Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I scooted to the edge of my bed and reached out, glad that the beds were so close together. “I know how that feels. Not belonging,” I said softly.
Devon’s hand met mine and curled around my fingers.
For a few moments after the alarm rang, I didn’t know where I was or what had happened. A wall of cotton seemed to envelop my brain, but with the stench of fuel and dusty fabric, the memory came back, and with it the ache in my chest. With a groan, I sat up. Devon was already awake. He was perched on the edge of his bed, his face buried in his hands.
I stumbled to my feet, my head spinning like crazy. Two hours of sleep weren’t nearly enough, but I knew Major must have noticed that I was missing by now. We had to keep moving. I touched Devon’s shoulder.
“Are you all right?”
He raised his head and gave me a tired smile. “I’m okay, just tired.”
“Why don’t you take a quick shower while I organize a classy vending machine breakfast for us?” I asked.
Devon smiled. I smoothed down my hair in a feeble attempt to look presentable. There wasn’t much I could do about the state of my clothes or the smell of someone who hadn’t showered after a sweaty ride on a motorcycle. I headed out of the room and toward the vending machine pressed against the gray wall at the end of the narrow corridor. I passed a dozen shabby doors, my fingertips lightly tracing the cool surface of the metal banister that lined my right side. The air was crisp and the first hints of gray shone on the horizon; it would be dawn soon.
Despite the early hour, the rest area wasn’t as deserted as last night. Two cars occupied the gas pumps. Their owners were probably inside the station. I surveyed the snacks behind the scratched glass of the vending machine and selected two Twix bars and two single-serve packages of Cheerios. Not the most nutritious breakfast but we could worry about that later. I bent down to pick up the food when I noticed someone watching me. Near one of the gas pumps, a man stood beside the open door of a black truck, looking my way. His eyes were hidden by mirrored silver glasses—a common trick used by Variants who wanted to hide their strange eyes.
My heart gave a thud and I jerked upright. The man was still staring at me, glasses reflecting the rays of the rising sun. We should have been more careful. How could I have thought it was safe to come out here alone? And in my own body, no less? Oh shit.
I whirled around and hurried back to our room. Devon was emerging from the bathroom with a cloud of steam when I swung the door shut, my pulse pounding in my veins.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked as he made his way over to me and took the chocolate bars and cereal from my hands.
I risked a peek through the blinds but from my vantage point I couldn’t see the gas pumps. “One of the customers at the fuel station was watching me when I bought the food.”
“And?” Devon asked. He stood behind me, following my gaze outside, his body so close that his heat warmed my back.
I turned and Devon took a step back—had to—or we would have been close enough to kiss. “He was staring at me and wearing shades. What if it’s one of Abel’s men or someone from the FEA?”
“Do you really think they’d have found us already? How would they know that we are here?”
“Maybe they saw the motorcycle when they drove by.”
“It can’t be seen from the street,” Devon said with a reassuring smile. “And honestly, it doesn’t surprise me that the man was staring at you. Your hair is all over the place and your eye makeup is smeared around your eyes. You look like someone punched you. The guy was probably just trying to see if you’re okay.”
I pushed past Devon and rushed into the bathroom to check my reflection in the small mirror over the sink. Devon was right. I looked like an absolute zombie in wrinkly clothes. I let out a relieved laugh and smiled at Devon’s face in the doorway. But now that the panic had ebbed away, I noticed that he had moved his towel down around his hips. A droplet of water trailed over his collarbone, down his defined chest and stomach, only to disappear under the towel. He seemed to realize his lack of clothing at the exact same moment because he shifted uncomfortably and returned to the bedroom.
“I’ll get dressed while you take a shower, okay?”
I nodded and closed the door. I allowed myself to relax into the hot water streaming down my body. I rubbed the shower gel over my shoulders, then down my arms, and suddenly froze. The skin below the crook of my elbow felt sore, and then the memory of last night washed over me, how Major had pierced my skin with something. I dug my fingers into the spot until I felt a tiny square object. Something had been implanted into my skin. I shut off the water, my heart thudding heavily in my chest. I wiped the water from my face and peered down at the pale, slightly bruised skin. When I flexed my arm and stretched my skin tight, I could see the tiny black object. A wave of nausea crashed over me.