—they’repittingusagainstoneanother.They’regivinghumansareasonto
hateus,andit’s working.They’rewinningthroughfear.”
Jason’slipscurleddisgustedly.“Allofthis—everythingthat’shappening—
it’sjustthebeginning.They’llkillagain.Anotherhuman,ormaybe—”
“Achimera.Oneofus.”
Adarknesshoveredoverthepairofthem.Suddenly,Everealizedtheir handswerestillclaspedtogether;shequicklypulledhersawayandfoldedher
arms.
“IsawFursttoday.”
“What,why?Whatdidhesay?”
“Itdoesn’tmatter.Hewouldn’ttellmeanything.Keptrepeatingsome
bullshitabouthavingnothingtofear—abouthowthepatrolmenwilltakecare
of us.” She rolled her eyes. “What a joke, right? The patrolmen aren’t doing anything.”
JasonlookedoveratEve,studyingherclosely.Shehadtriggeredsomething
insidehim—sheknewthis,asafternearlythreeweekstogether,shecouldsee
rightthroughhim—andshebracedherselfforwhateverpesteringquestionor
impetuousconclusionhewasabouttothrowherway.
“Wecoulddosomething,Eve.”
“No,wecouldn’t.”
“Doyoureallybelievethat?”
Again,theroomwasquiet.EveignoredJason’sgazeandstaredoutthe
window,whichwasalltheanswerheneeded.
“Look,Eve,we’re powerful. YouknowthatahellofalotbetterthanIdo.
Haven’tyoueventhoughtaboutit?”
“Yes,I’vethoughtaboutit—alot,actually.I’vethoughtabouthowI’monly
nineteenyearsold.HowIhavenomoney,noexperience,noweapons.”
“Idon’tbuythat.I knowyou.Youknowyourstrength.”Heleanedincloser toher.“Youcan’tdenywhatyou’recapableof.Andyoushouldn’tbeafraidof
it,either.”
“I’m notafraid.”
“Thenwhyareyoubrushingthisoff?”
“Becauseit’s toomuch,Jason,”shespat.“Ican’tsavemyself andtheworldat thesametime.”
“Save yourself?”
“Just,”shemumbled,restingherforeheadinherhands,“justforgetabout
it.”
EvecouldseeJason’sfaceoutofthecornerofhereye.Hislookof
disappointmentwasalmosttoomuchtobear.Shebreathedindeeply.
“Look,”shebegan,thistimemuchmorecalmly,“whatI’mtryingtosayis
that…Iprefertoflyundertheradar.”
“Really?Withagiftlikeyours?”
“Peopleheredon’tknowI’machimera.Theycan’t.”Shepickedather
cuticlesanxiously.“Alienfighterisn’texactlythebestcoverforsomeonelike
me.”
“It’snotlikeyou’dbedoingitalone,youknow.Youhaveme.”
Theireyesfinallymet,andEvefeltasifshewasexposedandunarmed
beforehim.Jason’sstarewasaching,likeaheavyweightonherweakened back,and Godwasitunfairofhimtolookatherlikethat.
“Canwejustdropthisfornow?”
Hefrowned,defeated.“Fine,butthisisn’tover.”
AstreamofvilewordsfloodedEve’smouth,beggingtobespoken,butshe
swallowedthemdownlikevinegar.Shewasfrustrated—withBillington,with
theInterlopers,butmostlywithherself.Butbeforeshecouldruminateonthe
subjectanylonger,somethingelsecaughtherattention.
“Jason,isthat bloodonyourneck?”
“Shit,”hemuttered,immediatelybarrelingtowardthesink.
“Whathappened?”
Herolledhiseyes.“Ithinkyouknowwhathappened.”
Afterwashingthebloodspotfromhisneck,heturnedtofaceEve.Shewas
scowlingathim,notoutofirritationordisapproval,butoutofworry.
“IwastryingtoseeifIcouldmelttwothingsatthesametime,”he
“Whatwereyoumelting?”
“Thebedandthedesk.”
“God,Jason—”
“IhadtoseeifIcoulddoit,Eve.”
Shesighed;shecouldfeelhisaggravationfesteringinhistenseshouldersand rigidjaw.Itwasafrustrationshehadfeltmany,manytimesbefore.
“It’sa reallycomplicatedmelt.Giveittime.Idon’tknowofanychimerawho canmeltmultiplethingsatonceexcept—”
“You?”Hesmirked.
Hewasright;afterall,itwasthehardestmelttoconquer,anunpredictabletask withplentyofhazardousconsequences.Andwiththat,anewthoughtcame
toEve’smind.Shesmiledandstoodfromthebed.
“We’redoingsomethingdifferenttoday,”sheexplained.“You’regoingto
controlamovingobject.”
“Thatsoundslikeapotentialdisaster.”
“Oh,don’tgetmewrong,it’sextremelydangerous,”shegrinnedchildishly,
“butit’sthemostfunyou’llhavemelting, easily.”
“Allright,Teach,sowhatamIworkingwith?”
Shedidn’tanswer;instead,hereyesspokeforher,glowingwithanticipation
asherfeetbouncedwithrestlessexcitement.
Jasonstaredbackwithconfusion,andthenithithim.“Oh,no,notagain,”he
insisted,wavinghishandsindisagreement.“We’renotdoingitthisway.”
“What?Ihaven’tevensaidanything.”
“It’syou,Eve.You’rethemovingobject.”
Shecockedherheadinnocently.“SowhatifIam?”
“Youjustgotthroughsayinghowdangerousthisis—”
“Andhow funitis!”
“I’mnotgoingtoriskyoursafetyoversomestupidtrick.”
“Stupid trick?”shegaspedplayfully.“I’mgoingtopretendyoudidn’tsaythat.”
“Wecanpracticewithsomethingelse.Notyou.”
“Come on,Jason.Youobviouslywantedachallenge.I’mgivingyouone.”
“Isaidno,Eve.”
Shefoldedherarmsandpouted.“Look,Iwouldn’trecommendthisifI
didn’tthinkyouwerecapable.”
Hedidn’trespond.
“Nowit’syourturntotrust me,Jason.”
Hesighed.“God,Eve,waytobackmeintoacorner.”
Sheprancedtotheoppositesideoftheroom,delightedwithherconquest.
“You’rewelcome!”
“So,howarewedoingthis?”
“Well,IfiguredI’djustrunacrosstheroomandjump,andthenyoucantake
itfromthere.”
“That’sahorribleidea,”hegroaned.
“Oh,please.”Shewinked.“Don’tbesuchascrote.”
“Oh,sonowwe’rename-calling?”Helaughed.“Fine,youwin.I’lldoit.”
Evestretchedherlegs,preparingforhershortsprintacrosstheroom.
“Now,thismighttakeafewattempts.Youwon’thavetimetorelax,soyou’ll
have to melt instantly.” She took her stance. “Just, please, whatever you do, don’t get distracted. I don’t want to be like your snow globe and end up in piecesalloverthefloor.”
“Wow.Nopressure,huh?”
Theteasingstoppedastheystoodfacingoneanother,bracingthemselves
forthetaskathand.EverypossibleoutcomeplayedthroughEve’smind,both
thecompellingandtheunfortunate,butshefeltfearlessandconfident.
Withadeepbreath,shedashedacrosstheroomandleaptintotheair,anda
ll
thewhileJasonstaredatherwithintense,focusedeyes.Then,lessthanhalfa
secondlater,herfeetsmackedagainsttheground,andshestumbledalongthe
linoleumfloor.
Nothinghadhappened.JasonscowledatEve,hiseyebrowsraisedinthat I-
told-you-sofashionsheabsolutelyloathed.
“What?”shescoffed.“Didyouexpecttogetitonthefirsttry?Please,you’re
good,butyou’renotGod.”
Withoutasinglehesitation,Eveflungherselfacrosstheroomforasecond
time, bouncing into the air with even more height than before, and again she landedonthefloorwithathud.
“Again,”shecommanded.
She sprinted past the hospital bed once, twice, three more times, again and again,eachtimewithoutanyimprovementoreventheslightestlevitation.
“Look,Ican’tconcentrate,”Jasonmoaned.“Idon’twanttohurtyou.”
“You’renotgoingtohurtme.”
“Youdon’tknowthat—”
“Ido,”Eveinterrupted.“Ireallydo.”
Jasonlookedbackather;shewassmiling,hereyessparklingwithalevelof
optimismhewasn’tusedtoseeinginher.Withanod,hetookhisplaceonthe
oppositesideoftheroomandwaitedforherlaunch.
Again Eve bolted across the room, her stare fixed directly on Jason. With a grunt,shejumpedintotheair—thiswouldbetheeleventhtime—butfor
whatever reason, this attempt felt different: she felt powerful, her spring so high that she thought, just for a moment, that she could almost touch the ceiling,andbeforesheknewit,shewasdoingjustthat.Withalightthump,her
entire back was pressed against the ceiling as if ungoverned by the laws of gravity.ShelookeddownatJason,whowasstandingbeneathher,laughing
loudlywithwide,excitedeyes.
“You’reright,this isfun,”hebeamed.“Howdoyoufeel?”
“Likeasuperhero,”shechuckled,stillfloatinghighabovehim.“Comeon,
don’tjustleavemehere—makemefly.”
Atherrequest,JasonsentEvedippingdownfromtheceilingandgliding
through the room, soaring like a small, delicate airplane in what little space wasavailable.Sheswervedlowtothegroundandthenhighintotheair,
loopingincirclesandallthewhilelaughinghystericallyatthecarefree
nonsense of it all. She spun her arms and kicked her feet as if she were swimming,flyingacrossthespaceandevencirclingJasonforabriefmoment
until she decided anything further would leave her feeling sick, and so he gentlyloweredhertotheground.
“Itoldyou,”shecheered,scurryingbacktowardherstartingplace.“We’re doing thatagainfor sure.”
Butbeforeshecouldreachtheoppositewall,herbodywasonceagaintorn
fromthegroundandlaunchedintotheair.Shefeltweightless,asifguidedby
aninvisiblehand,butshedidn’tstayaloftforlongthistime:soonherfeetwere scrapingthelinoleumbeneathher,headingforanawkwardanduncontrolled
landing.Shethumpedclumsilytothegroundandstumbled,tryingtoregain
herfootingbutinsteadcrashingintosomethingfirmandsteady,somethingthat
scooped her up in its arms. Her hair was messily strewn across her face and herlimbsfeltlimpanddisjointed,butsomethingwasholdingher,stabilizing
her—andasshecaughtherbreath,sherealizedthatthesomethingwasJason.
They stood nose to nose, their eyes locked, their hands tightly clutching one another.
“Sorryfortheroughlanding,”hesaid,sweepingthetendrilsfromherface.
“GuessIgotdistracted.”
Eve felt small in Jason’s arms. He held her close, as if at any moment she mightslipaway,andthoughherbreathinghadnowsteadied,herheartbeganto
race.
“It’s—”Shestopped,suddenlyveryawareofthesituation.Shebackedaway
fromJason,breakinghisholdandnervouslystraighteningherblouse.“It’s
okay.You’redoinggreat.”
“Eve,Iwasn’ttryingto—”
“Jason,it’sfine.”Shedidn’tbothertolethimfinish—sheknewwhathewas goingtosay.Itwasallbecomingtooeasy.Toowonderful.Toomuch.She
forcedasmile.
“Let’sgetbacktowork.”
***
“MURDERER!”hescreamed.
Thestonesmackedagainstherface,andEvefelltotheground,herhandsand
cheekslidingalongthegravel.Shecouldfeelthestingofdirtforminga
crustoverheropenwounds,andherpalmswerepinkandbloodylikeraw
meat.Shetriedtohoistherselfontoallfours,buttheboykickedherintheribs, andagainshecollapsedtothefloor.
“CHIME!”
Herclassmatesencircledher,chantingtheobscenitywiththeirfistsheld
high.Theywereimpassioned,consumedwithsomederangedpower,an
authoritythatcommandedthemtohurtEve—tokillher.
Eve’shandsached,andshegrippedatthegroundbeneathher,strugglingto
liftherheavybodyontoherknees.
Theworldwentblack;Evefeltaheavypoundingagainsthertemple,onethat
reverberatedthroughherskullandcentralizedinherbrain.Arockthuddedto
thegroundbesideher,andshefeltthecoolrushofblooddrippingdownher
neck.Herchestlurchedforward,landinginaflat,feeblepileinthemiddleof
theplayground.Shetriedtobreathe,butbloodgurgledinherthroat,andwitha pitifulhack,shecoughedoutatooth,whichfelltothegroundinasplatterof
thereddestbloodshehadeverseen.Thechantingofherclassmatesgrew
louderandlouderuntiltheirwordswereimprintedonherbrain.
“KILLER!”
“DIE,CHIME!DIE!”
Evemusteredeveryounceofstrengthshehadandfloppedontoherback.
Theskywassobeautifulandblueaboveher,withoutacloudinsight,andthe
sunshinedbrightly.Itwassuchalovelyvisiontoenjoybeforeshedied.
“STEPONHER!”agirlshouted.“STOMPONHERFACE!”
Eve’s view of the sky was blocked by the bottom of a boot. It seemed to approach in slow motion, gradually inching closer until she could smell the dogfecesandbubblegumwedgedinthecrevicesofit’ssole.
Justastheliningofthebootgrazedthetipofhernose,herhandsuddenly
cametolife,springingupandgrabbingtheboy’sankle.Shehardlyknewwhat
was happening—her arm acted on its own, as if independent from her body, and without warning, she tossed the boy forward, throwing his body into the airandsendinghimtumblingtothegroundbesideher.
Thecrowdofchildrenshriekedwithterror.Eveleapttoherfeet,amazedby
hersuddenpowerandnewfoundstrength.Herclothesandskinwerepractically
soggywithblood,yetshefeltrevitalizedandrestored.Adrenalineflowed
throughherveinslikefuel,andthesoundofthecryingchildrenbecame
nothingbutwhitenoise,drownedoutbytheheavythumpingofherheart.
“KILLHER!”theyscreamed.“SHE’SAMURDERER!”
Aboypickeduparockbesidehisfoot,tossingitbackandforthbetweenhis
hands as an evil grin spread across his lips. He wound up and, with a grunt, flungtherockatEveashardashecould,aimingforrightbetweenhereyes.
Therockflewtowardherlikeabullet—thenstoppedinchesfromofherface,
whereitquiveredslightlyasithoveredintheair.
Thechildrengasped,mesmerizedbythefloatingrock.Evewatcheditbobin
frontofher,thenturnedhergazetotheboywhohadmadeherhistarget.Their
eyesmet—hisbodyfroze,andshecouldseesweattrickledownhisforehead.
Everelaxedhershouldersasthepaininherbodysubsidedintonumbness,and
through the sheer force of her mind, she sent the rock hurtling back at the crowd.
Thestudentsscreamedandscattered.Therockhitnooneandfellharmlessly
totheground—justasEvehadintended—butthekidsran,savingthemselves
fromthefilthychime,the monstertheyhadstoned.
Evewasfreefromtheirtorment—atleast,fortheremainderoftheday.Itwas
likelytocontinuetomorrow.
Suddenlytheterriblepaininherbodyreemerged,andtherealityofher
situation hit her: she was dying. No, not literally dying, but she knew that the life she had lived was dead, never to be resurrected. Evelyn Kingston was no more. She was now chimera. Chime. Monster. Murderer. And with that last thought,Eveburstintotears,thesaltstingingthescrapesonhercheeks.
“Howsad,”afamiliarvoicewhisperedinherear.
HeatherstoodbesideEveasshewatchedhereight-year-oldselfgrieveinthe
middleoftheplayground.
“It’sreallyquiteashame,”Heathersaid.“Imean,lookatyou.Sopitiful.”
“Whatdoyouwant,Heather?”
“Ijusthaveamessageforyou.That’sall.”
“Andwhat’sthat?”
“It’s all going to happen again.” Heather smiled sadistically. “I think you shouldbepreparedforthat.We’regoingtostoneyou.We’regoingtoeatyou
alive.”
Evestaredhelplesslyatherchildhoodself,whohadcrumbledintoaballon
theground,sobbinguncontrollably,cryingoutfortheparentswhowould
nevercometorescueher.
“Youneedtoknow,Eve—it’sallover.”
Eve’seyesflickedopen,andshegaspedaloudatthesoundofheralarm
clock. With a deep breath, she sat up in her bed and cradled her head in her hands.Itfeltlikeacruelpunishment,tobetormentedbyHeatherbothduring
thedayandwhilesheslept.
Sheglancedtoherside—Madison’sbedwasempty,asithadbeenwhenEve