Page 118 of The Last Session

It was dim, curtains mostly covering the two windows. It smelled even more sour and stale than before. I felt a jolt of déjà vu as I clocked Catherine’s prone form in the bed, facing away from us.

“Hey.” I switched on the lamp on the bedside table. Standing over her, I could tell her eyes were open, staring at the wall.

Oh no. Was she catatonic again?

But she finally shifted, looking up at me. “Hey.”

“Sorry to come in like this.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “But we had to talk to you.”

She glanced at Jonah behind me.

“Tell him to leave,” she said in a flat voice.

“Sure thing.” He raised an eyebrow at me as he left the room.

The metal bed creaked as she sat up. Her greasy copper hair hid her face.

“So I told Moon we wanted to get a ride to the airport,” I said.

She closed her eyes.

“Not you,” I went on. “Just Jonah and me. But Steven’s out with the SUV and the other car doesn’t work—we checked. We were thinking of maybe walking to the road to try to hitch a ride. Even though… I don’t know. Do you think someone will pick us up?”

“You’re asking what I think?” A puff of air—a tiny scoff. “I think you’re fucked.”

“What?” Needles pricked the back of my neck.

“This happened last time too.” She lowered her head. “You always fuck things up.”

“I know, at the hospital—”

“No. With Sol. When he was the governor or whatever. I told you to stay away from him. And the guard. They wanted us, but they hated us too. They hated our power. Why didn’t you listen to me?” Her eyes glistened.

Okay. We were in group delusion territory here. I had to tread lightly.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I messed up. But this is our chance—”

“There is no chance.” Catherine coughed, a phlegmy sound. “It’s over.”

“What’s over?”

She just leaned her forehead on her knees. Her shoulders jerked and went still, as if she was too exhausted to cry.

“I tried.” Her voice was muffled. “I really tried.”

“I know you did.” I rubbed her back. The knobs of her spine were too prominent.

“Well.” She lifted her head. “Maybe it will reject you too.”

“What will reject me?”

She just stared straight ahead.

“Catherine, what will reject me?” Her strange, disoriented face in the shadows was making the hairs rise on my arms.

“You should know. You’re the sacrifice.”

I jumped up. “Okay, I’m getting out of here. Even if you’re not coming with me. You’re freaking me out.”