Dualed by Chapman Elsie

Author:Chapman, Elsie [Chapman, Elsie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307975362
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2013-02-25T22:00:00+00:00

I crash into wakefulness, my eyes springing open, my heart already racing, my mouth dry. My stiff fingers fall from the gun that I haven’t let go of all night, and automatically I reach for my bag next to the pillow. Still there.

It’s my cell, a new text coming in. The specs for a new strike, mine if I want it. I accept it nearly without thinking, let relief surface and lap over. A new focus, keeping me busy calculating how I’m going to do it, how I’m going to attack—

Cell still in hand, I sit up, remembering Dess and his own assignment, how he’s going to track down his Alt on his own. Then Chord’s words running through my head: It’s you now, so stop running!

I tuck my cell away. It’s done. Contract accepted.

And it’s dawn. Gray light filters in through the thin cloth drapes, and I’m freezing despite the blankets I’ve pulled on top of myself. Winter is finally here.

I have eight days left.

Shower first. Then it’s time to leave. It’s one of the few rules I don’t allow myself to break, ever: Never sleep in the same place twice, no matter how much easier it is, how practical it might be. The comfort wouldn’t be worth hearing the footsteps of your Alt finally close in on you because you got too lazy to keep moving.

Even before I open my bedroom door, I can tell Dess has already left. The air in the house is too flat and still for someone else to be here.

Sadness creeps in along with satisfaction as I leave the room. Good. He’s learned he needs to keep moving. That keeping still is begging to become one more incomplete. Go, Dess.

There’s a piece of paper stuck onto his bedroom door, a note for me. I yank it down, unable to keep from smiling at the wad of gum he used for tape.

West, here’s my cell number. I know you didn’t want it, but just in case you change your mind. Also, I was going to slip it under your door, but I was worried you’d hear the sound and shoot at me. Your friend, Dess

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