The Key to Fear - Kristin Cast Page 0,83

The Cerberus virus happened once before. It could happen again.”

“A kiss won’t hurt anyone.” He could explain if she would only give him the chance. “I promise it won’t.”

Astrid took another step back. “Tell that to the billions of people the virus killed,” she said. “I’m sure they felt the same way.”

“Astrid—” Elodie began, but Astrid’s cutting glance made her choke back her words.

Tears welled in Astrid’s eyes. “How could you do this?” Sharply, she blinked them back before they had the chance to escape. “This isn’t you.”

“Please!” Elodie sobbed.

Aiden’s chest clenched with each ragged burst. He’d caused this. And there was nothing he could do to fix it.

Astrid’s hands trembled as she wiped at her cheek. “I have to go.” She turned and sprinted toward the festival entrance.

Elodie lurched forward after her best friend.

Aiden grabbed her hand. “Elodie, I …” He didn’t have any words. He didn’t have any way to make up for what had happened.

Elodie studied their joined hands before looking up at him. Tears shimmered against her dark eyes.

With his thumb, Aiden traced slow circles against the back of her hand. “I’m sorry,” he finally whispered. There was so much more he needed to say, but he had no idea where to start.

Elodie’s throat tightened with a sob and she pulled away from him and took off after Astrid.

“Elodie!” Aiden leaped out of the cart and started after her, but a row of janitorial bots paraded between them, cutting him off from catching up with her.

Aiden brushed his hands through his hair and let out a curse. Elodie was always running away.

The best and worst moments of Elodie’s life happened end to end. She should have known, should have sensed that although everything felt right, everything was wrong. The universe had lifted her up in order to slam her back down.

Elodie wove through the crowds of people outside the fair, exiting Pearls and getting off the MAX, still in their fine dress from Holbrook’s funeral and all heading straight for the festivities. The scene of her crime.

She should have stayed at the funeral. Instead, she’d run away from one problem and crashed right into another.

Elodie’s lungs burned and her arms pumped by her sides in rapid bursts as she raced to catch up to Astrid. Wind brushed against Elodie’s cheeks and twirled through her hair, taking with it the deep forest scent of Aiden and his kiss.

Astrid paused at the intersection a block ahead. “Astrid!” Elodie continued to run, waving her arms over her head as she yelled. “Talk to me!”

Astrid didn’t turn back, didn’t wait. A Pearl stopped in front of her and she disappeared inside the opalescent orb.

By the time Elodie reached the corner, the Pearl and Astrid were gone.

The setting sun streamed in through Elodie’s window and painted her bedroom door cheery orange. It was mocking her. It shouldn’t be allowed to be all bright and happy while her life was falling apart.

She flopped onto her back and pulled the covers tight around her. “Go away,” she groaned at the refracted rainbow spots dancing on the ceiling before she pulled the blanket up over her head and rolled onto her side. Any minute she’d hear her mother charging up the stairs to take her away to who knows where to pay for what she’d done. Astrid was right. Kissing Aiden was unforgiveable.

But maybe Astrid hadn’t told. Maybe everything would be okay.

Yeah, right.

Elodie kicked off the covers and flew to her feet. She couldn’t sit still. There was no possible way. What was going to happen to her? To Aiden?

“Ohhh!” she groaned again, wrapping her arms around her middle. Her stomach churned and bubbled in response.

Pacing next to her bed, she brought up the messaging thread she shared with Astrid. Elodie ignored the completely one-sided column of texts she’d started sending the second Astrid had left in the Pearl, and she began a new message.

Before Holly’s update, each message had to be typed out letter by letter through a sophisticated system that tracked eye movement over the keyboard, until Holly recognized patterns and could autofill whole portions of the text. Now, with a simple thought and the slightest bit of concentration … boom! Text.

Talk to me. Please!

She hesitated before adding that line to the tower of panicked, pleading sent texts stretching in front of her vision. She needed to see Astrid and for Astrid to see her.

Would it change anything? It was worth a try.

She chewed her lip, wincing as her teeth dug into