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When I entered bio, I met Matthew’s eyes There was a twitch to his lips before he opened up his grade book Lesa was abnorh class, the interco out "Katy Swartz is needed in the principal’s office, Mr Garrison"

A jolt of unease piercedat Lesa’s look, I passed Matthew a near-panicked one as I headed out I sent Daeivencalled to the office I didn’t expect him to respond back I wasn’t even sure he had his cell with hiitte Bardot hairstyle and a bright pink sweater I leaned against the counter, waiting for her to look up When she did, she squinted through her spectacles "Can I help you?"

"I’m Katy I was called to the office?"

"Oh! Oh, yes, come on, dear" There was compassion in her tone as she stood She hobbled toward Principal Pluh the glass s, so I had no idea aiting forthe door I marked off any job in the school systee

Principal Plu at whoever was seated on the other side My gaze followed his, and I was shocked to see Will

"What’s going on?" I asked, twisting ainst my shoulder

Will came to his feet quickly and rushed to my side He clasped my free hand "Kellie’s been in an accident"

"No," I think I gasped Alarm pounded at my sides as I stared at him "What do you ard as he avoided , and they think she hit a patch of ice"

"How bad is it?" My voice wobbled All I could see was Dad--Dad in a hospital bed, pale and frail, the s to the walls and the hushed voices of the nurses…and then the mannequin in the coffin that sort of resembled Dad but couldn’t have been him Now all those

Will curved a hand overout of the office, but I wasn’t conscious of any of it "She’s in the ER That’s all I know"

"You have to know nize ? Does she need to have surgery?"

He shook his head, opening the door Outside the snow had stopped, and ploere clearing the parking lot The air was frigid, but I didn’t feel it I was nunize Unease trickled in, and a horrible thought struck et a new car?" I asked

He frowned as he opened the car door "No I use this during the winter Perfect for snowy roads I tried to tell yourlike this other than that da stupid and paranoid, I nodded It made sense A lot of people had their "winter" vehicle around here And with everything that had happened, I’d forgotten about what I’d discovered about Will--his sickness

I cli to my chest after I buckled my seat belt Then I remembered Daemon I checked the phone and saw there wasn’t a reply yet I sent hi him that Mom was in an accident I’d call hie once I kne bad things were

I choked on a breath when I thought about losing her

Will rubbed his hands together before he turned the key The radio came on i froists atching a Nor’easter forinia early next week

"What hospital is she at?" I asked

"Winchester," he said, twisting around as he reached for so to keep the panic at bay She’s going to be okay She has to be She’ll be okay My lips trembled Why weren’t we already on the damn road?

"Katy?"

I faced him "What?"

"I’m really sorry about this," he said, his face expressionless

"She’s going to be okay, right?" My breath caught again Maybe he wasn’t tellingto be fine"

There wasn’t time for me to feel relief or to question what he said He leaned forward, and I saw a long, scary-looking needle I jerked back in the seat, but I wasn’t fast enough Will pushed the needle into the side of hsensation

I knocked his hand away, or I thought I did Either way, the needle was gone fro me curiously My hand fluttered to hwheel, he pulled out of the school parking lot without answering I asked hiain At least I think I did, but I wasn’t sure The road up ahead blurred in a kaleidoscope of white and gray My fingers slipped over the door handle I couldn’t will the upon the Source was out of the question Darkness crept into the corners of th I had left If I lost consciousness I kneas all over, but I couldn’t keep ht was, Implants are everywhere

Chapter 34

When I came to, it felt like a drummer had taken up residency in my head and my mouth was dry I’d felt like this once before, when a friend and I had drunk an entire bottle of cheap wine during a sleepover Except then I’d been hot and sweaty, and noas freezing

I lifteduishable for severalout my hands, I pushed up, and a wave of dizziness assaulted me

My arms and feet were bare So me in my tank top and jeans Goose bu temperature of wherever I was I kneas inside sohts and distant voices told me that much

Eventually my eyes cleared, and I ale that reses The thick black h it Maybe I looked up, realizing there was no way I could stand or even lie down co the bars Manacles and chains hung from the top Two of them were hooked toaze darted around at a frantic pace Cages surroundedreddish-black substance coated the insides of the bars closest to me and on top of theI scooted ontodoanting to pull the things off ers touched the top of the ht tomy hands back