Page 19

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

KARLIN

K arlin’s stomach grumbled as she sat cross-legged on the hard floor, trying to force herself to pay attention to what Tourmaline was saying.

Breakfast had been hours ago, and they’d all skipped lunch. Unlike the others, she and Bajwa didn’t need to fast in preparation for DX8, but in his characteristic excitement, Bajwa hadn’t thought to actually schedule in time for the staff to have lunch.

She stole a glance at the small clock that hung over Tourmaline’s head on the far side of the yoga room.

Apparently, dinner wasn’t happening, either. She felt a sudden flash of jealousy that Ned hadn’t been forced to participate and had actually gotten to end his work day early.

She was getting seriously hangry.

The only thing keeping her from tossing her yoga mat at Bajwa’s head and storming out of here was the fact that she had a granola bar waiting in her bag.

“Now, everyone, come to attention,” Tourmaline said. “It is time for the next part of your journey.”

Karlin was snapped out of her mildly violent fantasies as the yoga instructor hit the edge of a large bell with a wooden stick.

The enormous, sudden ringing sound vibrated through the room, jolting everyone to attention, including Axel.

He jumped to his feet and sent the book he’d been reading sailing across the wooden floor.

Cora leaned over on her mat and picked it up. “Hunt For the Skinwalker? Nice. That case is so cool!”

Tourmaline's face was calm, but her eyes looked less than serene. “Please respect the sacred quiet of the room.”

Karlin bit down on her tongue. She seriously hated this crap.

Unfortunately, Bajwa didn’t share her opinion. If anything, he was just as enthusiastic about the ‘holistic’ elements of the retreat as he was about DX8 itself.

“Er, right,” Cora said, handing the book back to Axel. She pressed her hands together and bowed toward Tourmaline, eliciting a muttered comment from Paul that Karlin couldn’t quite make out.

Whatever he’d said, she probably agreed with him. She almost wished she was religious, even if just to have a more legitimate excuse to bow out of yoga than simply thinking it was a waste of time.

Tourmaline stood up and gestured toward everyone in the room before getting to her knees and offering a deep bow in their direction. “I wish you well. Namaste.”

Cora, Lily, and Bajwa returned her greeting, and Karlin mouthed the word.

Tourmaline began to gather up her supplies, and Bajwa stepped into her place.

“Everyone, after we clean up our things, I’m going to go on ahead of you to the hut where you’ll be taking DX8.

It’s a bit of a hike, so I’ll be bringing some supplies we need in the Jeep.

Please stay with Ms. McKenna and follow along on foot. ”

He looked uncharacteristically somber, as though Tourmaline’s floaty energy had worn off on him.

Not that Karlin was complaining. It was nice not having to fake enthusiasm.

She wasn’t looking forward to giving these patients DX8, nor was she looking forward to having to conceal the fact that Axel was going to be sober.

Karlin hung back as the others passed her and headed toward the door.

After hours of forced silence, the chatter began almost immediately.

Paul was telling Destiny that he’d had a good chance to pray and prepare himself.

Cora had stopped to chat with Tourmaline as she rolled up her yoga mat.

Lily was asking Axel how he was liking the book he was reading.

“Everyone, preserve silence, please!” Bajwa called out loudly. The sharp sound of his voice hurt Karlin’s ears in the echo-filled room.

Everyone fell quiet immediately. Satisfied, Bajwa ducked out of the room and out into the darkening evening, followed moments later by Tourmaline.

Karlin waited for the others to pack up the remainder of their things. She watched in horror as Axel rolled his book up and stuffed it in his back pocket before heading over to stand beside her. Unfortunately, Paul was standing too close to them for her to mention her plans for his placebo dose.

“Nervous for tonight?” he whispered.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Being around a book abuser is a little unsettling, yes.”

Axel laughed out loud, eliciting a loud shush from Cora.

“Seriously, are you okay?” Axel asked, barely loud enough to be heard.

Karlin realized then that her hands had begun to shake. She was nervous, but she had to get a grip. Her patients were depending on her to be focused and to keep them safe.

Axel reached out and grasped her hand in his own, giving it a quick squeeze. Paul raised an eyebrow in their direction, but said nothing.

She wanted to yank her hand away before anyone else saw their touch, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to do it, not with the way that butterflies had begun dancing around in her stomach.

Everything was going to be fine.

Axel was going to find the evidence that she needed to take Senera down.

And somehow, she’d find another job and she’d be able to get John his PTSD dog and everything else he needed.

She knew what it had felt like to lose him, even momentarily, and it was the worst thing she’d ever gone through.

She would do whatever it took to help him.

No matter what.

ASHER

“Now, everyone, it’s time to close your eyes.”

Asher obeyed Bajwa’s command, pressing his eyelids firmly shut as he listened.

The man was chanting some incomprehensible gibberish, so far as Asher could tell, and it wasn’t easy to pay attention.

Especially after spending the entire day doing basically the same thing.

The only difference was that they were now in a rustic-looking hut instead of a modern yoga studio, and they had high school principal Bajwa instead of hippie fairy Tourmaline guiding them.

Asher let his mind wander to thoughts of Karlin’s hand in his and of how nervous she’d looked. He wanted so badly to comfort her and reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

He knew that she’d be awake most of the night monitoring the others–they’d all be sleeping here after taking the drug–and he hoped that they might get even a few minutes alone. He’d just have to stay awake himself rather than dying of boredom.

After what felt like forever, Bajwa finally stopped talking and allowed the group to open their eyes.

Cora looked eager for what was coming next, as did Lily. Paul looked almost lost, and Destiny was visibly praying.

Asher watched as Karlin picked up a tray of small cups filled with a green science-experiment-looking liquid and began handing them out one by one.

Each of them had a white prescription sticker stuck to the glass.

He felt her fingers brushing against his own as he took his cup and thanked her in a whisper.

She didn’t allow her gaze to linger on him before moving on, but he could notice the slight shaking in her hands had begun again.

He glanced down at the contents of the cup.

It was obviously some kind of fake dose, but he still felt his own nerves acting up.

Sure, he’d be sober instead of tripping on some crazy experimental drug, but he would have to be on full alert if he was going to ensure that no one else realized it.

Especially Bajwa, who’d surely be paying close attention.

Finally, everyone had their cups, and Karlin took her seat again next to Bajwa.

“It’s time,” he said, giving everyone a gentle smile. “Drink up, and close your eyes.”