Chapter 39: Remembering
Kaylee trailed a few feet behind Malcolm. His haste made her very nervous. All of her experience in trying to keep silent and out of sight screamed for her to dive into the nearest alleyway and listen hard for any sounds of activity before moving more carefully. Malcolm, however, continued without hesitation, and she didn't want to fall behind and lose him.
He didn't even pause once they had reached the Institute itself. Kaylee was expecting to see guards around, but this sector of the city seemed comparatively quiet. Still without pause, he passed into the lobby area.
It was empty, including the island-style reception desk in the center near the back. Kaylee wondered if Rick had already come through. She looked around.
Kaylee gasped as she passed close enough to see over the desk. A dead man lay, glassy eyes staring into nothingness. His hand grasped limply at his throat, and through his loose, bloodstained fingers she could see ragged flesh. Beneath him a pool of sticky red blood spread out, already turning a dusky brown as it coagulated on the tile.
A wave of revulsion coursed through Kaylee's stomach, and a small amount of bile rose in her throat. Malcolm didn't seem to notice anything at all. He moved with the same measure of purpose to the right side of the chamber, seeming to know exactly where he was going. He paused as he arrived, staring at the hallway of the propped open doorway, which in large letters had above it: Natural Philosophy. He rifled through his clothing, and produced a small, marred square of plastic. As Kaylee leaned in to get a closer look, Malcolm took off moving once again.
Kaylee was glad that he was remembering, but his aloof behavior made her feel nervous. I wish he'd slow down and tell me what the hell he's doing, Kaylee thought, but even if he doesn't, I guess I still owe it to him to help however I can.
Uprising Page 95
