The Key to Fear - Kristin Cast Page 0,16

MediCenter. You really should make time to come to his funeral. Everyone will be there sharing stories, memories. If it makes you feel better, we can go together. I know it would be easier for me if I had you by my side.”

Blair sucked in a breath and nodded. “Oh, the funeral. Yes, I’m definitely attending. And we should go together.” If what Cath said was true, and everyone really was going to be there, it would only make Blair look better to arrive with the ever-popular Dr. Cath Scott.

Ever-popular. Blair kept herself from rolling her eyes like a petulant child. She could be loved and admired too, if she really wanted.

Blair cleared her throat and shook away the sudden spike of jealousy heating her stomach. “I have the perfect outfit for a funeral. However, it’s deep navy, not black. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Sunlight streamed in through the wall of windows behind Cath, framing her in an ethereal glow. “Perhaps you should focus on the meaning of the proceedings and less on your attire. Don’t you think that’s more important?”

Blair bit the inside of her cheeks. “Yes, of course.”

Black.

And I’ll be dressed in navy.

It wasn’t her fault Cath didn’t understand that the funeral was going to serve as the first in-person interview for Holbrook’s position. And that was really the most important thing.

Holbrook would be dead. He wouldn’t need their regurgitated memories or their tears. But Blair, who was very much alive, did need his title. It was what she’d been working toward since she’d begun her career. A career that was taking off unlike any other. She was the MediCenter’s rising star, and she wouldn’t burn out because of the death of some old man. No, she would be a phoenix and rise from that old bastard’s ashes.

Aiden was only slightly late for the first morning of his new career assignment when the elevator doors slipped open and he shuffled, heavy footed, into the light-soaked hallway. The small rectangle of paper listing his room forty-four reassignment stared up at him, its bold text washed out under the glare of the bulbs.

He shielded his eyes and squinted as he reread the room number. “Remember never to come in hungover.”

Aiden didn’t bother to look through the hazy, Violet Shield–covered doorways that lined the hall. There’d be plenty of time to investigate his surroundings when he made the exact same walk every morning of every day for every year of his life until he retired. And by that time, he might as well be dead.

Yep, having a career chosen for you was absolutely fantastic.

A big “44” glowed at the end of the hall, black digits backlit by white light. The orchid-like biohazard symbol bloomed around the block numbers with bewitching beauty, even though Aiden knew each petal symbolized death and destruction.

Haunting Holly appeared as Aiden closed in on number forty-four, the only entrance in the long, brightly lit hall with its doors closed. “Hello and welcome to the End-of-Life Unit. Only authorized citizens and MediCenter employees are allowed entry. The Key Corp thanks you for your understanding and for your help in keeping our city and its citizens safe.”

Aiden tugged at the too tight collar of his scrub top. “The End-of-Life Unit?”

The hologram’s sterile smile was right at home in the bleached-out corridor. “That’s correct. Please place your cuff beneath the scanner.” She motioned to the panel at the side of the door. “All authorized citizens and employees will be granted entry.”

“Hang on. There must be some mistake. This is the morgue.” As he said it, he knew this was no mistake. Cath had put him here on purpose.

Haunting Holly clasped her hands in front of her hips and nodded. “Yes, you’ve reached the morgue. Or, as we like to call it, the End-of-Life Unit, or ELU.”

Aiden stared at the overly chipper face and hollow eyes of the MediCenter’s seemingly omnipotent mega computer. “This can’t be happening.” He stumbled backward, reaching out for something to hold onto as his world slipped out from under his heavy boots.

The morgue? The fucking morgue? That’s where Cath sent him? This is the place he was going to have to spend the majority of his life? No, not even just the majority of his life. He’d end up here after he died too. He was going to spend his entire earthly existence in this morgue.

Haunting Holly tilted her head to the side. Her hair fell away from her cheek, revealing a small, Key Corp–red gem