The Program Page 0,73

fluid still dripping from the tip.

His eyes start watering. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers. “I can’t let them erase me.”

“What did you do?” I cry out, completely stunned and horrified. “Realm, what did you just do?”

“I had to, Sloane.” He holds out his hand to me, but I slap it away and rush past him.

“Don’t touch me!” I scream, pulling open his door. I’m scared he’s going to follow me, so I try to hurry to my room. But I’m only halfway down the hall when I feel the first wave of medication crash over me. I stumble forward, not sure how I’m going to make it to my bed.

This is like the effect of the yellow pill that Dr. Warren gives me, only stronger. I suddenly think that The Program is going to kill me for finding out about Realm. That Realm is going to kill me. I stagger in my doorway and then fall, my knee hitting the white floor hard.

I’m on my hands and knees, the room tipping from side to side in front of me as I crawl toward the safety of my bed.

“Sloane,” I hear, and then arms are around my waist, helping me up. I turn my head lazily to the side and see Realm.

“No,” I say, trying to fight him off. “Leave me alone.” But the words are slurred on my lips as he leads me to the bed.

“I’m sorry. It’s the only way. I swear, it’s the only way.”

“What have you done?” I ask, although I’m not sure if he can understand me as sleep starts to drown me like rushing river water.

“I can’t let you remember,” he murmurs, helping me into bed and then climbing in next to me, holding me protectively in his arms even as I struggle weakly. He’s still talking, but his voice is fading out, fading over me. “. . . or I’ll never get out.”

“I’ll tell everyone,” I try to say, but I can’t keep my eyes open. “I’ll tell everyone.” And then Realm’s gone. And so am I.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MY EYES FLUTTER OPEN, AND I COVER MY FACE with my forearm, blocking out the light from the overhead fluorescents. My head is pounding, feeling thick with sleep.

When the fog starts to clear, I look to my side table, and the clock reads almost ten. The room smells like toast, and I find the cart on the other side with a covered tray. The food is probably long cold by now. Why didn’t anyone wake me?

I slip on my robe, wondering where everyone is. I pause at my door, before going out into the hall. There’s a young nurse at the station typing on her computer, and from the leisure room I can hear the TV. Everything seems normal, and yet . . . I’m confused.

“Ah. You’re awake.”

I jump and turn to see Nurse Kell walking toward me from the other direction, smiling broadly. “You weren’t feeling well today, so we let you sleep in. Did you want me to get you a snack, honey?”

“Not feeling well?” I look down the hallway as Derek walks by, saluting me in greeting. “I’m . . .” Pushing my hair away from my face, I think back to yesterday. But I can’t find anything there. “What day is it?” I ask.

Nurse Kell smiles like the question isn’t even odd. “It’s Saturday. And the sun is finally out if you’d like to go out to the garden.”

“What?” I’m stunned by her statement, never having been let outside before. Saturday? “It’s Friday, isn’t it?” I’m sure it’s Friday.

“No, honey. But you were running a fever yesterday, and we had to medicate you. So I’m not surprised you don’t remember.”

My mind starts to race then, and I know that they’ve done something to my memory. I keep my face calm, but Nurse Kell can see what I’m thinking. I want to scream. I want to punch her. I want them out of my head. What did they erase this time? Whatever it is, it wasn’t theirs to take.

“Where’s Realm?” I ask.

“He’s playing cards in the other room.” She brushes my hair off my shoulder, her face a portrait of concern. “You go see him, and I’ll get you some clean clothes for your shower. You should really take it easy today.”

I want to slap her hand away from me, but instead I just turn and hurry toward the leisure room. When I get inside, Realm immediately looks up, smiling around the pretzel cigar