patrolmanofhighrank.Hewasfairincomplexion,hisskinpractically
blendinginwithhiswhite-blondhair,andhiseyeswerefiercelybluelikethose
ofahuskydog.Butoneglaringfeaturestoodoutfromtheothers:ascar,deep
andtextured,followedtheleftsideofhisjawfromhistempletohischin.The
manwasglaringatFurst,poundinghisfistintohispalmashespoke,while
Furstcuppedhischininhishandsandlistenedintently.
“Thiswas neversupposedtohappen,”thepatrolmanwhispered.
Evestoppedinthecenterofthelobby,haltedbythecuttingnatureofhiswords.
HereyesfellonFurst—hisgazewascastdownatthefloor,hisfacedrainedof
allcolor—andshecouldimmediatelytellthatsomethingwas
dreadfullywrong.Asnapdecisionwasmade;hastily,shegrabbedArmaanby
thewristandtuggedhimaroundanearbycorner,pushingbothherselfandhim
againstthewall.
“Whatthe—”
Evepressedherfingeragainstherlips,silencingArmaaninstantly.Thenshe
cockedherheadintheoppositedirection—towardFurstandthepatrolman—
andafteramomentofconfusion,heenthusiasticallynodded,seemingly
excited for the task at hand. Together they peered around the corner, trying theirbesttoeavesdropontheremainderoftheexchange.
“Thisisallsomuchworsethanwethought,”thepatrolmancontinued.“We
needtotakeaction now.”
“Andwhatsortofactiondoyouproposewetake?”Furstasked.
“Wehavetoinformthestudents—”
“Absolutelynot.”
“We’re losing,Furst.”themangrowled.“They’regainingmomentum,andwe
don’tevenhavea specimen— ”
“Thenwe’lltryharder.”
“Furst,Idon’tthinkyouunderstandthegravityofthesituation.”
“Iunderstandperfectly,whichiswhyIcalledthefacultymeetingso
urgently,butnowisnotthetimeforhastydecisions.”
“There’snotimetowaste.Theyhaveeverything: Fairon has everything. ”
“Colonel—”
Furststoppedshortashiseyeslandedontheirunwantedspectator:Eve.The
colonelfollowedsuit,turningabruptlytoseewhatorwhohadcaughtFurst’s
attention. Eve‘s cheeks flushed and she quickly ducked back behind the wall, thoughhereavesdroppinghadalreadybeenmademorethanapparent.
“Followmetomyoffice,Colonel,”Furstmumbled,andthetwomenleftthe
wardtogether.
EveturnedtowardArmaan.“Doyouknowwhothatguywas?Theoneinthe
uniformwithFurst?”
Heshrugged.“Noidea.”
Theyshuffledintotheelevatorandstoodinsilence.TheimageofDean
Furstandthecolonel—withhissnow-whitecompletionandhisjarringscar—
filledhermind,andtheirwordsechoedinherthoughts.
Theyhaveeverything.
Whowere they?AndwhowasFairon?
Asthepairreachedtheisolationwing,Eve’smusingsonFurstandthe
colonelwerereplacedbyanoverwhelmingsenseofanxiety.Shecouldn’thelp
butgroanaloudattheawfulsightbeforeher.
“Backforanother touroftheward,huh?”Heatherbarbed.Shewassittingat theclerk’sdeskwithanarrogantsmirkplasteredacrossherface.“Don’tmind
me,I’mjust observing.”
Eve’sfacebecamehot.ShelookedatArmaan,whostaredupatherwith
blank,puzzledeyes.
“Don’task,”shemuttered.RefusingtogiveHeatherasecondglance,she
hurriedlyhandedherIDbadgetothesecurityofficerandgrabbedatthe
isolationwingdoor.
“Hey,”Armaansqueaked,haltingherbeforesheleft,“Iwasn’ttryingto
makeyouuncomfortableearlier.Youknow,withallmytalkabouthow
dynamicyouare.”
Eveofferedareassuringsmile.“Noworries.We’refine.”
“Ijustthinkwecanreallylearnfromoneanother.”
“Let’sdiscussthisanothertime,”sheanswerednervously.
“Oh,okay.”Histonewasmeekanddiscouraged,andEvefeltherheartbreak
forhimjustalittlebit.
Shesqueezedhisshoulder.“Ipromisewewill.”
Armaan’seyeslitupwithhisusualoptimism.“We’refriends,right?”
Friends—itseemedlikesuchaforeignterm.Herfirstfewweeksat
Billington had felt so lonely, not unlike the vast majority of her life, and despiteherfalsecamaraderiewithMadison,Evehadyettomakeasingle
friendinsomanyyears.
“Yes.Ofcoursewe’refriends.”
Evesaunteredintotheisolationwing,herspiritslifted,ifonlyforamoment.
Really, she wasn’t quite sure how she felt anymore—lately, her varying emotionsseemedtoblendtogetherintoamassiveknotthatshefoughtto
ignore.AsshestoodinfrontofJason’sdoor,shethoughtaboutwhatmightbe
waitingforherontheotherside:adarkroomwhereJasonsataloneinhisbed,
staring lifelessly at the wall. Shards of glass on the floor, or maybe blood dripping from his stapled chest. The possibilities seemed endless, and the lift thatArmaanhadgivenherbegantoebb.Shebitherlipandreluctantlyopened
thedoor.
WhenshesteppedintoJason’shospitalroom,Eve’smouthfellopen,andshe
was sure her surprise was plastered across her face. The room was bright, almostcheery,withthesofthumofthesoundsystemlightlyfillingthespace.
The bed was empty, its blue sheets messily flopped across the mattress, as Jason stood in front of his desk, his back facing her and his broad shoulders hunched over his scratchpad. He rubbed one foot against the opposite ankle, fidgetingwiththehemofhisflannelpajamabottomsasheflippedthroughthe
pagesofhisdigitaltextbook.
AsthedoorclickedshutbehindEve,Jasonturnedtogreether.Hishairwas
combed,hisfacewasclean-shaven,andheworeasomewhatunexpectedsmile
thatseemedtoilluminatetheroomabitmore.
“Wow,”Evechuckled,hereyeswidewithshock.“Youshaved.You
showered.You actuallygotoutofbed…”
“Hey,inmydefense,thenursesdon’twantmestandingorwalkingaround,”
Jasonsaid,leaningagainstthedeskbehindhim.“Theydon’twantmeto‘exert’
myself.You’relookingatarebelrighthere.”
Eve took a seat in her designated folding chair. “I’m looking at a changed man.”Sheraisedhereyebrowsandstaredhimupanddown.“Now,ifonlyyou
couldinvestinashirt.”
He looked down at his chest and back at Eve. “The cotton rubs against the staples—it’sitchy.”Heranhishandlightlyacrosshischestasifsuddenlyself-conscious.“Doesitmakeyouuncomfortable?Thescar?”
Eveglancedoverhisscar:theincisionwashealingdaybydayasifweeks
had passed. And beneath the scar, Eve couldn’t help but notice the outline of Jason’sfirmchestandabdomen.UnlikethemassivehulksinEve’scombat
class, Jason was long, lean, and carved, with strong shoulders and a narrow waist.Shehadn’tnoticedbefore;perhapsshe’dbeentoodistractedbythescar,
orbytheunpleasantambiance,orpossiblytheinitialtensionbetweenthem.
“Don�
��tbestupid,”shequipped.Shefiddledwithhershoulderbaginsearch
ofasmallobjecttomanipulate.“Haveaseat.We’llstartwhereweleftofflast
time.”
Aslightrustlingcaughtherattention;shetookalookatthecorneroftheroom
andsawJason’spileofpresentsshakingasifitwerecomingtolife.
Suddenly,asmallbluegift—thesameoneshehadcontrolledduringtheirfirst
meetingtogether—dartedfromthemoundandpromptlylandedinherlap.She
looked back and forth between the gift and Jason, who met her gaze with a smug,toothygrin.
“Haveyoubeen practicing? ”
“MaybeIhave.”Hewinked.
“Well,Mr.‘This-Gift-is-a-Curse,’you’recertainlyfullofsurprisestoday.”
Jasontookaseatonhisbedandbowedhischin,jokinglypayinghisrespects
tohisnewtutor.“Justtryin’tomakeyouproud,Teach.”
Evesmirked.“Allright,showoff,you’vegotthebasics—ratherquickly,by
theway—butthatdoesn’tmeanwe’regoingtotakeiteasy.You’llbemelting
everythinginthisroomtoday,startingwiththat,overthere.”Shenodded
towardhisdesk.“Yourdeskdrawers—you’llbeopeningthemonebyoneuntil
youcandriftintoyourmeltwithouteventhinkingaboutit.Anddon’t
concentrate too hard like you did last time. The more relaxed you feel, the morecontrolyou’llhaveoveryourgift.”
SheturnedherattentiontoJason,expectingtoseehimpreparingtomelt,but
insteadfoundhimstaringbackatherintently,hisfacedonningaslightsmirk
asifhehadasecret.
“Areyouevenlisteningtome?”
“Irememberyou.”
Evewrinkledhernose.“Well,you shouldrememberme.Yousawme
yesterday and the day before. The Interlopers dissected your chest, not your brain.”
“No,Imeanbeforeallofthis—Irememberyou.Webumpedintoeachother
onthefirstdayofclasses.”
“Oh.”Eve’smindwanderedtotheirencounterinthehallsofthebusiness
building. “Actually,ifyouwanttogettechnical, youbumpedinto me—
gracefully,mightIadd.”
“Ah,thereitis:thatfamiliarcuttingsarcasm.”Hesmiled.“Youcertainlyknow
howtoputsomeoneintheirplace.NotsurehowIcould’veforgottenyou.”
Evelookedawayuncomfortably.“Well,you’vebeenmorethanabit
preoccupiedsincethen,whatwithbeingcutopenbyaliensandall.”
“Wow.Youputitsodelicately.”
“It’sagift.”
“Seemslikeyou’vegotalotofgifts…”
“Speakingofwhich”—EveignoredJason’sretortandsnatchedthepackage
fromhismattress—“you’vegotworktodo.”
“Whyareyoudoingthis?”
Eveletoutalong,irritatedsigh.“Areyougoingtokeepstalling,orarewe
goingtogettowork?”
Jasonlaughed.“Comeon,relax.”Heleanedbackinhisbed,proppinghis
neckagainsttheheadrest.“I’mjustcurious.Whyare yoututoringme?Imean, yousaidityourself:youdidn’tsignupforthis.”
Eve’sshouldersstiffened.“Doesitmatter?”
“No,notreally.Doyoualwaysgetthistensewhenpeopleaskyouquestions?”
Of course not, Eve thought, though she knew she was lying to herself. She exhaledloudlyandgaveJasonadisgruntledlook.
“Ididn’thaveachoice.DeanFurstcalledmeintohisoffice—hesaiditwas
myjobtotrainyou,andthatwasthat.”
“Damn,anorderstraightfromFursthimself?”Jasonstoppedshort,
distractedbyanewidea.“Youknow,themandoesn’twastehistimewithjust
anyone.”
“Yes,well,you’renotjust anyone. You’rethesonofasenator.”
“Iwasn’ttalkingaboutme.”
“Thenwhatwereyoutalkingabout?”
“Whyyou?”
“Oh, God— ”
“Outofallthechimerasatthisschool,youwereasked—no, forced—tobe
sittingherewithmerightnow,”heinterrupted.“Youmustbespecial.”
Evepursedherlips,aggravated.“Weneedtogetbacktowork.”
“Eve,wouldyoubelievemeifIsaidthatI’mjusttryingtogettoknowyou?
Becauselikeitornot,that’sthetruth.”
Shecouldn’thelpbutnoticehiseyes:hehadadisarmingstarethatlefther
anxious, and yet she felt that maybe, possibly, he was truly being honest with her.
“Youdon’tneedtogettoknowme.I’mjustyourtutor.”
“You’retheonlypersonI’mallowedtosee—besidesmynursesanddoctor.
ForgivemeifI’mcravingsomegenuineconversationaboutsomethingother
thansuturesandantibacterialointment.”
Evesighed;Jasonwasapainintheass.Unfortunatelyforher,hewasapain intheasswithasound,logicalargument.Itcouldn’thurttotellhimthetruth—
after all, he already knew her true identity, and it was an identity they both shared. If anyone could be trusted with this information, who better than a fellowchimera?Andyet,alloftherationalizingintheworlddidn’tmakethe
wordsanyeasiertosay.
“Apparently,I’mreally… goodatwhatIdo.”
“WhydoIhavethefeelingthatthatwasasignificantunderstatement?”
“Becauseitwas.”
“So,wereyouplanningonelaborating?”
Evegrimaced,stallingforamoment.“I’mkindof…”
Jasonraisedhiseyebrows.“Yes?”
“Basically—”
“Justsayit.”
“I amsayingit.”
“Notreally.”
“I’mthestrongestchimeraintheworld,”Evespat,annoyedbyhis
badgering.
Jasonstaredatherindisbelief.“What?”
Evefaltered.“God,itsoundssoweirdeventome.There’snowaytosayit
without,well,sayingitjustlikethat.”
“You’rethestrongestchimerainthe world?”
“Yes,”Evehissed,hercheeksrosywithembarrassment,“anditdoesn’t soundanylessweirdcomingfromyou.”
Hesmiled,hiseyesstilllitwiththesamefire—thesamesincerity.
“It’snotweird.It’sincredible.”
Hisreactionsurprisedher: incredible,he’dsaid.It wasincredible,truly,butto hearitfromsomeoneelsewassostrangeandunexpected.Tryasshemight,
shecouldn’tthinkoftherightwordstosaytohim,soinsteadshestaredather
handsasshealwaysdidwhenshefeltuneasy.
“So,ifyou’rethestrongestchimeraintheworld,tellme:whatcanyoudo?”
“Can’twejustmeltalready?”
“Eve,”Jasongroaned,“comeon.Please?”
Evegrumbled.“Well,I’mfast.Reallyfast,actually.Andstrong,thoughI
knowIdon’tlookit.Lookscanbedeceivingwithchimeras.”
“Andyourgift?”
Evekepthergazepointedathercuticles.“Icanmovestuff,obviously—
prettymuchanythingyoucouldthinkof.Abook,acouch…”Shesmirked.“A
bus…”
“Whatelse?”
“Icanmanipulatethings.Anythingyoucandowithyourhands,Icandowith
my gift. You know, turn light switches on and off, open doors, tie shoelaces, hammeranail.”
“Whataboutlivingthings?Whataboutpeople?”
&nb
sp; “Yousurearenosy.”
“Thecorrectwordis intrigued.”
Evesighed,stillresoluteinherirritation.“Takesalotmorepractice,butyes,I canmovepeople.Infact,Icouldmoveawholecrowdofpeople—ifIwanted
to,atleast.That’sactuallythehardestskilltomaster:meltingmultiple
thingsatonce.Ittookmeyearstogetthatdown.”
“Maybeaneasierquestiontoanswerwouldbewhat can’tyoudo.”
Evesatquietly,stillfussingwithherfingernails.Shethoughtabouthis
questions—hisincessant,pesteringquestions.Shedidn’thavetoanswerthem;
afterall,thiswasnoneofhisbusiness.Shewastheretoteachhim,andnothing
more.Andyet,somethinginsideofher,orpossiblysomethinginsideofhim,
urgedhertoopenup.Outofthecornerofhereye,shecouldseehimwatching
her,waitingforheranswerwithlargeeyesthatlookedsounthreatening.
“Ifit’srootedtotheground,Ican’tmeltit.Likeatreeorabuilding.”
“Makessense.”
Shehesitatedforamoment,stillstaringdownatherlap,avoidinghisgaze.
“Ican’tfly.”
Jasonfurrowedhisbrow.“Huh?”
“Letmerephrase.Righthere,rightnow,Icouldmakeyoulevitate.Icould
haveyousoaringthroughtheroomdoingflipsandloopslikeitwasnothing.
ButIcouldn’tdothattomyself.”Shefrowned.“LordknowsI’vetrieda
milliontimes.”
“Anythingelse?”
Evestopped.Theanswerwasthere,restingonthetipofhertongue,andyet
it was so very hard to utter. It was a gamble—she knew this—but despite her greatersensibility,shedecidedtosayitanyway.
“Therearelimitations,”shebegan,slowly.“Imean…”Shesighed.“Idon’t
thinkyou’dunderstand.”
“Tryme.”
Shegrowledslightly,aggravatedbyhisresolve,butcontinuedregardless.“I
candoalotofthingswithmygift.Itusedtoscareme,howmuchIcoulddo.It
doesn’tseemright,tohavesomuchpowertrappedinsideyourmind.”
Jasonrolledhiseyes.“You’restartingtosoundlikemydad.”
“Youreallydon’tgetit.”Theireyesmet.“Icould hurtpeoplewithmygiftifI wantedto.Icouldhurlyouagainstthewall,throwyouhighintotheairand
let you fall to the ground. I could melt a knife into your chest. It’s sick, the thought of it.” She stopped for a second, stirred by her own words. “But to answeryourquestion,Ican’tjustthinkaboutbreakingyourlegsoryourback