“Myfreshmanyear,”sheanswered.
“Andhowdoyouintendtopayfortheremainderofyoureducation?”
Evehesitated.“Idon’tknow.Iwasgoingtogetajob,Iguess.”
“Anafter-schooljob?Howquaint.”Thedeanmessilyjotteddownnotesas
hespoke.“Thisfavoryouprovidefortheuniversitywillnotgounrewarded,
despitetheprotestofsomeofourprofessorshere.”
“Wait,who?”
“MissKingston,”Furstcontinued,“assumingyouhonoryourcommitmentto
Mr.Valentine,thetuitionforyoursophomore,junior,andsenioryearshere
willbecovered.Considerthistutoringjobameanstograduate.”
Evewassilent.ShetriedtocomprehendFurst’sclaims,boththegoodand
the bad: that she was incomparably powerful, that she was now forced into a jobshedidn’twant,thatthatveryjobwouldpayherwaythroughschool.Itwas
alltoomuchtodigestatonce,andthoughshetriedtospeak,shecouldn’tseem
tofindthewordsshewaslookingfor,oranywordsatall.
“Now,wearewillingtocoveryournextthreeyears,nothingmore.That
meansnomessingabout—noneofthissecond-orthird-yearseniornonsense.
You will graduate in four years. Any additional semesters spent at this universitywillhavetobepaidforoutofyourownpocket.”
Evestuttered,finallybreakinghersilence.“I—Ican’tbelievethis.”
“Yes,well,I’mgladyoufindthetermssuitable.”
“I’mstillpissedthatyouinvadedmyprivacy.”
Thedeanchuckled.“You areastubbornone.”HehandedEveasmallplastic IDbadge.“Thiswillgiveyouaccesstothemedicalward.Yourtutoring
sessionsstarttomorrow.”
“Wait,doesn’theneedmoretimetorecover?He’sonlybeeninthehospital
foraweek.”
Furstshookhisheadindisagreement.“Thestaffatthemedicalwardsays
thathishasbeenthemostmiraculousrecoverytheyhaveeverseen.His
woundspracticallymendedthemselves.Ninedaysismorethanenoughtime
forachimeratoregainhisstrength. Youofallpeopleshouldknowthis.”
***
TuesdaymorningcreptuponEvelikeapredatorstalkingitsprey.Ithad
arrivedwearingacloakofdismaltedium,butEveknewthemonotonywasjust
a façade. She tried to behave as if it were any other morning—she muttered obscenitiesunderherbreathatthesoundofherhorridalarmandfakedanair
ofcamaraderiewithMadisonandHaydenastheysatthroughLeadership
Principles—but Eve knew that it would be anything but a normal, boring day forher.Shehadanewjobtoattendtoandanunwantedstudenttomeet.
EvereluctantlyheadedforBusinessMathematics,dreadingtheclassalmost
asmuchasherupcomingtutoringduties.Shecautiouslytiptoedtoadesk
toward the back corner of the lecture hall, her eyes frantically scanning the roominsearchoftheveryconspicuousProfessorRichards,thoughhewas
nowheretobefound.Hisnamealonemadehergrimace,andaftertheirbrief interactionthedaybefore,shewasdeterminedtomakeherpresenceas
unnoticeableaspossible.
Aloudboomthunderedinfrontofher,andsheflinched.Shelookedupto
seealargestackofpaperssittingonherdeskandapastyhandrestingatopthe
mound—thehandofDr.Richards.
“Testtime,”hegrowled.“Wedo’emold-fashionedinmyclass,withpencil
and paper, no scratchpads. Less cheating this way.” He folded his arms and snarled.“Pass’emdown, Kingston.”
Theclassgroanedinunanimousdreadatthefirstunannouncedtestofthe
semester,butEvehadother,morecomplicatedanxieties:thewayRichardshad
looked at her, with his furrowed brow and death gaze; the way he’d said her name,asifthetasteofsewagelingeredonhislips.Hisactionsspokevolumes,
andwhattheysaidleftherwithasinkingfeelinginthepitofherstomach.
Evereadandrereadthefirstquestionofherexam: Afiniterandomvariable X
hasthefollowingprobabilityofProfessorRichardshatingyou. Shestopped
—her mind was playing tricks on her, and so she read it again, this time correctly,andscribbledherworkacrossthepage.Shehadtofocus;focuswas
key,andyetitseemednearlyimpossible.HereyeswandereduptoRichards—
more.
Theslightclickoftheclassroomdooropeningsenttheentireroominastir.
Outofthecornerofhereye,shesawaboy—thesameshaggy-hairedboyfrom
Gupta’sclassthedayprior—scampertowardRichards,hisfingersclasped around a small piece of paper. Richards snatched the slip from his hand and readoverit,thenletoutalong,irritatedsighashedroppedhisarmtohisside.
“Kingston,cometothefrontoftheclass.”
Evecringed.Thetimehadcome:hermomentofdread,thebeginningofher
karmicpunishment.Sherosefromherseatandmadeherwaydownthelecture
hallstairs,draggingherfeetlikeheavybricks.Eachstepwaspunctuatedwith
hushedwhispersandwide-eyedglancesfromhercuriousclassmates,allof
whomsuddenlyknewhername,unfortunately.Thewholescenewasdéjàvu,
an all too familiar experience extracted from the timeline of her life, and all she wanted was for it to end. She wanted to find herself lying in bed, waking fromanotherdream,butasshestoodinfrontofDr.Dick,sheknewwithouta
doubtthatthiswasreal.
“You’vebeensummonedtothemedicalward.”
“Oh,”Evemumbled,hereyesdartingbackandforthbetweenher
murmuringclassmatesandtheprofessor.“But,mytest…”
“Right,yourtest.Lookslikeyouwon’tbeabletofinishthat,huh?”
Eveloweredherhead. Shit,shethoughttoherself. He’sgoingtofailme.
“Isthatit?”Richardsasked,pointingtothecrinkledpacketinEve’shand.
“Yes,but—”
Richardssnatchedthepapersfromhergripandscannedoverherformulas.
“Mr.Richards—”
“DOCTORRichards,”hebarked.Afewofherclassmateschuckled,andEve feltasifshecoulddierightthereinthemiddleoftheclassroom.
“DoctorRichards,Ionlygotthroughthefirstthreequestions…”
“Really?Three?ThenIguessI’lljusthavetogradewhatyouhavehere.”
Evewincedastheprofessor’sredpenstreakedacrossherpaperlikeblood.
Shewasabouttofailthetest,andthatwouldsurelysignalthebeginningofher
failing the entire class. She shut her eyes tightly as Dr. Dick slapped her test downontohisdesk.
“Well,lookatthat!Yougotahundredpercent!”
Hereyessnappedopenandshotdowntowardhertest:allthreequestions
weremarkedwithobnoxious,sloppystars,andagiantA-pluswaswritten
acrossthetopofthepage.
“But,Ididn’tfinish—”
“Igradedyoubasedonwhatyouprovidedhereforme:threeoutofthree,
Kingston.Youdothemath—you candomath,right,Kingston?Afterall,you didthemathcorrectlyforthesefirstthreeproblems.”
Evestaredattheprofessorinshock.Wasshewrongabouthim?Rather,was
theentireschoolwrongabouthim?Wasthe Dr.Dickpersonajustafront?
“Hey,that’s
notfair!”oneofherclassmatesyelledfromthebackoftheroom,
causingtheotherstudentstoangrilychimein.Richardsgrinned
sadistically.
“I’m sosorryclass,butunfortunately,myhandsaretied.There’snotmuchI
candoaboutastudentwhorequires specialtreatment.”
HehandedthetesttoEveandshruggedinnocentlyatherclassmates.
Suddenly,hisintentionsweremorethanclear.Therumorsweretrue,andDr.
Dickwasgoingtotortureherinthemostcreativewaypossible.
“Well, Kingston, thanks to your unique situation, you may be the very first studenttoeverreceivean‘A’inmyclass.”Hetuckedhispenbackintohisshirt pocketandshotaglareinherdirection.“Ihopeyou’reproudofyourself.”
“I’m going to destroy the curve,” she muttered. “They’re all going to fail becauseofme.”
“Allconveniencescomewithaprice.Youshouldneverfeelentitled,
Kingston.That’sahorribletrait.”
Richardsturnedawayandbeganflippingthroughthepapersinhisbriefcase.
Evelookedoveratherclassmates,allofwhomscowledbackather.Without
hesitation, she dashed out of the classroom, eager to escape what felt like a witchhuntledbytheinfamouslyintolerantDr.Dick.
SunshinepouredacrossEve’sshouldersassheburstthroughthedoorsof
thebusinessbuilding,thoughthewarmthandsolitudeweresmallconsolation
fortheembarrassmentshehadjustendured.Sheforcedherselftoconcentrate
onthetaskathand:hertutoringsessionwithJason,thesonofasenator,tenth
inlinetobeingMadison’sunfortunategroom,andnowtheproverbialthornin
Eve’sside.Sheploddedalongthepathwayataglacialpace,delayingher
inevitable fate for as long as possible. Unfortunately, the medical ward was onlyafewyardsinfrontofher.
Shetookadeepbreathasshewalkedthroughthedoorsoftheward,the smellofhydrogenperoxideinvadinghernostrilsuntilitstungeversoslightly.
The lobby was still and nearly empty. Eve blinked once, and instead of the presentblandness,shesawuniformedpatrolmenandblood-soakedparamedics
haulingJason’sstretcherpastacrowdofonlookers.ShesawJason’sshaking
body,hiscarved-openchest,hislungsexpandingandcontracting,andthenshe
heardhisblood-curdlingscream.
Sheblinkedagain,andoncemorethelobbywascalmandbanal,freefrom
anyhintofchaos.
Evemadeherwaytotheelevatorsandwatchedthedoorscloseinfrontof
her. Jason was waiting for her on the fifth floor in the isolation wing—a separate,secureunitforhigh-profilepatients.ShelookeddownatherID
badge; the palm-sized card was her key to the wing, and for a moment she considereddroppingitdowntheelevatorshaft.Wasitwrongofhertofeelthis
way—tofeelsoinconveniencedbyJason,byDeanFurst,byhernewfound
status as the strongest chimera in the world? She was getting a free ride through college out of the deal, and yet the entire scenario troubled her. Too manypeopleknewwhoshewas;morethanever,sherealizedthatanonymity
wasallshetrulylongedfor.
Theelevatordoorsopened,andEveimmediatelyrecognizedherdestination.
Theisolationwingwasvisibledownthehallway,markedbyaverytall,very
largesecurityguardwhostoodmenacinglyinfrontofamassivedoor.Tothe
right of the guard, tucked away in the corner, was a small clerk’s desk, and sittingatthatdeskwasafamiliarandunwelcomeface.
“Eve,darling!”Heathersquealed,skippingtowardher.
“Heather!”Evegasped,hersurpriseobvious.“Whatareyoudoinghere?”
“Ishouldbeaskingyouthesamething,silly!ItoldyouI’dbevolunteering
here.”
“Oh,that’sright,”Evemumbled.Howcouldshehaveforgotten?
“Ispecificallyaskedforthisdesk,rightinfrontoftheisolationwing.It’skind ofthecrèmedelacrèmeoflocations,don’tchathink?”
Evesighed;theschoolvulturenowhadtheperfectperchfromwhichto
observehercomingsandgoingsfivedaysoutoftheweek.
“It’sfantastic,I’msure.”
“So,youstillhaven’ttoldme.”
“Toldyouwhat?”
“Whyyou’rehere.”
“Oh.”Evefaltered,rackingherbrainforagoodlieandthenfinallysettling
onamediocreone.“I’mthinkingaboutvolunteeringhere,too.”
“Howexciting!YouandIwillgettoworktogether!Icanshowyouthe
ropes!”ShegrabbedEve’shandandheldittightly.“But,whatareyoudoingon
thisfloor?”
Evesmilednervously.“Justtakingatour.Tryingtogetafeelfortheplace.”
“Thenbyallmeans,let meshowyouaround.”
“That’snotnecessary—”
“ButI insist—”
“Heather,” Eve interrupted, taking a step closer to the wing, “I’m actually almostdonehere.Justgotonemoreplacetocheckout.”
Heatherlookedoverhershoulder.“What,theisolationwing?Noonewill
letyouinthere,”shesnortedmatter-of-factly.
“IthinkI’lltakemychances.”
“Youhavetohavea—”HeatherstoppedshortasshelookeddownatEve’s
hands.“Oh,youhaveabadge.How’dyougetthat?”
“What,theydidn’tgive youabadge?”Evetookanotherstepbackward,slowly inching her way toward the wing. “I thought they gave these things to
everyone.”
“No,theydon’t.They’reactually extremelyhardtocomeby.Youhavetobe important,or…”Shepaused.“Special.”
“Is that so?” Eve asked cynically. “I’ve never been special before. Guess I shouldbeflattered.”Shenoddedherheadtowardthewing.“Look,I’dloveto
chat,butI’vegotsometouringtodo.”
Eveturnedtofacetheguard;hewasalmostafoottallerthanher,andthree,
maybefourtimesaswide,andyethishulkingfigurewasamuchmore
welcomesightthanHeather’scriticalsneer.Shewaitedimpatientlyasheran
herbadgethroughthereader,thenpromptlyunlockedthedoorbesidehim.
“Proceed,”hecommanded.
Eve took one last look at Heather. She was standing in the middle of the hallway,herarmscrossedandheadcocked,andshesmiledthesamedevious
smileshehadwornsomanytimesbefore.Asthedoorslowlyclosed,Heather
craned her neck, eager to get a glimpse of the isolation wing, until the door sealedshut,lockingEveinlikeaprisoner.
Eveexaminedhernewsurroundings:thoughhiddenfromview,theisolation
winglookedlikeeveryotherwingofthehospital.Afewnursesweavedinand
out of the various rooms, although a couple stopped and stared at her, their brows wrinkled as if the presence of a visitor was unusual—and, indeed, it probablywas.Evequickenedherpace,searchingforJason’sroom,andfound
itmuchsoonerthanshehadhopedto.Withadeepbreath,sheopenedthedoor
andsteppedinside.
ItwasthelargesthospitalroomEvehadeverseen,andyetitwasalsosobleak
anddepressing.Despitetheobvioussimilaritiestoanyotherhospitalroom,the
special touches were plentiful, if hardly helpful in softening the dismal ambiance.AlargeHVadornedthewallbesidethedoor,thoughit
&
nbsp; appeareddustyandstagnantasifithadneverbeentouched.Acompact
refrigerator sat in the corner next to a long desk covered in wilting flower arrangementsanduneatenfruitbaskets.Pilesofgiftswerescatteredbesidean
oldfoldingchair,buttheshimmerypaperandbowscouldn’tcounteractthe
darknessthatpermeatedtheroom.Theblindsweredrawnlow,mostlikelyfor
privacypurposes,orsoEvetoldherself,andhereyesstrainedtoadjusttothe
dimness. Next to one window was a stack of medical equipment, and even it seemedsadandlonelyasifbeggingtobeneeded—butalasitscordshung
lifelessly,danglingacrossthefloor.Finally,Evesawthelarge,cushyhospital
bed,andinthatbedsatJasonValentine.
JasonremainedstoicasEveclosedthedoorbehindher.Hestaredatthe
wall,hisfaceexpressionlessasidefromaslightlyfurrowedbrowandclenched
jaw. His chest was bare, exposing his grisly T-shaped dissection scar. Thick staplescoveredthered,puffyincisionlinethatstretchedacrossthetopofhis
chestanddownbetweenhisribs,endingdirectlyabovehisnavel.
“Whatdoyouwant?”hefinallyspoke,hisbodystillmotionless.
“Excuseme?”
“Aquote?Aninterview?”Hiseyesremainedfixedonthewall.“Aphoto?”
“Ithinkyouhavethewrongidea…”
“Ithoughtyoupeopleweren’tallowedinhere.”
“Jason,”Eveanswered,slowlysteppingforward,“I’mnotareporter,ora
stalker,orwhoeverelseyou’rethinkingof.I’myourtutor.”Shepaused.“Did
noonetellyouIwascoming?”
Hefinallylookedather;hehaddeepbrowneyes,justlikeEve,andhisface
wasstubblyfromlackofmaintenance.
“Tutor?” He nodded at a scratchpad on his desk. “Someone already uploaded myhomeworkforthenextmonth.Noonesaidanythingaboutatutor.”
“So,theydidn’ttellyou.”Shesighedandshookherhead.“Ofcourse.”
“Look,Iknowthehigher-upsherelovetoadvocatehand-holding,butIthink
I’mcapableofstudyingbymyself.”
“I’mnotthatkindoftutor,Jason.”
“Thenwhatkindoftutorareyou?”
EvelockedeyeswithJason;sheheldhisgazebutconcentratedhermindon
the right side of the room. She remembered seeing a small gift sitting by the