Page 139 of The Last Hope

Letting out a long sigh, she meanders to the desk. “I apologize for that. During this time of day, the younger ones tend to be more restless.”

Zimmer leans a hip against the desk and sends me a wiseass smile.

I assume he’s picturing me as that little girl, upset over a stolen satchel. Of course it’s happened, but I never stomped on anyone’s foot.

Stork says, “It’s all righ—”

The woman claps her hands, interrupting him. “Ah, a Fast-Tracker couple.” She shimmies her shoulders in excitement.

At first, I’m unsure of who she’s referring to. Zimmer and Stork. Zimmer and me. Storkandme? All three of us?

Heat shades my face, and I scowl. Zimmer is laughing underneath his breath, and Stork even grins. Am I the only one not humored by this?

Her gaze finally dances from Zimmer to me and then back to Zimmer. “How nice, you both looking to adopt before you die? Such a sweet thing to do. We have Babes and Fast-Trackers who’d pair up nicely with you two, I think.”

Zimmer’s grin reaches cheek-to-cheek, and he slings a lanky arm over my shoulders. “She’s always wanted a child.”

That couldn’t be more false. I have never even thought about babies until thisMythsbook. I was meant to die at seventeen. Taking care of a child wasn’t in my future.

But I play along with the charade. “It’s been a goal ofoursto help raise a little one before we die.”

The woman touches her hand to her chest, and then glances at Stork. “And are you here to adopt as well?”

He motions to Zimmer. “I’m their friend.”

Her mouth forms a perfectO.“Right. Yes. I’ve seen this arrangement before. Friends coming in with couples.” She swings her gaze from Zimmer to me. “Which of you is dying soon?”

Oh.

She’s assuming Stork will be helping to raise the child after one of us dies.

“That’d be me,” Zimmer says before I can. He flashes a brighter smile. “It’s been a good life, but a little baby will make it agreatone.”

His words feel like needles poking holes in my heart. I don’t understand this sudden ache. I wish it’d go away.

Zimmer lets his arm fall from my shoulder, his fingers gliding down my forearm to my wrist until his palm is against my palm.

What is he doing?

He laces our fingers, and he squeezes my hand, as though to remind me,we’re pretending to couple.

I try to relax, and I watch the woman type on the desk. Soon, a hologram springs up with faces of babies… children.

My breath hitches.

I wonder if my mom did this. Obviously, not with a hologram. Saltare-3 had large photo albums with each of our pictures tucked inside. Did she skim her fingers over my face? I was just a baby, but she chose me. Felt something then.

My eyes speed along the faces, lost for words.

Stork barely glances at the hologram. “We’re looking for a newborn,” he tells the woman. “A girl. She’d have arrived within the week.”

“Let me see…” The woman peruses through the hologram quickly. It dizzies my head, and I’m already a ball of nerves. Zimmer runs his fingers through my hair gently, still playing up the part that we’re a couple.

I try not to be a stiff board, and I hold on to his arm. Somewhat sinking into his waist.

“Hmm…” She tilts her head. “No… we haven’t had a newborn in the past few weeks.”No, that can’t be.“Not unusual during this time of year. It’s Victory’s Sacred Eve. The gods favor death over birth. A lucky week, I’d say.” She gives Zimmer and me an apologetic smile. “But not so lucky for you. I do have some six-month-old Babes, if you’d care for a look.”

Numbness infiltrates with disbelief. We have no other options…