weakness,shewoulddoit.
Thewhistleblew,signalingtheendoftherunaswellastheendoftheclass.
Whileherpeersappearedtorelishtheprospectofwaterandrest,Eveinstead
feltunfulfilledandsickwithself-loathing.Astheboysmoppedthesweatoffof
theirsoreshouldersanddrainedfaces,shegatheredherthingsandheadedfor
thedoor—butnotbeforeshecaughtwindoftheirconversation.
“Didyouseeher?Shewasblowingusoutofthewaterforaminute.”
“She’snoteven tired.”
“Comeon,man.She’sagirl,notamachine.”
“Seriously,lookather.She’snotsweating.Atall.”
“Girlsdon’tsweat.”
“Bullshit.”
Ithadbegun—heracthadbeenfornothing.Despitetheintolerableheat,she
threwherhoodedsweatshirtoverherperfectlydryshouldersandheadedoff,
eagertoescapethewhisperingbehindher.
Suddenly,anobstacleblockedherpath:CaptainRamseystoodinfrontof
her,hisfacedonningthesameintenseexpressionhehadwornduringherlaps.
“IstheresomethingIcandoforyou,Captain?”Eveasked.Thistime,itwas
herturntoavoideyecontact.
Thecaptainstaredather,hiseyespiercingherlikedaggers.
“No,Kingston.Youmayproceed.”
Evehurriedpasthimwithherheadhanginglow.Evenassheleftthefield,
she could still feel Ramsey and her classmates watching her. She had to be morecareful— much morecareful—ifshewasgoingtomaintainthisfaçade.
Anonymitywasalreadystartingtofeellikesuchastruggletoachieve,butshe
would have it; she would be normal, human, for once in her life. As she imaginedalifeunlikeherown,oneofpeaceandsolitude,shebecame
reinvigoratedwithasenseofpurpose,somuchsothat,foramoment,she
almost forgot the lingering threat of the newly hostile and dangerous
Interlopers.
Almost.
CHAPTER3:JASONA.VALENTINE
Aswarmoforangejumpsuitsstampededaroundher,knockingoverlunch
tablesandmetalchairslikewildanimalsreleasedfromacage.Theywere fleeing—to where, she didn’t know, as there was no place to go, and so they pressed their bodies against the walls, their eyes frantic, their skin pale with terror.Guardsinblackuniformsdispersedthroughoutthespace,desperateto
subduethechaosathand,buttheireffortswerefutile.Theyweretoolate.
Evestoodinthecenteroftheroom,herfeetrootedtothecementfloor.As
smallasshewas—probablythesmallest,andcertainlytheyoungestperson
there—she felt large and towering, as if all eyes were focused on her, which sheknewwasmorethanaparanoidassumption.Herbodyshook;shecouldn’t
tell whether it was fear or power quaking within her, because she was too inexperiencedandnaïvetoknowthedifference.Allshecoulddowasstareat
thefloorinhorror.
Shecouldfeelhimstandingafewyardsinfrontofher:ateenageboy,much
biggerthanherandnearlytwiceherage,thoughhisonceintimidating
appearancewasnowfeebleandweak.
“Youdidthis.”Hisvoicetrembledashespoke.“Youknowthat,right?”
Heclutchedsomethinginhisfist:atoothbrush,whittledattheendintoasharp
point.Ashivcoveredinblood—thesamebloodthatwasspilledatEve’s
feet,apoolofredthatshecouldn’ttearhereyesfrom.
Thebloodspreadslowlyacrossthegrounduntilitlappedathershoes.
Anotherboywaslyinginthecenterofit,facedown,limp,still.Hehadbeenno
morethantenyearsold—upright,talking,smilingonlyminutesprior—and
now,nothingbutanendlessseaofred.Allshecouldsee,allshecouldfeelwas
theboyandtheblood.Somuchblood.Somuchred.
“You did this.” The teenager repeated. Eve had almost forgotten he was still there,staringather,hisgazefearful.Petrified.
“Thisisallyourfault.”
Eve’seyesflickedopen,herentirebeingforcedawakeinaninstant.
ItwasSaturdaymorning;Evehadsurvivedherfirstweekofschool.Thesun
wasshiningthroughthesheercurtains,andshecouldtellthatitwasgoingto
beabeautifulday.Howunfortunate,then,thatshewouldbespendinghertime
in the study hall, burying her face in the digital pages of her scratchpad and catchinguponherendlessarrayofwork.
Sheglancedattheothersideofherroom;Madisonwasalreadygone,her
beddisheveledandherclothesstrewnacrossherluggagelikethedebrisfrom
apinktornado.Evetookabriefmomenttobaskinhercovetedsolitudebefore
tearingherselffromthecomfortofhersheetsandpreparingforwhatwassure
tobeadullday.Shetossedalooseblouseoverherhead,pulledonapairof
denimshorts,andstrolledoutofherdorm,onlytobeabruptlystoppedather
doorway.
“Eve! SogladIranintoyou!”
Heather,thevivaciousredheadfrommove-inday,waswaitingjustoutside
Eve’sroom,lightlytappingherperfectlymanicurednailsalongthedoor.
Evegrumbled,“Well,you arestandinginmydoorway.”
Heatherflashedhertrademarksmile.“Whereyouoffto?”
Evestruggledtosquirmpast,butHeatherdidn’tstepaside.
Evesighed.“I’mgoingtothestudyhall.”
“Notanymore!”HeatherlinkedarmswithEveandyankedhertowardthe
elevator.“You’recomingwithmetotheBillingtonMedicalWard!”
“Iam?”
“Youknow,communityservicelooksstellaronresumes.IthoughtI’dgeta
headstartandapplytodosomevolunteerworkatthemedicalward.They’re
holdingameet-and-greettodayforanyonewhomaybeinterested.”
“Well, that’s nice and all, but I’m not interested.“ Eve looked around for someone,anyonetosaveherfromHeather’sgrasp,butthehallswereempty.
“DoesthatmeanIcanjustgotothestudyhall?”
“Eve,darling,don’tyoucareaboutyourfuture?”
“Ido,Ijustdon’tcareaboutthemedicalward—”
“Eve!”Heathergasped.“Therearesickpeople sufferingoverthere.Don’tyou feeltheslightestbitobligatedtolendahand?”
Evefeltthepressureofguiltcreepthroughher.“Well…Iguess—”
“I’m kidding,”Heathergiggled.“Thetruthis,themedicalwardissuchagreat placetopeople-watch.Ifoneofyourclassmatesgetsabadcaseofmono,
you’rethefirsttoknow.Ifsomeonebreakstheirleginadrunkenstupor,you
see it before everyone else! And best of all, we’ll get to see all of the attack victims.”
“Attackvictims?”
“Ohcomeon,Eve,you musthaveheardabouttheInterloperabductionsby
now.” Heather playfully squeezed Eve’s hand. “I’m dying to know what’s happeningtothem—thechimeras.It’sexciting,don’tyouthink?”
Evescowledwithdisgust.“Thrilling.”
EvehadneverbeentotheBillingtonMedicalWard—shehadheardofit,
sure, as it was the most prestigious teaching hospital in the country—but she hadhopedtostayasfarfromtheplaceaspossible.Nevertheless,shesoon
found herself standing in the middle of the lobby, its plain white walls and linoleumfloorfeelinglikethel
iningofaverystaleandverysteriletomb.
Despite the bland surroundings, the ward itself was far from dull, as eager volunteershustledthroughtheemptyspaceandwindinghallways.
“Wow.Didn’texpecttoseesomanypeoplehere,”Evemumbled.
“Well, clearlyotherpeoplecaremoreabouttheirfuturesuccessthanyoudo.”
Evescannedtheroomuntilhergazelandedonahuddleofdoctorsand
nurses in a faraway corner. They whispered to one another, their brows and palmssweaty,theireyesdartingacrossthecrowdedspace.
SheflinchedasHeatherslappedapieceofpaperagainstherchest.
“Alittlejumpy,arewe?”Heatherteased.“Here,filloutthisformwhilewe
waitinlineforourbloodtests.”
Evestopped,herbodysuddenlycoldandnumb.
“Bloodtest?Whydoweneedabloodtest?”
“It’sstandardprocedure,hon.We’llbeworkinginahospital.Naturallythey
havetomakesurewe’rehealthy.”
“…I’mnottakingabloodtest.”
“Andwhynot?”HeatherstaredbackatEve,hergreeneyeswidewith intrigue.“Isthereaproblem?Youdon’thaveanythingtohide,doyou?”
EvelookedatHeather—athersteadfastgazeandphonysmile—andshe
could’veswornshesawthevultureMadisonhadsovehementlywarnedher
about.
“Ofcoursenot.Ijustdon’tlikeneedles.”
“Oh,Eve,”Heathersquealed,“you’readorable,doyouknowthat?”
Theyparkedthemselvesinline,andHeatherimmediatelybegantacklingher
form.Evekeptherpaperbyhersideandstaredblanklyatthebustlingcrowd,
her mind racing into a state of panic. She knew exactly what the tests would disclose: negative to all infectious diseases, viruses, and bacteria. Her results would implicate her as the healthiest person in the building— too healthy, at leastforanormalhumanbeing,butnottoohealthyforachimera.Shecouldn’t
takethatbloodtest.Thethoughtofrevealingheridentity—ofprovingwithout
adoubtthatshewasn’thuman—wasutterlyunbearable.
Evelookedoverhershoulderattheinjectionlab;shewasonlythirdinline
and would need to figure something out quickly. She could excuse herself to usetherestroom,maybefeignasuddenillness,butneitheroptionseemed
believable. She could simply faint, pretending to be scared of the sight of blood,thoughsuchanactofweaknessseemedsodemeaning.
Suddenly,analarmsoundedthroughtheoverheadspeakers,andtheward
stirred into action. Volunteers nervously glanced about the lobby while the staff’sfacesfilledwithfear.Thesmallgroupofdoctorsandnursesintheback
oftheroomdashedtowardthedoorway,shoulderingtheirwaythroughthe
massofstudentsandusheringasideallthosewhoblockedtheentrance.
“What’sgoingon?”Eveasked.“Shouldweleave?”
“Notachance,”Heatherinsisted.“We’renextinline.”
Evelookedbackattheinjectionsite.Alabtechnicianflaggedherover,
pattinganopenseat,hisfriendlysmileappearingominousinhereyes.Itwas
toolateforhertoturnawaynow;eachstepshetookfeltlikeonestepcloserto herworstfearsbeingrealized.
“MOVE!OUTOFTHEWAY!”
Apatrolmanburstthroughthelobbydoors,hishandswrappedarounda
massivefirearm.Eveturnedtowardthecommotion—five,seven,tenmore
patrolmenbargedintothelobby,clearinganaisledownthemainhallway
toward the ICU. Eve scampered out of the injection lab toward Heather, who waspeeringpastapatrolmanatthesceneinfrontofthem.
“Standback,ladies,”themanordered.“Don’tcomeanycloser.”
“What’shappening?”Heatherasked,strainingherneckoverhisshoulder.
“Medicalemergency.We’rebringinginanattackvictim.”
Heather’seyesbrightened.“Achimera?”
“Don’tcomeany closer,”herepeated.
Thefrontdoorsswungopen.Countlessparamedicsspilledintothelobby,
theirnavyscrubscoveredinsweatandblood.Thesceneunfoldedinslow
motion as doctors cried for assistance and patrolmen barked orders over the chaos. More paramedics, their eyes filled with terror, pushed a rattling metal
gurneythroughtheentryway.Evecouldseeayoungmanwithmessybrown hair and tattered jeans lying on the stretcher; she instantly recognized him as JasonValentine,theboyfromherfirstdayofclassesandthesupposedowner
of Madison’s heart. His face was ghostly pale, his eyes wide with shock; he pantedforair,hisbreathsshortandshallow.Evescannedhisfilthybodywhen
shesawit,animagesheknewwouldhauntherfortherestofherlife:Jason’s
chesthadbeensplitopen,hisfleshandmuscletorndownthecenterand
savagely spread apart like the pages of a book. The incision was clean and precise,asifexecutedwithmeticulousexactness,withtimeandcare,by
someoneorsomethingsoevil,soheinousthatthethoughtalonesentawaveof
nausea through Eve’s body. She could clearly make out the sheen of his ribs and the mess enclosed within: his crimson heart quaked within its cavity, and hispinklungsthrobbedrapidlyandviolently.
“OhmyGod,”Evestammered,appalled.“They dissectedhim?”
Jason’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he drifted in and out of consciousness. A doctor shined a small flashlight in his face as they raced throughthecorridor.
“Jason!Canyouhearme,Jason?”
Jasonblinked,thenglancedaroundinadazeuntilhisgazefinallymadeits
waytohischest—hisopen,bloodychestandtheinternalorgansnowfully
hislungssurgedashehelplesslygaspedforair.Then,withasuddenswellof
energy,heclutchedattherailsofhisgurneyandletoutadeafening,horrified
scream.
Evejumped—hisscreamsentherownheartpoundinginherchest,and thoughsheprayedtoGoditwouldn’toccur,theunthinkablehappenedbefore
hereyes.Anurserunningalongsidethestretchersuddenlyflewintotheair,her
bodytornfromthegroundandtossedacrossthehallwaylikealimpragdoll.
Immediatelyafter,adoctorwasjerkedfromthefloorbysomeinvisibleforce
—somepowerthatpulledheroffherfeetandsentherbodycollidingintothe
wall.Onebyone,bodieswerethrownabouttheroomlikeleavesbeing
scattered by a turbulent breeze. Another nurse was flung across the hallway, andthenanother,hisbodylandinginaheapuponarowofchairs.Evewatched
incompleteshockatthemayhembeforeher;itwasallsosurreal,andyetso
familiartoher.
One last doctor was hurled into the air, his limbs flailing erratically as he quicklyplummetedbackdown—righttowardHeatherMcLeod,whostood
paralyzedinhispath.Withoutasecondtothink,Eveboltedforwardand
grabbedHeather’sshoulders,spunheraround,andslammedheragainstthe
walljustasthedoctorfelltothefloor.
“EVE!”Heatheryelped,herbodystillpressedintothewall.“Whatjust
happened?”
Evereleasedher,backingawayfromthegirlasshewatchedtheICUdoors
slamshutbehindJason’sspeedinggurney.
“Hejustdevelopedhisgift,”sheansw
eredalmostunconsciously.“Hecan’t
controlit.”
“Haveyoueverseenanythinglikethatbefore?”
Eve’smindwanderedtothedeathofherparents—totheterriblewreck,the
paininherskull,thetruckthatflewintothesky.
“No.”
Thelobbywasamess.Evestoodinthecenterofit,shockedandnonplussed,
oblivioustoHeather’sunwaveringstareasshehoveredcloselybehindher.
“Thatwasunbelievable.”
“Iknow,”Evesaid.“Hischest…allthatblood—”
“No,Imeantyou,”Heathercorrected.“Howyoucaughtme.Howyou
movedmeawayrightinthenickoftime.”Shefoldedherarms,suddenlycalm
and collected. “You’re so fast, Eve. It’s almost like you’re… I don’t know, super.Likeyou’renotevenhuman.”
EvelookedatHeather—atheradorablewhitesundressanddespicablesmile,
at her cheeks that were once pale with fright but were now suddenly back to theirusualrosyglow.Withaheavysighandaresentfulglare,Eveheadedfor
theexit.
“Whereareyougoing?”
“Awayfromhere.Awayfromyou.”
“Butthebloodtests—”
“Screwthedamnbloodtests,Heather,”Evespat.“Screwthemedicalward,and screw Billington.”
“Well, you’reawfullyperturbed.WasitsomethingIsaid?”
Evestoppedinfrontofthedoorwayandturned;shehadaperfectviewofthe destruction—theoverturnedchairs,theblood-spatteredlinoleumfloor,the
frantic, tear-streaked faces—but this time, all she saw was the redheaded girl beforeher.
“Someonewasjust dissected,Heather.Youmaynotgiveashit,butIdo.”
Andwiththat,Evestormedoutoftheward,pushingherwaythroughthe
throng of bodies, pleading with herself to please, please remain calm. Don’t look back. Patrolmen were scattered in front of the ward, cornering terrified volunteers. “You saw NOTHING,” they ordered. “Do you understand? ” Eve chargedahead,keepinghereyesforward,blindingherselftothesurrounding
chaos.Shecouldn’tignoreitanylonger:theattackswerereal.Jason’s
butchered, dissected chest was real. As the initial shock slowly dissipated, realitysoonsetin:nochimerawassafeatBillington—notevenEve.