by Jenna Moreci
With his jaw clenched, he spun the holographic dial to a higher setting and againpushedtheredbutton.
Anotherrumblerippedthroughthespace.Eve’sheadjerkedforwardyet
again,andthetangledbodiesrosefromthefloor,floatingalmostdemonically,
only to topple back into the same piles. The lights flickered, casting an eerie darknessthroughtheroom,butArmaanpaidnoattentiontoit;hegazedatEve,
his heart racing as he searched for some sign of life, but still there was nothing.
Againheraisedthevoltage,andagainhepressedthebutton.
Thethirdboomwaspunctuatedbythesoundofbrokenglass;thewindow
intothehallwayshattered,andeventheblindswererippedfromthepaneling
andfelltothefloor.ThroughtheemptywindowframeArmaancouldseea
pileofpatrolmen,presumablystillpinningJasonunderneaththem,andbehind them sat Sancho, JJ, and Percy, their eyes wide with shock. Instinctively, they grabbedholdofoneanotherandwrappedtheiranklesaroundtheboltedlegs
oftheirchairs,bracingthemselvesforwhateverwastocomenext.
ArmaanlookedbackatEve.Shewasmotionless,andthelong,incessant
beep of the cardiac monitor began to gnaw at him. He spun the holographic dialtoitshighestsetting,andjustashepositionedhisfingerabovethebutton, hehesitated.Uncertaintyandfearcreptthroughhim,threateningtocripplehis
resolve.ButhelookedoncemoreatEve,wanandlifelessonthetableinfront
of him, and with his shoulders back and chin held high, he pushed the button onelasttime.
Ashockwaveroaredthroughtheroom,tearingthedoorfromitshingesand
bursting into the hallway. JJ, Sancho, and Percy were thrown back in their chairs as if struck by a pressurized blast, and they clung desperately to one another as they tried to resist the impact. Patrolmen flew through the air and scattered across the hallway, leaving Jason alone in the center of the floor, grippingthelegsofachair.
The initial blast was just the start of it. An unrelenting energy had been unleashed,rippingatArmaan’sclotheslikeaturbulentwind,buthestoodfirm,
somehow impervious to it. The gale force intensified, first sending the lights blinkingonandoffandthencrushingthebulbsaltogether,andArmaan
slammedhishandsoverhisearsandclosedhiseyes,prayingfortheenergyto
dissipate.PoweroverwhelmedtheICU,surgingthroughtheroomlikealiving
entity,emanatingdirectlyandexclusivelyfromEve.Theroarofhergiftgrew
louder,theforceofitstronger,andjustwhenthepressurebecametoomuchto
bear,itabruptlydisappeared,leavingtheroominastateofghostlystillness.
Armaanopenedhiseyesandtookinalong,much-neededbreath.
Jasonreleasedhisgriponthechairandglancedacrossthehallwayatthepiles
of patrolmen and broken glass that littered the floor. Sancho, JJ, and Percy werestillsittingbehindhim,awkwardlyholdingoneanother,though
theytooloosenedtheirgrasps.Asecondpassed,andsuddenlyJason’seyes
widened. Eve.Hejumpedtohisfeetandchargedintothehospitalroom.
“STOP!DON’TMOVE!”
Apatrolman,recoveredfromtheblast,grabbedatJason’sshoulderand
yankedhimbackward.Jasongrowledandrippedhisarmfromtheman’sgrip.
“Jesus Christ,youguysdon’tquit,doyou?”
“YOU’REGOINGTOJAIL!”
“Youcantakemetojailin fivegoddamnminutes—”
“SHUTUP,BOTHOFYOU!”Armaanbarked.
Thetwomenfroze,takenabackbyArmaan’soutburst.Theyturnedandstared
atthepint-sizedassistant,whosegazewasfirmlylockedontothecardiac
monitor.Finallyhespuntowardthem,hiseyeslargeandbright.
“Listen.”
Theentirehallwentquiet.Jason’seyespannedfromArmaantoEve,who
lookedcalmandalmostsereneintheaftermathofsuchmayhem.Then,
between the pounding of his heart and his hurried breathing, he heard it—the singlemostcomfortingsoundhecould’vehopedfor.
Onebeep.Twobeeps.Three.Four.
CHAPTER18:GOINGHOME
Theintersectionwasstill,withoutasinglepedestrianormovingvehiclein sight.Theentireblockwasinastateofstaticpermanence;ithadbeenthisway
sinceEve’sarrival,howeverlongagothatwas,shecouldn’tremember—
thoughitfeltasifshehadbeenthereforaneternity.Shesatinthecenterofthe road, her legs folded and her chin in her hands, her eyes pointed directly in frontofher—atthesmallbluecar,totaledandwrappedaroundthetelephone
pole.Atherparents’grave.
Hereyessurveyedthecar’sdemolishedframe,baldingtires,andsmoking
hood. She could see the backs of her parents’ heads poking from above their seats,andwhileapartofherlongedtoseetheirfaces,shedarednotventure
anycloser.
Thestreetandsidewalkswerecompletelyempty.Therewerenonosy
neighbors,noaunttoscoopherinherarms.Therewasnomassiveredtruck,
norwasthereablood-soakeddrunkdriver.Inthatmoment,therewasonlyEve
andthelittlebluecar—thetwistedmetal,theshatteredwindows,andthe
calming silence. For the first time since she had arrived, Eve climbed to her feet,proppingherhandsonherhips,hergazenotoncestrayingfromthecar.
“It’s strange,” she said, finally ending the quiet. “Usually when I’m here, I spend all my time fixated on that drunk driver and his stupid truck.” Her lips twitched,asifdebatingwhetherornottosmile,thoughtheyquicklyflattened.
Shesighed.“It’snice,havingthemgone.”
Andthen,Evewasnolongeralone.Someonewasstandingbehindher,
watchingher.Waiting.Still,shestaredatthewreckage,andanunsettlingswell
ofemotionstirredwithinher.
“Myparents diedthatday.Mostpeoplegettogrievewhentheylosesomeone, butIdidn’t.”Shebitherlipandclenchedherfists.“Ididn’tgettobe
sad, or bitter, or pissed. I had to adapt. I had to survive.” Her fists began to shake,andshetriedtoholdthemstill.“Idon’tevenknowifiteverreallysetin
—thereality.”
Shepaused,andhershouldersfinallyrelaxed.
“Myparentsaredead.I’manorphan.”
Silence.Aslightbreezeranthroughthenearbytreesandsweptherhair
acrossherback.Shefelthervisitortakeasteptowardher.
“Doyoumissthem?”
ItwasJason—sheknewitimmediately,evenbeforesheheardthesoundof
hisvoice.Shecouldfeelhim.
Evetookinadeep,unsteadybreath.“Everyday,”sheanswered.
Jasonwasquiet.Theystaredatthecarwreck,orratherEvedid,whileJason
in turn stared at her. After a brief stillness, he ventured to her side, finally makinghiswayintoherlineofvision,butEveofferednoreaction.Hereyes
were locked onto her parents’ car, as if nothing could pull her from that moment.
“It’stimetogohome,Eve,”Jasonfinallysaid.
Evelaughedunderherbreath.“Idon’t haveahome,Jason.”
“Yesyoudo.It’swithyourfamily.”
Eve’seyesflittedacrossthecar,onceagainlandingonherparents’heads.
Herbreathcaughtshort,andherchestfelttightandweak.
“Butw
hatabout—”
“They’llunderstand.Ipromise.”
Evefelthereyesbrimwithtears.Thiswastheend,themomentshehad
feared,andyetsomethingaboutitfeltsoothing,evencathartic.Shewas
leaving.Shewasstartinganew.
Sherelaxedherfists,allowingherhandstodroplimplyathersides.
Reluctantly,shetorehereyesfromthebluecarandturnedtoJason.
Asenseofserenityflowedthroughher.Jason’spresencewasboth
comforting and radiant, though she expected as much, but what surprised her wasthathewasn’talone.Behindhimstoodarowoffamiliarfaces:Percy,JJ,
Sancho,andArmaanwerewaitingalongthesidewalk,eachgrinningather
warmly.Eve’seyesdartedbetweenherfourfriendsandJason,whotook
anotherstepforward,thistimeextendinghishandtowardher.
“Comeon,”hewinked.
Evehesitated.Shethoughtoftakingonelastlookattheaccident,then
immediately dismissed the idea. There was no need; she had been there long enough.Itwastime.Withadeepbreath,sheplacedherhandinJason’sandheld
ittightly.
DarknesssurroundedEveinaninstant.Herbodyfeltheavy,hot,andweak,
asiftheslightestbreathwasalaborioustask,butsheforcedherselftobreathe regardless.Hereyesflutteredopen,andsoonsherealizedthatthedarknesshad
beenofherowndoing.Hervisionwashazy,butafterafewstrenuousbreaths andanuncharacteristicmomentofpatience,shebegantoseethingsmore
clearly.
Shewasinadimlylitroom,onemuchlargerthanherdorm,withanHV,a
compactrefrigerator,andalongdeskcoveredinbeautifullywrappedgifts.
Suddenly,Everealizedthatshehadbeenherebefore:thiswasJason’shospital
room,neatlytuckedawayintheisolationwingoftheBillingtonMedicalWard.
Shemusthavebeensummonedforhertutoringduties—andyet,somehow,she
knewthatwasn’tso.
A line of twinkly lights adorned the desk, and a small, liberally decorated Christmastreesatbesidethegifts.Shelookeddownatherfeetandsawonlya
thickwhitesheet,onethatstretchedfromtheendofthehospitalbedalltheway uptoherchest.ThensheturnedtoherrightandsawJason,sittinginaflimsy
foldingchair,hisheadrestingonhisarms,whichinturnrestedonherbed.
Shestaredathimforalongmoment—hewasfastasleep,hisshoulders
peacefullyrisingandfalling—andthenshelookeddownathishand,whichlay
delicatelyinhers.Suddenly,everythingwasclear:therewasnotutoring
session, nor was she in Jason’s room. Eve was lying in her own bed, in her ownhospitalroom,intheisolationwing.
Aslightrustlingcaughtherattention.Herdoorwasajar,andthelightofthe
outsidewingpouredthroughtheopening;bodiesscurriedby,andshadows
bobbedalongthefloor.Suddenly,anursepulledthedooropenandpokedher
headintotheroom.SheglancedatEve,whoshrankbackfromthelight—and thenurse’seyesbulgedindisbelief.Withasenseofurgency,shetappedather
earpiece.
“PageDr.Dzarnoski.She’sawake.”
ThenursequicklyscannedEve’smonitorsandjottedafewnotesontoher
scratchpad.Again,shelookedatEve,cockingherheadinJason’sdirection.
“You’dbetterwakehimup.Thatboyhasbeenbyyoursidefordays.Hardly
eats,rarelysleeps.”Shesmiled.“Onlygetsuptousetherestroom.”
Withoutanotherword,thenurseretreatedbackintothehallway,closingthe
doorbehindher.
Eve turned toward Jason. He looked calm, and a part of her didn’t want to disturbhim.Butafterabriefhesitation,shesqueezedhishand—oratleastshe
triedto.Herhandremainedstill,unresponsivetoherbidding,andthefaintest
scowlgracedherlips.Again,shesqueezedhishand,thistimesummoningall
of her strength, and her fingers finally curled around his. Even so, her grip wasnothingmorethanalight,airytouch.
Asshestrokedhispalmwithherfingers,Jasonfinallystirred.Withayawn,
he grabbed her hand, his grip much tighter than hers—and then he lifted his headandmethergaze.Instantly,hiseyeswidened.
“Eve,”hegasped.Hislipsparted,buthesaidnothing.Finally,heexhaled.
“Hi.”Hesmiled.
Evesmiledinreturn.“Hey,you,”shewhispered.
Jasonstaredintohereyes,hisbodyfrozen,hisfaceturningabrightshadeof pink.Shecouldfeelhisfingerstightenaroundhers,andhelightlycaressedthe
backofherhandwithhisthumb.Heleanedincloseranddelicatelykissedher
forehead, and as he took his seat, she could see that his face had gone from pinktored.Hefidgetedinplaceandclearedhisthroat,finallytearinghiseyes fromhersandglancingatthedoor.
“Ishouldgetthedoctor—”
“Nursealreadycoveredthat,”Evemurmuredwithahalf-smirk.
Jasongrinned.Hecuppedherpalmwithbothofhishands,bringingittohis
lipsforasoftkiss.“Howareyoufeeling?”
“Tired.”Evepausedforabreath.“Howareyou?”
“Dynamic.Todaymightbethebestdayofmylife.”Helaughed,butshe
could see in his eyes that he was sincere. His voice shook. “I can’t believe you’reawake.”
“HowlonghaveIbeenasleep?”
“Sevendays.”Henoddedattheornamentedtree.“MerryChristmasEve.”
“It’sChristmas?”
“No,it’sChristmasEve,”Jasoncorrected.Hechuckled.“Iguessthat’skind
ofconfusing—it’sChristmasEve, Eve.Decembertwenty-fourth.”
EveexaminedJason,startingathisfaceandthenmakingherwaydownhis
chesttohisarms.Hisbicepwaswrappedwithsurgicalcloth,andathickwhite
bandagewaspeepingoutofthenecklineofhisshirt.
“You’rehurt.”
Jasonglancedathisarmandshrugged.“Justafewcutsandscrapes.Nothing
major.”
Evesighed,knowingalltoowellthathewaslying.Gradually,shewas
beginningtofeelherstrengthandawarenessresurface.Shenoddedatthe
stacksofgiftsontheoppositesideoftheroom.
“Whoarethosefrom?”
“Everyone.You’refamousnow.”
“I was already famous, Jason,” she scoffed. “I’m the Chimera Bitch, remember?”
Jasonchuckled.“Well,they’renotcallingyouthatanymore.You’reahero.”
“Hero,myass.FurstwillhavemelockedupassoonasI’moutofbed.”
“You’renotgoingtojail.Noneofusare.”Hiseyesbrightened.“We’vebeen
pardoned.”
Evefurrowedherbrow.“Pardoned?Whatfor?”
“Forsavingeveryone.Fordestroyingthelist.ForkillingFairon.”
Suddenly,Eve’sbloodrancold.“Fairon,”sherepeated.Hereyesbulged.
“Jason,youdidn’ttellanyone,didyou?”
“Tellthemwhat?”
“That I killed Fairon. How I killed Fairon.” Her voice was panicked, and she squeezedhishand,thistimewithmorestrength.“Ifpeoplefindout…”
Jasonsighed.“Eve—”
“Theycan’tknow,Jason.Promisemeyouwon’tsayanything.”
“Eve,Iwon’t.Ididn’t.”Heglancedatthedoorwayandloweredhisvoice.
“Look,peopleknow…enough.”Heleanedincloser.“TheyknowFairon�
��s
dead—thatyoukilledhim—butnothingelse.Nothow.Ipromise.”
“Thereareothers,Jason,”Evecontinued,hervoicelacedwithanxiety.
“Faironisjustthebeginning.Imean,he’s nothing—justasoldier,oraFae,or whateveritis—”
“Eve,please,justrelax.”
“Jason,thisis important—”
“Yeah,well,soisyourhealth.You justwokeup.”Helightlyranhisfingers throughherhair.“Please,trytorelax.We’lltalkaboutthislater.Ipromise.”
Evefaltered.ShestaredbackatJason,athiskindthoughcompellinggaze,and
despiteherobstinateresolve,sheknewhewasright.Sheallowedherbody
tosinkbackintohermattress.
“Okay.”
Jason smiled. He was still gliding his fingers across her forehead, and she couldfeelhispalmbegintotremble.Hequicklypulledhishandstohislap.
“God,you’vemissedalot,”hesaid.“Ihavesomuchtotellyou.”
“Likewhat?”
“Well, for starters, I got your grades.” He fiddled with his scratchpad and expandedherholographicscorecard.“AllA’s,ofcourse.Don’tknowhowyou
doit.Maybeyoushouldtutormeinmorethanmelting.”Hewinked.“It’sweird
though:RichardsgaveyouanA-plusbutwroteinsometerriblecomments.”
Everolledhereyes.“Figures.”
“Also,Armaantoldmetotellyouhe’ssorry.”
“Sorry?Forwhat?”
“Forshavingyourhead.”
Eve’seyesbulged.“HESHAVEDMY—”
“Eve,calmdown,”Jasonlaughed,grabbingherarmbeforeshecouldclutch
atherscalp.“It’sjustalittlestrip.Here,feel.”Heliftedherhandandranher fingersoverthebaldpatch,andthenthroughtheremainderofherlong,wavy
hair.“See?Lookskindofbadassifyouaskme.”
Everelaxedintoherbed,morecomfortedbyJason’stouchthanbythatofher
hair.Heplacedherhandbackatherside,andthoughhismovementswere
gentle, she could still feel him trembling. His nervousness was palpable. She smiled.
“Jason—”
“He’sgoingtowanttoknowyou’reawake,”Jasoninterrupted,pullinghis
phonefromhispocket.“Theyallare.”
