zoomed between them, its crate filled with empty tubes. They were in the room that had started it all. Where she’d dashed off to when she’d felt brave and determined. Had that really only been a few days before? Now she was plastered against the wall, sweat slicked and reeling, her life as she knew it coming to an end.
Elodie forced her legs under her and hefted herself to her feet. “There are cameras, Aiden. People will know that I came down here.”
As he stood, he cast a glance at the white orb hanging from the ceiling. “We have it handled.” He thrust his chin toward the camera. “And Eos would never hurt you. I would never hurt you.”
“Then take it back!” She was crying again. Waterfalls cascaded down her cheeks. She could flood this room. “Tell me you were lying!”
“I won’t lie to you!” He clutched his shirt, over his heart. The fabric stretched under his grasp. He’d kept Eos in his heart, locked just under his fist. Is that where he kept her too?
“This whole time has been a lie.” She pressed herself away from the wall. “You’re a lie.”
Now we’re as healthy as the lies you told.
“That’s not fair,” he said.
Elodie would have laughed if her breath wasn’t strangled in her throat.
Aiden inched toward her, palms up, and out. Despair painted pools in his eyes and knotted itself between his brows. “I was trying to keep you safe. Us safe.”
And he had. Hadn’t he?
She tightened her hands into fists and locked her body back under her control. “I should have known better.” She eyed the closed door behind him. “You aren’t interesting and fun. You’re dangerous and deceitful.”
Aiden set his jaw and stepped away from the door. “Get back upstairs before Key Corp soldiers head this way. You’re safe with Eos, Elodie. Safe with me.” His lips parted slightly and he whispered, “But I understand if you can’t believe that.”
Elodie’s heart ached. “They’re killers, Aiden.”
He shook his head. “Promise me you’ll take a real look at what happened here.”
Elodie opened her mouth to speak, but her mind, her body, her heart, all yearned for different things. She couldn’t make any promises. Not even to herself.
Aiden passed his cuff under the scanner.
The door slid open and Elodie raced out into the hall. The terrorists didn’t give her a second look.
Elodie had taken the stairs two at a time back up to her unit and arrived at her nurse’s station just as the MediCenter’s Emergency Violet Shield clicked on. Holly materialized in front of the elevator, hands folded against her pristine skirt now painted a light lavender as the Shield shone through her holographic form.
Goosebumps flashed across Elodie’s neck and her heartbeat quickened.
“Hello, Elodie. Please gather your things and exit the building as quickly as possible. This is not a drill.” As Holly spoke, the elevator doors opened behind her.
Elodie balled her trembling fists and attempted to calm her breathing. “What’s going on?”
“The Key has received a threat from a known terrorist organization and Key Corp soldiers are currently addressing the matter.” Holly tilted her head and smiled. “Please, do not be alarmed. The Key will keep you safe.” With that smile, she could make almost anyone believe almost anything. “Please take the elevator to the lobby and exit the building.”
Elodie slung her backpack over her shoulder and clutched her textbook against her chest. “My patients …”
Holly nodded and motioned toward the elevator. “Thank you for your concern, Elodie. The Corporation will look after your patients. The Key will keep all its citizens safe.”
Normally Elodie would have argued, demanded to speak with whoever was in charge of looking after her patients in her absence, but right now nothing was normal. Elodie rushed past the purple-stained hologram and into the open elevator.
Holly turned as the doors began to close. “Don’t forget to activate your Personal Protection Pod,” she said, her perfect smile firmly in place. “And, remember, no touching today for a healthy tomorrow.”
Encased in her own purple orb, Elodie wove through the surge of MediCenter employees all pretending to be calm as they made their exit. She couldn’t be in the building another second. Her legs itched to break into a sprint and carry her to the MAX stop as quickly as possible. She needed to be home, buried under her blankets until this day was over and the rising sun reset her world.
Elodie pulled on her beanie and kept her chin tucked against her chest as the train