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“It only works once.”

Iris’s eyes refocused just enough to see Daphne kneeling down next to her now.

“You’re kneeling?”

“I need you to get it, sweetheart.”

“It only works… once?”

“The device we made will only work once. I didn’t have all the parts from the government vendors to make it exactly the same.”

“It’s not the same?”

“It has enough charge to work once. Then, it’ll burn up. Iris, get the device. Use it on yourself.”

“I’ll make another one for you,” she stated, but Daphne looked sad as something passed over her features. “Don’t lie to me…” Iris added.

“It’s already been too long,” Daphne confessed. “I’ve been here for too long. I didn’t know for sure that it would work tonight. I tried to keep coming back to you as fast as I could because I don’t know that it will work for much longer.”

“It might not work?”

“I don’t know, my love. It could. Itcouldwork. Maybe we can try again. I just need you to use the device on yourself right now or make a lot of noise and get the guard to come back. Tell him to use it on you if you–”

“I can barely see you.” Iris coughed up blood. “You’re fading. You… won’t be able… to help.” She coughed again.

“You know what to do now. You can do this. Please, love. Please.”

“No,” Iris replied and looked into what she could see of Daphne’s eyes. “No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“Did you mean it? What you… said before about… only needing me?”

“Yes, of course. I only need you.”

“And do you think when I die, I’ll… be where you are?”

“No, Iris… Don’t do this. Please get the device.”

“Do you think that?” she asked again, coughing once more.

“I have to think that because if I don’t, I have nothing left.”

Iris nodded a little and said, “Then, you’ll be… holding me… soon.”

“No! Iris! Please… Please try for me.”

“If I do, and I can’t make… it work to bring… you back, nothing else… matters.” Iris closed her eyes. “I love you. And if the whole… world fades away, but I have you, I will be happy.” She opened her eyes once more before closing them for the final time.

NOW

“Ijust called Mom,” Lydia told her. “She said the kids are okay, but they’re wondering where we are.”

“I know,” Eliza replied, staring down at the device in her hands. “God, how did we get here? One day, we’re living our life as if we never even saw this thing, and the next, some man is showing up with a gun, and our kids almost watched me get killed.”

“Hey,” Lydia said and sat down on the end of the motel room bed next to Eliza. “He didn’t pull the gun. They didn’t see anything. They’ve already forgotten about it, and they’re safe.”

“We need to end this, Lydia. I don’t want anyone coming after them. I–”