by Jenna Moreci
speedingbackwardthroughtheintersection.Thesoundsofhornsblaringand
brakesscreechingsoundedthroughthecar,butPercycontinued,keepinghis
footonthepedalandwildlyspinningthesteeringwheelashetriedtoevadethe
obstaclesinhispath.JasonclungtoEve’sbody,Sanchogrippedathis
armrests,andJJkepthereyesonthemapinfrontofher.
“STOP!”sheshouted.
Thecarskiddedtoanabrupthalt.Sancholetoutalong,relievedsigh.
“Balls,thatmademybuttcheekspuckerup,”hemuttered.
Percy’sshouldershunched.Theyweresittinginthecenterofabusystreet,
surroundedbyhonkingcarsandangrydriverswiththeirmiddlefingersinthe
air.JJcockedherheadatasidestreet.
“Sharpleft, now.”
Percyobeyed,veeringdownthenarrowroadasquicklyashecouldmanage.
TheatmosphereintheSUVhadbecometenseandfrantic:Sanchowas
anxiously bouncing in his seat, Jason continued to shove at Eve’s chest, and Percytightlygrippedhissteeringwheel,butJJwasblindtotheensuinganxiety
andkepthereyesfocusedonherhologram.
“Leftagain,”sheordered.
PercyswervedtheSUVaroundthecornerandgrowledunderhisbreath.
“Jesus,JJ,alittlewarningwouldbenice.”
“Turnright,and punchit,”sheadded,ignoringhiscomplaint.
Percysighedandspunthecardownthesidestreet,rollinghiseyesattheecho
ofcarhornsandcursewordsthatfadedintothedistance.Atrailofsweat
linedhisforehead;heglancedathisspeedometer—hewasgoingtriplethe
speedlimit—andthenhelookedbackatEve,whosebloodyarmwasdangling
overthesideofthebenchseat.Withhisbrowfurrowed,hefacedtheroadand
putallofhisweightonthegaspedal.
JJnoddedatanupcomingintersection.“Left,”shecommanded.
“Left?” Percyasked,shootingheraperplexedstare.“It’saone-waystreet.”
“ItoldyouI’dfindashortcut.”
“Ashortcutthatwillgetusall killed?”hesnapped.
JJbitherlipwithannoyance.“Turnleft,Percy.”
“JJ—”
“TURNLEFT!”
Atthelastpossiblesecond,Percyyankedatthesteeringwheel,sharply
spinningintooncomingtraffic.Jasontoppledacrossthefloor,andSanchoand
JJ awkwardly lurched back and forth in their seats, but still Percy plowed ahead,staringinhorroratthelineofvehiclesinfrontofthem.Somedodged
himwithease,whileothersswervedintoneighboringlanesandbarreledonto
thesidewalk,andPercyjerkedhissteeringwheelfromlefttoright,desperately tryingtomaneuverhiswaythroughthechaos.
“OHMYGOD!”hecried.
Sanchoclutchedathisarmrests.“OhshitohshitohshitOHSHIT—”
“Jesus Christ,calmdown!”JJshouted.
“Calm down?”Percybarked.“TherearecarsHURTLINGtowardus,and
youwantusto CALMDOWN?”
“NeedIremindyouthatyoujustgotthroughbattling aliens,andyetyou’re scaredofalittle oncomingtraffic?”JJhissed.
Withoutanotherword,JJgrabbedatthesteeringwheelandspunittotheside,
quicklyveeringthecardownoneofthemaincityroads.
Percyrelaxedintohisseat,butonlyforamoment—achorusofsirens
sounded in the distance, and he turned to see a line of police cars following behindhim.
“Shit,”hegroused.“We’vegotpigsonourass.”
JJpeeredaroundherseat,firsttakingnoteofthefast-approachingpoliceand
thenstaringdownatEve.Jasonwasbreathingintohermouth,his
movementsfrenzied,andshecouldseethat,beneaththestreaksofblood,Eve’s
skinwascompletelywhite.JJturnedtoPercyoncemore.
“Don’tstop,”sheordered,firmly.
“Guys,”Jasonadded,finallyendinghissilence,“herpulseisgetting
weaker.”
“Keepgoing.”JJ’svoicewasstrongandassured,butherscratchpadwas nowshakinginherhands.Shepointedatanearbyjunction.“Percy,LEFT.”
“It’snotworking.”JasonshovedatEve’schest,thistimemoreaggressively,
andpressedhisfingersagainstherneck.“God dammit,it’snot working!”
JJ’sheartbegantorace;sheeyedhermapandglancedatPercy.“Turn
right.”
“It’sanotheronewaystreet,JJ!”hecried.
“ForChrist’ssake,Percy,dowhatshesays!”Jasonsnapped.
Percyswerveddowntheneighboringstreet,onceagainlaunchingthecar
directlyintothemayhem.Thestreetwaspackedwithcars,allheadedintheir
direction.Theblaringofhornsandthescreechingofbrakesrangthroughthe
SUVsoloudlythathecouldhardlyhearthepolicesirens.
Acrashsoundedbehindthem;Percyignoredit,insteadslammingonthegas
andplowingevenfasterintothethickofoncomingtraffic,veeringtotheright
aroundasportscarandtotheleftaroundaminivan.Andjustwhenhethought
theworstwasover,asemitrucksuddenlyappearedbeforehim.
“TRUCK!”JJscreamed.
“WE’REGONNADIE!”Sanchowailed.
“OHMYGOD!”Percyshouted.
Heswunghissteeringwheelinacircle,spinninghisSUVintotheopposite
lanewithsomuchforceandspeedthatitskiddedoutofcontrol.Timefroze—
thesmellofsmokeandrubberpervadedthecar,asdidthesoundofsquealing tiresandshrillscreams.JJandSanchowhippedtotheside,theirbodies
slapping against their seatbelts, and Eve’s limp figure came to life, jerking forwardandthencollapsingagainstthebenchseat.Jasonwasthrownfromthe
floorandsmashedagainstthecardoor,butPercyremainedsteady,clingingto
hissteeringwheelwithhiseyesshutandmouthopen,producingalong,
infinitehowlthatharmonizedperfectlywiththesheerpandemoniumofthe
moment.
Thecarscreechedtoastop,andanunfamiliarsilencefilledthespace.
Percy’s breathing was labored, his eyes bulging as he stared at the somewhat openroadinfrontofhim.JJsatathisside,hercooldemeanorstrippedaway,
replacedbyanobviousstateofshock.
Sheshimmiedhershoulders,asiftoshakeofftheexperience,andpeered
throughtherearwindow.Thesemitruckwaslonggone,andinsteadaseaof
smoke,tar,andmetalscrapssatbehindthem.Thepolicecarswerenowstrewn
wildlyabouttheroad,mostinminorfenderbenders,andtheofficers
congregatedinthestreet,examiningthedamage.JJturnedtoPercyandforced
ashrug.
“See?”shesaid.“Nomorepigs.Happy?”
Percyleanedonthegas,stilltryingtocalmhisbreathing.Hepulledontothe
highwayandglancedbackattheotherpassengers.
“Iseveryoneokay?”HeturnedtoJason.“Jason,areyouokay?”
JasonwasalreadyhoveringoverEve’sbody,onceagainpoundingather chest.“Justkeepdriving,”hespat.
“I’lltakethatasayes.”Percyglancedatthebackrow.“Sancho?”
Sanchodidn’trespond.Hesatcompletelystill,hislipsslightlypartedandeyes
vacant.
“Ithinkheneedsaminute,”JJmuttered.
Thegroupcontinueddowntheroad,theinteriorofthecarfinallyquietaside
fromJason’sgrunting.Soont
heremnantsoftheBillingtongateswerevisible
in the distance, surrounded by a cloud of thinning smoke. A sense of relief floodedoverJJ,thoughitwasquicklyaccompaniedbysomethingelse—an
unsettlingdread.
“Jason,justsowe’reclear,”shebegan,“whenweshowupattheward,we’re
goingtobearrested.Youknowthis.”
Jasondidn’tbothertomeetJJ’sgaze.Instead,heglancedatthespeedometer.
“Faster,”hecommanded.
JJnodded.“That’swhatIthought.”
“It’sfine,”Percyinterjected.“WesurvivedBillington,we’llsurviveprison.”
“Ilikeorange,”Sanchocroaked,finallyendinghissilence.
PercypeeledontotheBillingtongroundsandpulledalongsidethemedical
wardentrance.Theentirecampuswasstillinastateofdisarray—debris
litteredthepathways,andentirelandmarkshadbeenreducedtorubble—butthe
foursomepaidnoattentionastheychargedintotheward.Immediatelythey
wereimmersedinanewchaos—injuredstudentsandmedicalpersonnel scrambledthroughthelobby—butJasonbarreledthroughthecrowdswithEve
hanginginhisarms.
“WENEEDADOCTOR,NOW!”
Thenoiseofthelobbyloweredtoahumaseveryoneturnedtostareatthe
twoblood-soakedchimeras.Atrioofnursesrantowardthem—amanwith
sableskinandgreyscrubs,andtwowomen,oneshortwithblackhairandthe
othertallwithfreckles—gapingwithshock.
“Ohmy Lord— ” theshortwomangasped.
“SOMEONEGETAGURNEY!”themanordered.
“Didthishappenoncampus?”thefrecklednurseasked.“Wereyouinvolved
intheattack?”
JasonignoredtheirquestionsandloweredEveontothenewlyarrived
stretcher.“Look,noneofthatmatters—”
“Sir,you’rebleeding.”Themanexaminedhischestandlegandnoddedat
thecorridorbehindhim.“WeneedtogetyoutotheEmergencyRoom.”
“Getyour handsoffofme,”Jasongrowled.
“Sir,yourwoundsareserious—”
Jasongrabbedattheman’sshirtandpushedhimaway.“I said,getyour hands OFFME!”
Themanstaredwide-eyedatJasonandtuggedhisscrubsfromhisgrasp.
We’rejusttryingtohelpyou,”hemuttered.
JasonpointedatEve.“Youcanhelpmebyhelping her.”
“Whereisallthisbloodcomingfrom?”theshorterwomanasked,pressing
herstethoscopeagainstEve’schest.
“Sheexhaustedhergift.”
“Hergift?”ThefreckledwomanpausedandgazedatJason,perplexed.
“She’sachimera?”
“Look,hergiftisdying,and she’sdying,”Jasoncutin.“Shedoesn’thavea lot of time. She needs a humanovus doctor. Get Dr. Dzarnoski, and get him now.”
Themaninthegreyscrubsshookhishead.“Ican’tdothat,sir.”
“Whatdoyoumean youcan’tdothat? ”Jasonspat.“SheneedsDr.
Dzarnoski.He’sthebesthumanovussurgeoninthecountry—”
“Dr.Dzarnoskiisn’tinthehospital.”
“Wellcallhimupandtellhimtogethisassoverhere!”
Themanhesitated.“He’sonvacation.”
“He’son vacation?”Jasonbarked.
“Yourfriendisingoodhands.”Themangrabbedholdofthegurney.“We’ll
takecareofher.”
“Areyouahumanovusdoctor?”
“Therearenootherhumanovusdoctorsonstaff—”
“Jesus Christ!”Jasongroaned.
Themanpushedatthegurneywithonearmandraisedtheothertoward
Jason.“Youneedtostandback,sir.”
“I’m notleavingher.”
“Sir, standback.”
“She’s dying! Do you hear me?” Jason charged forward, his face red with frustration.“Nowgetheragoddamn CHIMERADOCTOR!”
“SIR—”
“Patient’sexsanguinating,”thefreckledgirlinterrupted,fasteninga
breathing mask over Eve’s face. “Call the blood bank. We need to initiate a massivebloodtransfusionprotocol.Let’sgethertotheICU.”
ThemannoddedandturnedtoJason,scowlingwithannoyance.“Stayhere.”
“I saidI’mnot leavingher.”
“Stay hereandletusdoourjob .”
Withoutanotherword,thethreesomeshovedEve’sgurneythroughthe
lobbyanddowntheICUcorridor.JasonfollowedstubbornlybehindwithJJ,
Percy, and Sancho on his heels. The nurses wheeled Eve into a secure room, andthoughJasontriedtojostlehiswayinside,thedoorpromptlyslammedin
hisface.
Jasonpeeredbetweenthewindowblinds,desperateforaviewofEve,but
shewassurroundedbyaswarmofdoctorsandnurses.Heturnedfromthe
window, anxiously running his fingers through his hair, and just as he felt himselfsuccumbtodespair,afamiliarfigurescuttleddownthehallway,
clumsilyjugglingalargestackofdocuments.
“Armaan!”
Armaanjumped,instantlydroppinghispapersandsighingastheyfloatedto
the ground. He turned to Jason, gaping at the sight of his bloodied, beaten body.
“Jason?What—how—”
“Armaan,wherethehellhaveyou been?”Jasonasked.“Iwaslookingallover foryouafewhoursago.”
Armaanwrinkledhisnose.“Whatareyoutalkingabout?Iwashere—I’m
alwayshere.”
Thesoundofmuffledshoutinginterruptedthem.Armaan’seyesdarted
towardthenoise,andthroughthewindowhecouldjustmakeoutEve’sbody.
“Isthat—”hestuttered,“isthat Eve? ”
Jasonsighed.“Armaan—”
“What happenedtoher?”
“It’shergift.”Jasonfaltered,strugglingtogetthewordsout.“She’s
bleedingout.She’sdying.”
“Shit,”Armaanhissed.Heblushed.“PardonmyFrench.”
Jasonloweredhisvoice.“Look,you’reDr.Dzarnoski’sassistant,right?”
“DON’TMOVE!”
ArmaanandJasonspuninplace,watchingwithchagrinasabevyof
patrolmenheadedtheirway.Sancho,Percy,andJJwereclumpedtogetherin
thedistance,theirjawsdroppedandexpressionsbleak.
“PUTYOURHANDSONYOURHEAD!”apatrolmanshouted.
“Wait,”Jasonbegan,extendinghisarmsasiftokeepthematbay.He
glancedatArmaan.“Wait,Ineedtotalktohim—”
“PUTYOUR HANDSONYOUR HEAD!”thepatrolmanrepeated.
“Look,I’llcooperate,justpleaseletmetalktohimfora second—”
ThepatrolmanpointedhisrifleatJason.“YOURHANDS,NOW!”
“DAMMIT,YOU’RENOTEVENLISTENINGTOME!”Jasonshouted.
Sanchoglancednervouslybetweenthepatrolmen,Armaan,andJason,who
wasslowlyrestinghispalmsbehindhishead,hispanickedfacecompelling
Sanchotoact.Heinchedoutofthepatrolmen’slineofvision,situatinghimself
beside an artificial plant and a set of low-hanging curtains, and with as much subtletyashecouldmuster,hepointedhisflamethrowerattheplantand
delicately tapped at the control panel. A sharp burst of fire spread across the fauxleavesandupthedrapery,andSanchoscurriedtowardthelineof
patrolmenandclearedhisthroat.
“Um,guys?”hecroaked.“Heyguys!”Henoddedattheflickeringflames
andshrugged.“Thebuildingissortofonfire.”
The patrolmen froze. “Ah, Christ,” one of them groaned, and together they racedtowardthefire,scramblingtoputouttheflames.
SanchotookonelastlookatthebumblingsoldiersandturnedtoJason.
“Whatareyouwaitingfor?”HepointedtoArmaan.“Talktohim!”
JasonnoddedatSanchoandhurriedtoArmaan’ssideoncemore.“Dr.
Dzarnoski—youworkwithhim,”hebegan.
Armaanbobbedhishead.“Yes.Almosteveryday.”
“Soyouknowhispractices.You’velearnedhisprocedures,readhis
research.”
“Yeah,Iguess.Imean,Itriedto,whenIcould.”
“Thenhowdowestopit?”Jasonasked.“Howdowestopherfromshutting
down?”
Armaansighed.“Wecan’t,Jason.”
“Therehastobe something,Armaan.”
“Thereisn’t.”
“There is. ”
“Jason—”
“Think,Armaan!”Jasonspat.Hegrabbedattheboy’sshoulders.“There has tobeawaytokeepheralive.Therehastobeawaytosaveher—tosaveher
gift.”
Armaanopenedhismouthtospeak,butstoppedhimself.Hiseyesflitted
fromJasontoEve’sroom,andimmediatelyhisfaceturnedpaleandclammy.
“What?”Jasonsaid.“Whatisit?”
Armaanhesitated.“There’sbeenresearch,”heexplained,“aboutatreatment.
Dzarnoski’sbeenconductingcasestudiesonitformonthsnow.”
“Atreatment?”Jason’seyesbrightened.“What,likeacure?”
“Researchsuggeststhatthegiftiscontrolledbythepairingofthe
cerebellumandthetemporallobe,andthustriggeringtheseareasmayinturn
galvanize the gift.” Armaan lifted his hands, waving them as he spoke. “This stimulus,intheory,willenergizethecoordinationassociatedwiththe
cerebellumaswellasthevisualmemoryofthetemporallobe,andifwefocus
ourimpetusspecificallyonthe rightsideofthebrain—”
“Armaan,timeisn’texactlyonoursiderightnow,”Jasoncutin.
“It’sanelectroconvulsivetreatment.Itsendsanelectriccurrenttothebrain,
whichstimulatestherelevantlobesandsupposedlyactivatesthegift.”
“Allright,soweneedtogetinthereandtellherdoctorstodothis
treatment.”
