Page 63

CHAPTER

FORTY-FIVE

ELI

We briefed Sarah. Obviously, she wasn’t happy about it, and neither am I. Having to leave her in the asylum unprotected is like torture. I don’t want her trapped there any longer than necessary, but Aiden keeps reminding us that picking our moment is important.

“She’s not alone,” Aiden says, like he can read my thoughts. “She has Erin.”

“Yeah, because her sister’s voice in her head is going to help her,” I mutter sarcastically.

It was a petty thing to say, but it still makes me feel better.

How is it even possible for Erin to still be living in Sarah’s head?

I can’t stop replaying her words. Erin forgives me.

I never thought I’d get to apologize to her.

Although it was comforting to hear from Erin, it hasn’t got rid of my guilt.

Forgiveness or not, it’ll follow me around like a black cloud forever.

I’m a killer—yet another thing I have Acacia to thank for.

“Hello?” Lex waves his hand in front of my face. “Anyone home?”

We’re standing in a cleaning closet. Between the mops and vacuum cleaners, there’s little space, and we’re squashed shoulder to shoulder, counting down the minutes.

Aiden checks his watch and nods. “It’s time.”

They are leaving the asylum, while I stay a little longer. There’s one last job to do, and I’m the best person to handle it.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay, Eli?” Aiden prompts, jerking me from my daydreams.

“What?” I say, then shake my head to avoid dwelling on Erin’s words. None of it matters if we don’t get her out. “Yes, of course.”

Aiden chews his lip. I know what that means. He’s having second thoughts about trusting me with something so important.

“I can do this, Aiden,” I insist, more lucid and eager to prove myself. He’s done so much for us. I won’t let him down. “I know I can.”

“Don’t take any risks,” he says. “Get what we need and leave, understood?”

I nod firmly. “Understood.”

“We’ll see you on the other side, brother,” Aiden says, clapping me on the back.

“We’re so close.” Lex rubs his hands together gleefully. “I can almost fucking taste it!”

“It’s not over yet,” Aiden reminds him grimly.

We know what happens when you get complacent or cocky; mistakes happen and people die. A higher power has never looked out for us before and won’t start now. We’re all we’ve got. Sticking together is our only way to survive.

“I’ve got this,” I say. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Remember, no risks, Eli,” Aiden says again, right before he and Lex scramble up into a vent.

“No risks,” I chirp back dutifully, screwing the vent cover closed behind them.

Next, I’m going to pay Doctor Warner a visit.

We have an agreement, and I have to ensure that he makes good on his word. There’s no room for errors. Not this close to the end.

I stick to the shadows as I weave through the asylum.

This reminds me of stalking Erin at Stonybridge Academy.

It was only child’s play, but I smile fondly at the memory.

It was fun to break in and make her squirm.

We were almost spotted by other students a few times, but it’s surprising how little people pay attention.

No one likes to stare into the shadows for too long.

They’re scared of what they’ll see looking back, and for good reason.

Around the next corner, I hear two doctors talking. A pair of Acacia’s most loyal followers.

Shit…

We had made arrangements with the relevant orderlies and bribed a security guard to give me a clear route to Doctor Warner’s office after hours, but Aiden’s warning makes me think twice about continuing.

Instead, I head in the opposite direction.

The ceiling it is, then. I find another vent to climb into and crawl on my stomach through the familiar tunnels.

Even the cramped space doesn’t seem as claustrophobic as usual when I know this will be one of the last times I’m here.

Almost there…

I see lights at the end of the tunnel.

Doctor Warner is waiting.

I peer through the slats in the metal and prod the grate with my little finger.

It falls with a bang onto the floor below.

Doctor Warner flinches at the sound but doesn’t look up from his book as I drop into his office.

Unfortunately for him, impromptu visits from maniacs have become the norm lately.

He looks even worse than the last time I saw him. He has a vacant, glazed look from lack of sleep, he’s not shaved in days, and his suit is riddled with creases. Maybe we’ve broken him.

“No smile?” I mock. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

“I already told Aiden.” He sighs deeply, pushing his slipping glasses wearily back into position. “We’re on track.”

I don’t like his abrupt tone and slam my fists on his desk, making him jump. He shrinks back in his seat, remembering his place. We’re in charge, and he better remember that.

“I don’t need to remind you how important this is,” I snarl. “After tomorrow, we’re gone. All four of us. That’s what you want too, isn’t it?”

“I did everything you asked.”

“And the car?”

“All sorted,” he says, passing me a set of keys. “All the preparations are made. Does Sarah know?”

“Yes,” I say. “Aiden wanted me to remind you of what will happen if you screw us over. Your wife’s pregnant, isn’t she?”

His face pales. “How do you?—”

“We know everything,” I interrupt. “A bouncing baby boy is on the way. A mini Doctor Warner! We all want to make sure that he grows up with parents, don’t we?”

“Everything is sorted.” His bottom lip trembles. “I promise.”

Threatening his family is a low blow, even for us, but nothing is off limits when our freedom is at stake.

“Good,” I say. “And the supply of drugs?”

He opens the top draw of his desk, fumbling around with shaking fingers to retrieve a box. “Everything you need is here.”

“Now I need you to explain exactly how it works,” I say. “The dosage, the effects, how long it will last. Everything.”

For our plan to work, I need to be prepared.

I already have some understanding following my time as Acacia’s test subject.

When Acacia held me hostage in the lead-up to Erin’s death, I spent days drifting in and out of consciousness.

During my stretches of time awake, I took in my surroundings.

I paid careful attention to the chemical names, watching how he mixed them together, and what he muttered as he made notes.

Naively, I had hoped that by understanding how Acacia’s drug worked, I’d be able to reverse its effects.

However, it was too strong, and Erin died before I had the opportunity.

“Do you have any questions?” Doctor Warner asks after spending almost an hour explaining in painstaking detail how the drug worked.

It was easy enough to follow. If Sunnycrest hadn’t stolen my potential, I’d have made an excellent scientist. My mind works logically, and I have a natural understanding of the subject.

“Only one,” I say. “Do you have any spare implants?”

“Spares?” He frowns. “Well, I guess so, but I don’t see why you’d need them.”

“We’ll need some of those,” I say. “Just in case.”

There’s no room for error. I’ve let down the guys once before—it’s my fault Erin died, and we lost a year with Sarah. I won’t let that happen again. I’m not losing her, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.