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"Well?" Mother presses

"Sorry," Ifor you Do you kno dangerous it is out there? We have a curfew for a reason What if you got attacked by a Darkling?"

An i boy pops into rown out of this silly business of sneaking out at night I wish I knehat you were thinking sometimes, Natalie," she says

Then why don’t you just ask? But she never does Mother likes to do allfor hter she wants Maybe if she left me alone once in a while, I wouldn’t have this constant, yearning need to escape Roaht is the only ti off your allowance for one month," Mother says

"But--"

"That’s final And nolady?"

"Yes, Mother"

The Darkling on the gurney lets out a pitiful moan and turns its yellow eyes on : hope Rattled, I look away, not wanting to feel sorry for this creature, even though a part of ives me a toothy sreen eyes The only difference is his hair, which is bronze and wiry, while Sebastian’s is blond and wavy Craven’s the head of the Anti-Darkling Science and Technologies Department, where theysince I saw you last," he says

"It’s been a year I’ood care of you down in Centrum?" he asks

"Of course I did," Sebastian replies

A jumble of emotions twist in my stomach At least Sebastian has the decency to look ashamed He came to live with me, Mother and Polly ere evacuated to Centrum, and Craven was ordered to stay behind in Black City to continue his work Sebastian was assigned to reat setup untiluntil the thing happened I hate thinking about it

"What are you doing with that Darkling?" I ask Craven

"Testing a new anti-Wrath spray," he says cheerfully, pointing to an aerosol on his workbench

It has the words GO AWAY WRATH SPRAY! written on it in blocky red letters Another spray? They seeuess it’s a lucrativeattacked by a Wrath It’s a dreadful way to die

"It’s just a prototype, but it’s very effective Watch" Craven picks up the aerosol and sprays a foul-surney The creature instantly writhes in terrible pain

Sebastian covers his nose from the rotten scent, while I put a hand over my mouth to mask my shock This isn’t science, it’s torture

"Wonderful work, Craven," Mother says

I’ve seen enough

"Can I please go?" I ask Mother

"Don’t be so sensitive It’s just an ani to work here"

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused

"You’ve been accepted to the Fast-Track Science program," Craven says "After you coht you’d want to see where you’ll be working for the next five years of your life I proratulations," Sebastian says

My shoulders slu this raht for you," Mother says

"So you changedme?"

"I knohat’s best for you Not all of us are cut out to be politicians, Natalie," Mother says

"But--"

"Don’t be ungrateful Very few people get on the Fast-Track, and Craven pulled a lot of strings to get you on the Science prograet ram like I wanted? The money and career prospects are so much better; not to ned up for it I don’t want to be the only one not doing it It’s so e, especially sincewith me won’t be so bad," Craven says

I somehow doubt that There’s no way I want to be involved in his "science experiments" This must be evident on h--a sound I’ disappointhen up? Fine! I make my expression as cold and steely as possible, deter around me, when all I really want to do is run away

Craven turns his attention back to the Darkling on the gurney The creature lolls its head in ain, and my eyes are drawn to its chest, where two hearts pulse rhythmically underneath its transparent skin One heart is considerably smaller than the other, but beats er heart is the pri to the smaller one "Typically they don’t beat, but we have seen soh we’re not sure hohy It’s fascinating really, alive to getcreature with no heartbeat--"

Sebastian yawns loudly He hates talking science

Craven e and sticks the needle in the Darkling’s arreen-capped phial, and the Darkling lets out a pitiful howl, spraying spittle everywhere Some of it lands onto catch the Wrath now, aunk that was just on my face

"No, pumpkin" Craven chuckles "So far the virus has only affected Darklings, twin-bloods, and a few isolated wild dogs, but they have to be bitten or drink infected blood to contract it"

I don’t like the way he says "so far," like there’s a chance it’ll spread to hule" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>