Clone Two by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781927464267
Publisher: Patti Larsen Books
Published: 2012-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Eighteen

The stampede starts almost immediately as the crowd scatters, terrified Brights running from me as much as if I'd killed their leader after all. Ivan just stands there, staring at me, mouth hanging open now that his shriek of horror has faded into the night. He moves at last to reach for me, touch my hand.

“What have you done to me?” Gone is the make-believe voice, the affectation of a vampire he must have concocted from a variety of pop-culture icons. Instead he is just a young man, a little thin, with a nose too long for his face and a new twitch in his right knee I'm sure comes from stress.

Vander gently moves the young man back. “She's given you hope.”

Ivan shakes his head, looks down at himself. “Where has it gone?”

Vander has his hands on me, is pulling me backward even as Ivan's hands begin to shake, his face collapsing into grief.

“What have you done?” His scream carries as he turns and stumbles to his knees.

“Trio.” Vander's voice is low, soft but urgent. “We have to go. Now.”

I nod, my sick fascination with Ivan's collapse broken. As I turn, I understand my friend's tone.

Not all of the Brights fled. Some remain, a small crowd of their own. The move as one, coming toward me, hands outstretched.

“Heal me.” The girl's hands are small and weak as she clings to me.

“Me too,” the boy beside her continues to weep.

“Heal us,” they grasp at me, at Vander, pulling us back with their sheer weight.

I don't want to hurt them, but they won't let me go.

The dog barks, someone calls my name. I look up, see Beckett coming for me, shoving Brights aside. He grasps my hand, pulls me through, Vander with me. The moment we break out behind them, the Brights moan and turn to follow.

“Run.” Vander's hiss of warning is unnecessary.

We do, as fast as we can, the Brights following at a slower pace as if tranced. I want to turn, to try to help them, but there are too many, so many, I know I can never give them what they want. I ignore Chime's screams for Ande, the fact Beckett and Vander pause to block the entrance to the station with one of the vending machines. It's hard to focus, to think with what I've done still so fresh in my mind.

I find myself on the train, the boiler chugging overhead, wheels turning as the Brights approach from around the building in a thin line to gather at the platform, calling for me, sobbing, trying to board only to have Brick and Beckett push them back.

My face is wet, my chest and throat tight as Vander wraps his arms around me and holds me to his chest. I'm grateful for the moment of comfort.

Until someone grabs my arm, pulls me around. Chime stares at me, a mix of anger and terror on her face.

“How did you do that?” Brick hovers behind her, staring openly. He knows what I can do, that I can cause the Sick, yet clearly hasn't told Chime.

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