonadded.
“Precisely.”SheturnedtoEve.“Andwhoknows?Maybeit’llhelpyoutrack
downyourbestbud,Fairon.”
Evegrimaced.“Thebeaconisalientechnology.Howcanyoubesureyou’ll
beabletogetitworking?”
“Ican’tbesure,”JJscoffed,“butlet’sfaceit,I’mahellofalotmorequalified todothejobthananyofyou.”
Eve rolled her eyes and glanced at her friends; they stared at the ground, avoiding her critical gaze, and immediately she felt a horrible twinge in her stomach.
“Oh,shit,”shesaid.“Youguysarebuyingintothis,aren’tyou?”
PercyofferedJJapatheticpatontheshoulder.“Wouldyouexcuseusfora
moment?”Henoddedattheremainingthree.“Team—assemble.Livingroom.
Now.”
Thefoursomeheadedtothelivingroomandhuddledtogether.Evewas seething,herhandsplantedfirmlyonherhips.
“Look,Ihatetopointouttheobvious,butthegirl’saliability.Sheliedtoour faces,shehackedourscratchpads—”
“Butshealsohackedthe Shelter—and,inwhat? Seconds?”Percyargued.
“Liarornot,she’sgot skills.Can youoperateabeacon?’CauseIcan’t.”
“He’sright,”Jasonconcurred.“YouandIhavethegift.PercyandSancho
havethefirepower.JJhasthetechnology.It’sanaturalfit.”
“Iagree,”Sanchocutin.“She’samazing.She’sperfect.She’stotallyin.”
“Youguyscan’ttellmeyouactually trusther,right?”
Jasonhesitated.“Honestly,no,”heanswered.“Butinthiscase,Ithinkwehave
topushourapprehensionsaside.”
“Andbesides,Eve,I’mprettysureshe’smysoulmate.”Sancho’sfacelitupas
he spoke. “A technical genius with a naughty side? Please don’t mess this up forme.”
“Um,guys?”JJinterrupted.“You’reonly,like,tenfeetawayfromme,andI
canheareverythingyou’resaying…”
Jason looked at Eve, his eyes pleading for tolerance. “If she can help us, shouldn’twegiveherashot?”
“Yeah,likeatrialrun—aprobationaryperiod?”Percyadded.
Evepaused,andtheroombecameuncomfortablystill.Finally,shecradled