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I say nothing as we ride up to the third floor My palms are sweaty and I wipe thened up for As I tried to fall asleep last night, I couldn’t help but wonder if I wasout, I remembered the money No matter what the research project involves, it only lasts a few hours I can survive anything for a few hours It will all be over by the end of the night—and I’ll be a whole lot richer No et a job or whether or not I can afford to college I’ll be set for life
We get off the elevator, and I follow Lynne into an exam room, complete with a hospital bed and a tray full of medical equipment “Please wait here,” she says “A doctor will be with you shortly”
She shuts the door behind her and I stare at the bed It has one of those pink hospital gowns on it, the kind where your ass hangs out the back No way a that on
Someone knocks on the door, but it opens before I can answer A dark-skinned man in a lab coat enters the room and closes the door behind hiray above his ears “Ms Martinez? My nae of the bed, the paper cover crinkling underinside ht behind me I can run if I need to And just because he’s an oldertoto ask you a few questions before we start the tests First, are you on any s?”
“No”
“What about alcohol?”
I stare at the linoleum floor and push back the memories that threaten to flood my mind “No”
“No, I suppose not, with your history”
I glance up sharply He knows He probably has my entire life story there, written on his clipboard I’ve never felt so naked before
He eyes me like I’raine headaches or blackouts?”
“No”
“Have you ever had any suicidal thoughts or tendencies?”
“What? No!” What kind of questions are these? Do they really need to know this kind of stuff?
“I’ to check your blood pressure now” He opens the cuff with a loud Velcro rip and places it on my arm I try not to flinch at his touch He s products, and every instinct tellsto hurt me He’s a doctor and Aether Corp wants reed to this exa up
He re et a nurse?”
“I’m fine” I realize my fists are clenched at et this over with”
The physical exa Blood work X-rays Brain scans I’m not even sure what half of the tests are for My suspicions groith every
When the tests are finally over, a nurse dued in ts and a long table covered with food and drinks I lean against a wall and study the four people already inside, all about e Three of them bear the scars of a life in the systeuarded eyes and clothes that have worn through or don’t quite fit
But one guy stands out Black hipster glasses, crisp blue jeans, and a plaid button-down shirt that fits perfectly—this is no foster kid His dark hair is slightly tousled and he’s tall and lean, not exactly ives the others a smile, his face friendly and without suspicion I can tell he’s never gone hungry before, never flinched frootten in a car with no idea where he’d sleep next The badge on his shirt reads Adam O’Neill