by Jenna Moreci
Armaanshookhishead.“Jason,it’s highlyexperimental.Imean,it’sstilljusta theory—”
“It’sworthashot.”
“We’re talking about shocking her brain, Jason,” Armaan retorted. “And this isn’tsomenegligibleelectroconvulsivetherapy.Thesearepowerful,
potentially lethalcurrents.Andevenifit does activatehergift,there’snoway ofknowingifit’llreversethedamagedonetoherentiresystem.Notto
mention,alloftheequipmentisstoredinDzarnoski’soffice,whichis
completelylockedandsecure.”
JasonglancedbackatEve’sroom.Countlessdoctorsandnurseswere
hovering over her, their faces white and panic-stricken. A horrible fear ran
throughJason’sbody,andheturnedtoArmaanoncemore.
“Whateverittakestosaveher—”
“Thiscould killher,Jason.Youunderstandthat?Shecould die.”
“SHE’SALREADYDYING!”Jasonbarked.“Look,doesshehaveanyother
options?Anything?”
Armaanpaused.“No.”
“Canyoudoit?”
Armaandidadoubletake.“Wait, what?”
“Canyoudothetreatment?”Jasonrepeated.“Canyousaveher?”
“Holdon—”
“IfIgottheequipment,couldyouoperateit—”
“Dammit,Jason,I’man assistant,nota doctor!”Armaanhissed.
“Thisis Evewe’retalkingabout,Armaan!”Jasonspat,hispatiencewaning.
“Doyouunderstand?She’syour friend,andshe’s dying.”Heleanedincloser, his eyes pleading for cooperation. “Now, let me ask you again: if I got the equipment,couldyoudoit?Canyoudothetreatment?”
Armaanhesitated.Againheglanceddownthecorridor,ashecouldstillhear
themuffledcommotioncomingfromEve’sroom.HeturnedtoJason.
“Yes.”
“Doyouthinkit’llwork?”Jasonasked.
“I—”hestuttered,“Idon’tknow.Butit’stheonlychanceshehas.”
“HANDSONYOURHEAD!”
Jasongroaned.Thepatrolmenwereonceagainheadedhisway,andhe slowlyplacedhishandsonthebackofhishead.
“Where’sDzarnoski’soffice,Armaan?”heasked.
“Jason,it’slocked!”
“Justtellmewhereitis!”
Armaan’seyesflittedbetweenJasonandthepatrolmen.“Fourthfloor,down
the corridor, and on the right. Look for the small black box with two white buttons.”
“Nomoretalking,”apatrolmanmuttered.HeyankedatJason’sarms,clasping
themtogetherwithmetalcuffs.“Stand still.”
AsthesoldierdraggedJasondownthecorridor,Armaanscurriedbehind
him,stoppingonlyattheinsistenceofyetanotherpatrolman.Hestoodonhis
toesandpeeredaroundthesoldier’sbody.
“Jason!There’sonelastthing!”heshouted.
Jasonglancedoverhisshoulder.“What?”
“Getarazor!”
Jasonwrinkledhisbrow.“A razor?
“Justtrustme!”
“Sitdown,”thesoldiersneered,ploppingJasonintoanemptyseatattheside ofthehallway.AcrossfromhimsatPercy,Sancho,andJJ,theirwrists
shackledandtheirheadsdippedindefeat.Thepatrolmanglaredatthe
foursome.“Don’tmove,noneofyou.”
“Goddamnbunchofbastards,”asecondpatrolmanmuttered.Hepointedat Sancho.“Thisonelightingthedamnhospitalonfire.”
Theysatinsilence.Jasonfidgetedinhisseatashegazeddownthehallatthe
staircase in the distance. Percy glanced between the patrolmen and Jason and cockedhischinatthespotwhereArmaanoncestood.
“Whatdidhesay?”hewhispered.
“There’sanofficeonthefourthfloor—”
“NOTALKING,”oneofthepatrolmengrowled.
JasonlookedathisshacklesandthenatPercy.“I needtogettothatoffice—”
“ISAID,NOTALKING.”
“You’reallgoingtojail.Yourealizethat,right?”anotherpatrolmanchimed
in. “Police are coming right now to take you into custody.” He scowled at Jason.“Andifyourgirlfriendlives,she’sgoingtojail,too.”
Jasonignoredthepatrolmanandstareddownthehall.Eve’sroomwasonly
ashortdistanceaway,buttheblindswerenowclosed.Armaanhoveredbeside
thedoor,pressinghisearagainstitssurface,andhelookedbackatJason,his
faceawashinfear.Anxiously,Jasonlookedtowardthefarstairwellandthenat
thepatrolmeninfrontofhim,eachoneidlypacingthecorridorwithariflein
hishands.
Finally,JasonturnedtoPercy,andtheireyeslockedasiftheyhadcometo
thesameunspokenconclusion.Sanchoobservedthemskeptically,andashe
realizedwhatwasabouttoensue,hegrabbedJJ’shandandheldittightly.
Percysubtlycockedhisheadatthepatrolmanstandinginfrontofhim,and Jasonclenchedhisfistsandnodded.Withadeepbreath,hecounteddowninhis
head:
Three.Two.One.
Suddenly,Percyslammedhisfootintothepatrolman’sback.Thesoldier
lurched forward, and Jason kicked at his chin, sending him toppling to the floor.Jasonwinced;hislegwasthrobbing,andbloodpouredfromhisinjured
thigh,buthepushedpastthepainandstaggeredtohisfeet.
Anotherpatrolmanrushedhisway,andJasonswunghisshackledfistsatthe
man’sface,punchinghimonce,twice,threetimes,untilatorrentofbloodshot
fromhisnostrils.Athirdpatrolmanlungedtowardhim,andJasonhead-butted
thesoldier,whofelltothegroundwithathud.
Jason turned to Percy, who was fumbling with one of the fallen rifles; he steadiedtheweaponandfiredatJason’scuffs,snappingthechainintwo,and
withoutaword,Jasonbarreledtowardthestairwell.
Thelastpatrolmanstandingsprintedafterhim,butJJstuckoutherfootand
trippedhim,cringingashesmackedface-firsttotheground.Thesoldier
clamberedtohisknees,growling,butJasonhadalreadyfledfardownthe
hallway.
“WAIT!”hecried.“STOPRIGHTTHERE!”
Jasonranevenfaster,hisweakbodynowinfusedwithadrenaline.Agunshot
sounded behind him, and his entire body jerked forward, but he regained his
footingandcontinuedonahead.Soonatorturousachepulsedthroughhisarm, andbloodsplatteredontothelinoleum—hehadbeenshot,thebulletlodged
somewhereinhistriceps—butthepainwasmaskedbyatinglingnumbness,
one that spread from his arm to the gashes on his chest and stomach, to his brokenribsandhisthigh,andinthatmomenthefeltstrongerthanheeverhad
before.
Withhisbrowfurrowed,heslammedatthestairwelldoorandboundedup
thesteps,movingsoswiftlythattheworldaroundhimbecameablur.He
passedthesecondfloor,andthenthethird,andwhenhereachedthefourth,he
swungopenthedoorandtoredownthehallway.
Gaspsandcriessoundedupanddownthehallaspatientshurriedawayfrom
Jason,buthewastoodistractedtonotice.Armaan’sdirectionsrepeatedinhis
mind,andhespeddownthecorridors,finallystoppinginfrontofDzarnoski’s
officedoor.
Hetuggedatthehandle—theofficewaslocked,asArmaanhadsaiditwould
be—andwithgrittedteeth,hetookastepbackandthrewhisbodyagainst
the
door.Asharppainrippedthroughhisarmandchest,butthedoordidn’tgive.
Againhehurledhimselfintothedoor,andthenhekickedatthehandlewiththe
soleofhisboot.Jasonstumbledawayfromthedoor,nowgrippinghis
profuselybleedingarm.Hecouldfeelitnow—thepainofeachandeveryone
of his wounds, the blood and dirt that clung to his skin, the weakness that he wassounaccustomedto.
Butjustwhenhefelthimselfyieldingtohisownfragility,hethoughtofEve, of her smile and laugh, and then he saw her pale body covered in blood. A potentresiliencecoursedthroughhim,andheslammedandkickedatthedoor
overandoveruntilitshookatthehinges.Hescreamedandroared,reclaiming
hispainasmotivation,andatlastthedoorcrackedatthelatchandswungopen,
smackingagainsttheoppositewallwithaloudcrash.
Jasondartedintotheofficeandscannedthespace.Herifledthroughpapers
andtorethroughcabinets,searchingforasmallblackboxwithtwowhite
buttons. Finally, he spotted it—it was the size of a scratchpad cube except rectangularinshape—andheimmediatelygrabbeditandheadedforthedoor.
Suddenlyhestoppedhimself;hecaughtsightofanelectricrazorsittingonthe
endtable,andagainherememberedArmaan’swords.Withashrug,heplucked
therazorfromitsrestingspot,ploppeditintohispocket,andbarreledoutinto thehall.
Acrowdofpeoplehadgatheredbytheoffice,gapingatthebelligerent
chimera,butJasonplowedpastthemandheadedforthestairwell.Heflew
downthesteps,hisbootspoundingagainstthestairsuntilhefinallyreachedthe groundfloorandchargedthroughthehallwayonceagain.
Sancho,JJ,andPercywerestillseatedinthewaitingarea,thebloodied
patrolmennowaimingtheirriflesatthem,andArmaanwaspacinginfrontof
Eve’sdoor,hishandsfidgetingnervouslyathissides.
“ARMAAN!”Jasonshouted.
ArmaanspuntowardJason.“Wow,”hebreathed.“Thatwas reallyfast—”
Jasonskiddedtoahalt,nearlystumblingintoArmaan,andpromptlyshoved
theequipmentandrazorintohishands.HenoddedatEve’sdoor.
“Getinthere.Dothetreatment.”
Armaanreachedforthehandlebutstoppedhimself.“JASON!You’reshot!”
“Armaan…”Jasongrowled.
“Youneedadoctor.”HegazedatJason,hiseyeswidewithhorror.“There’s
a bullet inyourarm.”
“Dothetreatment,Armaan,”Jasonrepeated,quietlybutfirmly.“Andplease, fortheloveof God,saveher.”
Suddenly,Jasonfeltsomethingpressagainstthebackofhishead;itwas
hardandnarrow,likeametalpipe,andheknewitwasthebarrelofagun.
“Don’tmove.”
Jasontookinalongbreath.HestaredatArmaan,whowastremblingwith
fear.Hesitantly,heliftedhishandsintotheair.
“Stepawayfromyourfriend,and slowlyturntowardme.”
“Jason…”Armaanwhimpered.
“It’sokay,”Jasoninsisted.“We’reokay.”
Jasonpivotedinplaceuntilthebarrelwaspointedatthecenterofhis
forehead. He stared at the patrolman, whose lips and chin were dripping with blood, thanks to their earlier brawl. The soldier scowled at Jason and peered overhisshoulderattheterrifiedArmaan.
“Kid,”hebarked,“moveawayfromthedoor.”
“Don’tdoit,Armaan,”Jasonordered.
“Isaid,move awayfromthe door.”
“I’vegotyou,Armaan.”Jasonliftedhischin.“Stayrightwhereyouare.”
“I’mkindofgettingconflictinginformationhere,Jason,”Armaansaid.
Asecondsoldierjoinedthegroup,thisonejustasunyieldingasthefirst.He
pointedhisrifleatArmaan.
“Sir,he’sholdingsomething.Couldbeaweapon.”
ThefirstpatrolmanglaredatArmaan.“Moveawayfromthedoor,andhand
overtheweapon.”
“Don’tdoit,” Jasonsnapped.
“STOPGIVINGHIMORDERS!”
“Armaan,doyoutrustme?”Jasonasked.
“Um,”Armaanfaltered,stilleyeingthetwosoldiers.“Yes?”
“IFYOURESIST,IWILLBEFORCEDTOSHOOTYOU,”thefirst
patrolmanbarked.
Jasoncouldfeelthebloodtricklingdownhisarmanddribblingontohis
boot. He looked back at the soldier, and then at the line of patrolmen now assembling by his side, and while their posture was proud and steady, their eyesrevealedtheirfear.
AmutedclamoreruptedbehindJason—itwasthesoundofdoctorsshouting,
anditwascomingfromEve’sroom—andagain,heturnedtofacethe
patrolmanbeforehim,hisgazepiercingandsevere.
“Look,man,Idon’twanttohurtyouagain,Ireallydon’t.”Hewalked
forwarduntiltherifle’sbarrelwaspressedagainsthisforehead.“ButIwillifI haveto.”
Thepatrolmanwavered,andforamomentJasoncouldfeelhisgunshaking.
Themanbithislip.
“I’mgoingtocounttothree.”
“OhGod,he’scountingtothree,”Armaanstuttered.“He’s countingto
three.”
“Whateveryoudo,Armaan,don’tmoveuntilIsayso,”Jasoninstructed.
Thepatrolmancockedhisrifle.“ONE.”
“JASON!”Armaangasped.
“DON’TMOVE,”Jasonrepeated.
“TWO—”
Beforethesoldiercouldcontinue,Jasongrabbedtheriflebarrelandthrustit
forward,poundingitintothesoldier’snosewithaloudcrack.
Inthatinstant,awarbegan—soldierscameathimfromeveryangle,but
Jasonstoodfirm,determinedtoshieldArmaan.Hehurledhisfistatthenearest
soldier, punching him once in the jaw and again in the throat, and then he meltedanotherpatrolmanagainstthewall,sendinghimfloppingontoarowof
chairs.Twomorepatrolmendovetowardhim,andJasonquicklygrabbedone
bytheshouldersandthrewhimintohiscomrade,sendingbothtothegroundin atangledheap.Outofthecornerofhiseye,hesawanothersoldierattheend
ofthecorridor,hisriflecockedandaimed,butJasonmeltedtheweaponfrom
hisgraspandlauncheditacrosstheroom.Withagrowl,thepatrolmanbolted
towardhim,butJasonslammedhisfistintotheman’stempleandkickedhimin
thegut,sendinghimstaggeringbackwardandtopplingtotheground.
Jasonpivotedinplacejustintimetofindonelastpatrolmanathisside,his
gunpointedatArmaan.Withouthesitation,Jasonrippedtheweaponfromthe
soldier’shandsandsmackedhimacrossthefacewiththerifle’sbutt.
Anxiously,Jasoneyedhissurroundings.Thefirsthandfulofsoldierswere
all reeling at his feet, but even more were now sprinting down the hallway, headedinhisdirection.HespuntowardArmaan,hiseyeswideandfrantic.
“DOIT!”Jasonyelled.“GO,NOW!”
Justashespoke,theentirehordeofpatrolmenlungedatJason,pushinghim
to the floor and burying him under the dog-pile. But Jason had done what he needed—he’dclearedthewayforArmaan—andthroughthethickoflimbs,he
sawArmaandartintothehospitalroomandslamthedoorbehindhim.
Armaanstoppedbesidethedoorway,staringinaweatthesceneinfrontof
him.Atleasttendoctorsandnursescong
regatedaroundEve’sbody,their
scrubs covered in blood and their faces dripping with sweat. A single doctor hoveredoverEve,pressingtheelectrodesofadefibrillatoragainstherchest.
“Clear!”
Themedicalteamlookedonindismayastheirpatientconvulsedwiththe energyandthencollapsedagainstthetable—stilllimp,white,andlifeless.The
leaddoctorsighedandstaredatthecardiacmonitor,whichdisplayednothing
butaflatlineandproducedalong,drawn-outbeep.
“Enough,guys.I’mcallingit,”hemuttered.“Timeofdeath,seventeenforty-
three.”
A lump formed in Armaan’s throat. He stared at Eve—her eyes peacefully
closedandherfacestreakedwithdryingblood—andasurgeofdetermination
swelledwithinhim.Hetightenedhisgriparoundhissmalldeviceandshoved
hiswaythroughthemedicalstaff.
“Whatthe—?”
“Whothehellis thiskid?”
“Willsomeoneremovehim?”
Armaanignoredthem,fightinghiswaytothefrontoftheroomand
situatinghimselfbesideEve’sbody.Therewasnotimetowaste,sohemoved
quickly,takingadvantageofthemedicalteam’smomentofshock.Hepulled
Eve’s head to the side and ran the electric razor across her scalp, shaving a large,roundedstripbesideherear.
Withtremblinghands,hepressedatthetwowhitebuttonsonhisdevice.
Theypromptlyreleasedthemselvesfromthemechanism,andhesituatedthem
alongthebaldpatchonEve’shead,wheretheyfirmlyadheredtoherskin.He
tugged at the ends of the black box, expanding it into a large screen, which
projected a holographic image: a dial with various electrical frequencies, an impulsemonitor,andaflashingredbutton.
Hesitantly,Armaanglancedupatthemedicalstaff—theywerescuttling
towardhim,movingalmostinslowmotion—andthenhespunthedialand
slammedtheredbutton.
Athunderousboomsoundedthroughthespace,onesostrongthatitnearly
knockedArmaanfromhisfeet.Eve’sheadlurchedforward,andinthesame
instant, the doctors and nurses were flung into the air, their bodies thrown to thebackoftheroomasifblownawaybyapowerfulforce.
ArmaanremainedatEve’sside,hiseyesfranticallydartingbetweenherand
thecardiacmonitor,whichcontinuedtoproducethesamelong,steadybeep.
