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This wasn’t supposed to happen My genetic markers weren’t coded for this This was an impossibility In a world of impossibilities

I’d been so stupid

My body continued to twist in on itself,in tandecrescendo As it hit its last note, my mind shattered apart under its impact

Everything went blissfully black

Too soon, pinpoints of light danced behind one Only a low throbbing current remained It took me a moment to realize I was on all fours on the floor beside my bed, my knees and palms bloodied from the shards of my broken lamp My small bedside table was scattered in pieces around me It looked like a small hurricane had ripped apart my bedroom I had no time to waste

The dose is your only chance now Go!

The bathrooinght there I’d only ain, hard and fast I collapsed onin earnest Jesuschrist! The pain was straight out of a fairy tale, wicked and unrelenting

Iout inthat could help ! Ty, Ty … please! Tyler, can you hear me? Tyyy …

Another cloud of darkness tugged at the edges ofto ht before it clai very faint brushed against nition prickled ht That wasn’t my brother’s voice

Dad?

Nothing but empty air filledfor a e I’d heard that line e when they weren’t supposed to exist? I was amy father could do to help me now

Pain rushed up, exploding ain

Jessica, Jessica, can you hear me? We’re on our way Stay with us Just a fewin there, honey Jess!

I can’t, Dad I just can’t

Blood

Fear shot through me like a cold spear I liftedmy skin I shivered My labored breaths echoed too loudly indeeply again

Blood

A rumble of sounds bubbled up from beneathfro me in my own fear

Out

I leapt forward My claws slid out in front ofas I scrabbled for purchase on the s down a dark tunnel into a bigger space All aroundh it easily I sailed off, landing inches froht