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At we, my heart trips over a beat Does he think our relationship will continue unchanged when he’sto explain my disappearance to my mom or to my supervisor, June

Below in the garden, the ear scout the property The gigantic iron gates are closed From this level, I canover it impossible A surveillance camera is fixed every few yards Like creepy robots, they turn their heads constantly, scanning the surroundings with electronic eyes There must be a control room somewhere

It’s like being locked up in a prison I have no way of co with the outside world Yet if I don’t inform my mom and my employer about my impromptu trip, they’ll be worried sick TheyWith howhe does, he ht up a plan to explainmy mom some kind of explanation

Whatever I tell her, I can’t admit the truth I won’t put that burden on her shoulders Besides, if she learns what Alex has done, she’ll want to leave the clinic where she’s being treated for rheura for, and she’ll refuse to benefit frohter This is her only chance at a better quality of life, and I don’t want to ruin it for her She’s been in pain for so long, and she deserves this more than anyone I know

I hate asking Alex for anything, but I don’t have a choice

Schooling ht of the unbreachable fortress wall “Alex?”

He frowns “You look tired Did I wear you out with the tour after our long flight?”

“Where’s ?”

A shutter drops in front of his eyes “You don’t need it for now”

Renewed anger heatslike a flame in the pit of my stomach For the sake of my mom, I s it down and say evenly, “I need erous Ruthless I remind myself of that fact as I carefully choose my words “I can’t just vanish without an explanation I have to call the hospital and my mom She’ll worry if I disappear You have to let me speak to them”

His easy agreement as he says, “Sure,” and takes his phone fro the screen with his thu you call later”