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President Vargas puffed out his chest "What do youthis ar whatever science they’ve used to create these…creatures?"
"So it would seem"
"Then why have we only noticed it now?" He waved his hand at the screen where the i out in the open as if they have nothing better to do Waiting to have their pictures taken" He folded his ar as uncertain expressions turned toward him "Queen Levana wanted us to see her spook ar to threaten us?" said Pri the rows of beasts fresh in histo threaten me"
Chapter Twenty-Seven
THE HOVER RUMBLED TO A STOP OUTSIDE THE QUARANTINE Cinder flew out of the side hatch and i her nose with her elbow Her gut heaved at the stench, rotting flesh intensified by the stearoup ofdead bodies into a hover to be carted away, their forms bloated and discolored, each with a red slit in the wrist Cinder looked away, keeping her eyes averted and her breath held as she slid past the tothe ceiling The quarantine had been near ee, every gender Buffeting fans on the ceiling did little to dispel the sweltering heat or the smell of death The air was heavy with it
Med-droids buzzed between the beds, but there were not enough of theasping for shallow breaths against her sleeve She spotted Peony’s green brocade blanket and ran to the foot of the bed "Peony!"
When Peony didn’t stir, she reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder The blanket was soft, warrasped the edge of the comforter and pulled it back
Peony whimpered, a mild protest, which sent relieved chills across Cinder’s arms She slumped down beside the bed
"Stars, Peony I came as soon as I heard"
Peony squinted up at her, eyes bleary Her face was ashen, her lips peeling The dark splotches on her neck had begun to fade to lavender beneath the surface of her ghostly skin Eyes on Cinder, she pulled her arers, displaying their blue-black tips and the yellowish tinge of her nails
"I know, but it’s going to be all right" Still panting, Cinder unbuttoned the pocket on the side of her cargo pants and pulled out the glove that norers, protected "I brought so for you Can you sit up?"
Peony pulled her hand into a loose fist and tucked it again beneath the blanket Her eyes were hollow Cinder didn’t think she’d heard her
"Peony?"
A ping echoed in Cinder’s head Her display showed an incoe of anxiety that cae
"Peony, listen to me I need you to sit up Can you do that?"
"Mo at the corner of her lips
"She’s at ho But, of course, Adri did know The co, Cinder bent over Peony and slid her arm beneath her shoulder "Coe--the blank, corpse stare--but she did let out a pained groan when Cinder lifted her up
"I’m sorry," she said, "but I need you to drink this"
Another ping, another e from Adri This time, irritation welled up in Cinder and she shut off her netlink, blocking any ht help Do you understand?" She kept her voice loorried that the other patients aze reainst her ear "An antidote"
Peony said nothing, head drooped against Cinder’s shoulder Her body had gone liht as a wooden doll
Cinder’s throat felt coated in sand as she stared into Peony’s eh her
"No…Peony, didn’t you hear ainst her and uncorked the vial "You have to drink this" She held the vial to Peony’s lips, but Peony didn’t , she coaxed Peony’s head back Her papery lips fell open
Cinder forced her hand to still as she lifted the vial, afraid to spill a single drop She set the glass against Peony’s lips and held her breath, but paused Her heart was convulsing Her head felt heavy with tears that wouldn’t come She shook her head, harshly "Peony, please"
When no sound or air passed through Peony’s lips, Cinder lowered the vial She buried her head into the crook of Peony’s neck, gritting her teeth until her jaw ached Each breath stung as it entered her throat, rank with the stench around her, but even now she caught whiffs of Peony’s shampoo from so many days past