Tin Road by Melinda Crouchley

Author:Melinda Crouchley [Crouchley, Melinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: N01
Published: 2020-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter THIRTEEN

finding purpose

Dr. Dawson meets me outside the SIM, wearing an expression of disquiet. Lucretia also stands outside the door, seemingly waiting for Twelve and I to emerge. Perhaps to ensure Twelve’s safety, but also likely to confront me about what happened. She spots Twelve and Dr. Dawson and the hard look falls from her face.

Other patients file past, glowering or looking fearful as they go. I can’t blame them for their anger, and it’s too complicated to apologize at the moment. I don’t have a good explanation for what I did. The more time passes, the more I realize how close I came to a point of no return.

But I returned. I didn’t kill Twelve. That sounds bad, but it has to count for something.

“What happened in there?” Dawson asks.

“I almost killed Twelve,” I answer, staring down at my shoes.

“We talked about this, Zero.” Dawson scowls at me and his disapproval makes my fingers curl in on my palms.

“You talked to her about not killing people?” Lucretia asks, both eyebrows raised.

“No. Not that specifically.” Dr. Dawson sighs. “You two may move along. The only responsible party here is Zero.”

“Tell her to stay out of people’s heads.”

“She hurt her hand.” Twelve gestures to my knuckles. “I think she needs medical attention.”

“I’m fine,” I say, folding a hand over the knuckles to hide them from view.

Lucretia crosses her arms and looks between us—Twelve and myself. “You’re being awful nice to someone who just tried to decorate the SIM with your brains.” She raises an eyebrow at him.

“I’m a nice guy.” Twelve smiles dopily at her, then turns towards me. “And she didn’t decorate with my brains. She’s scared and confused. She woke up. I know how that feels.”

Lucretia frowns and appears to absorb his words. “Yeah, well, that’s no excuse. Don’t go easy on her, Dawson,” Lucretia says, punctuating her words with a decisive turn. She stalks down the hall.

“Thanks, Lucretia,” I call after her.

Twelve shrugs helplessly. “If you give her some time and a little space, I bet she’ll come around. And you should probably apologize too.” He follows in her wake and I watch them go with a painful pit opening in my stomach.

“I’m sorry,” I say, still avoiding Dawson’s glare. “I lost control. Eleni Garza’s memories are…powerful.”

“That’s certainly a word for it. I wasn’t sure you were capable of that much power.” Dawson reaches down to take my hand, but I jam it in the pocket of my pants before he does.

“It’s nothing,” I say. “Just a scrape.”

Dawson clears his throat. “Yes, well, I’m glad you’re alright,” he says, reaching for my elbow to usher me down the hall. I follow him, keeping the injured hand far from his view. “But I’d like to take you to the infirmary for an examination.”

The phantom pinprick stabs into the pit of my elbow. It’s not real. But I’m starting to understand what it means.

“Sure.” I don’t really have any other choice but to comply. “You’re not mad at me?”

“Not mad. Concerned.

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