Unfinished Read online

  * * *

  Lexa stared at the glass, her expression torn between hope and fear. Quinn could feel her pain. Why, he didn't know, but it was as real to him as if he was the one sitting inside the prep room. A moment later, her lip trembled and fat tears slid down her cheeks. For the first time, her complexion took on a slightly pink color.

  "Her vitals are erratic," a lab assistant said. "Pulse is one-forty, temp's over ninety-nine degrees."

  Dr. Martine nodded. "Quinn, I want to see if you can calm her down. If she glitches, take a step back immediately, but I think her short-term memory programming should be strong enough to prevent that."

  He hoped so, but his fingers shook as he donned his cleanroom suit. What if she freaked out on him again? They might not let him see her anymore. He had to be careful. Move slowly, so as not to scare her.

  The airlocks released, and Quinn stepped into Lexa's room. Her face immediately brightened, and she scrubbed the tears from her cheeks with a fast swipe.

  "You're here," she said. "You told me you'd come."

  "You?remember me?"

  "Yes. The boy from yesterday. Quinn."

  Relief made the air whoosh from his lungs. He'd never held his breath before, but this wasn't a normal situation, so maybe he should've expected that. "Yes. So, how are you feeling?"

  Lexa looked around the room. "I'm not sure. I cried, but I don't know why."

  "Are you scared?" he asked.

  She frowned, like she was thinking that over. "Yes. I think so. It's lonely in here."

  Quinn glanced at the window, which was a mirror on this side. Dr. Martine noticed, though, and said over his com, "Her heart rate's down. Keep going."

  It was working; he was calming her down. "You'll be out in a little while. They need to?um, treat you a little bit longer. But when it's over, you'll have a room in the dorm near mine. We can play."

  "Hide and seek. Sofa cushions," she said.

  "Sofa cushions." He paused. What should they talk about now? "Um, I also like painting and color matching and strategy games. I could teach you to play chess."

  "Is it fun?"

  Dr. Martine said, "Tell her you'll give her a board in a few days."

  "Uh, yes. It's fun. Kind of hard, though. Maybe I can bring you a board in a few days? I can show you the pieces and stuff."

  She stood and took a tentative step his direction. "Okay."

  Quinn held very still as she came closer. Even though he wore the clean-room suit, he swore he could smell her. Some vague combination of cinnamon and vanilla.

  "Like a cookie," he whispered.

  There was a crackle of static over his com-someone was laughing. He felt his cheeks go hot.

  "What's wrong with your face?" Lexa asked, peering into his mask. "Are you overheating?"

  "A little. I better go."

  Lexa's hand shot out more quickly than he expected and caught his wrist. "But you're coming back, right? Please don't leave me here all alone."

  Helpless, he looked to the window, silently pleading. Dr. Martine's voice was gentle when he said, "Reassure her."

  He put his other hand over hers and smiled. "You're not alone, Lexa. You have me. I'm yours, and when you get out, we'll be together all the time. Friends, okay?"

  "Will I see you before then?"

  "She's getting anxious," Dr. Martine said over his com. "Tell her yes."

  "Yes." Feeling bold, he added, "Tomorrow. I'll bring the chess board."

  She released his wrist and went back to sit on her bed. "Tomorrow. You have less than 86,000 seconds to comply."

  It sounded like an order, and he cracked a smile. "Noted. Are you going to count them all?"

  "Yes." She smiled back. "Every one."