The corridor looked like an endless tunnel with walls that threatened to close in on me. One identical door followed after the other, concealing an endless succession of patients.
Finally, Major stopped beside a door being guarded by a man in a black suit. FEA, no doubt. He had a hooked nose set within a narrow face and reminded me of a hawk. He was probably one of the many external agents scattered around the country—those unfortunate agents whose Variations weren’t useful enough to be part of the more prestigious espionage and counterterrorism missions. The local agents’ jobs were considered boring by some, but at that moment I’d have switched places with him in a heartbeat.
“Where are they?” Major’s tone took on the condescending edge it always had when he talked with people from the outer circle—everyone who didn’t live or work in headquarters. Hawk-Face stood up straighter and though he was about a head taller than Major, he managed to appear much smaller. “Cafeteria, Sir. They won’t come back before six.”
That gave us twenty minutes. I didn’t know why the family had gone to the cafeteria or why Hawk-Face knew when they’d return, but some FEA agents could mess with other people’s minds in all kinds of ways.
Mental Variations were the most valued in our world. Major’s official Variation was “night-sight” but many people believed he was one of the few Dual Variants whose second mental Variation remained a secret. Apparently most Dual Variants hid their more powerful mental Variation behind the obvious physical one.
“Kate, you know what to do,” Major said.
She nodded and set out for the cafeteria where Mrs. Chambers would soon have her mind raided.
Hawk-Face stepped aside as Major opened the door and gestured for me to enter. As soon as I set foot into the room, I wanted to turn around and bolt. But Major was right behind me, blocking my only way of escape.
My eyes were instantly glued to Madison Chambers, still and silent in her green hospital gown. Her pale skin was almost the exact same shade as the white walls surrounding her. Veins shone through her skin, like blue vines had been painted on her arms. I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry..
Madison’s dull blonde hair fanned out on the pillow around her head like a faded halo. Her neck was wrapped with gauze. Was that where the wire had cut into her skin? She appeared so fragile, so tenuous amid all the tubes and beeping machines. I backed away and collided with Major’s muscular body.
“What’s the matter?”
What wasn’t the matter? There were so many answers to that question. With Major’s presence looming close behind me, I inched closer to the bed. Closer to the girl who needed to die so I could pretend to be her. Major’s hand landed on my shoulder, but it wasn’t a comforting touch.
“This is your chance to prove yourself, Tessa.”
I pulled away from him, shaking myself free of his grip. My hand trembled as I extended it toward Madison.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as my fingertips touched her arm. It didn’t feel as warm as I’d expected. I knew her body was still alive, though maybe Major was right when he’d said it was really just an empty shell. Something was missing. Usually when I touched someone, there was a certain kind of energy, a unique presence I could feel; but with Madison I felt nothing. Still, as I stood there among the beeping machines, I could feel my body absorb her “data.”
As far as FEA scientists could gather, my DNA incorporated foreign genetic instructions into its own unique strand as dormant DNA that could be activated when necessary. I felt the familiar tingling starting in my toes, the way it always did when my brain memorized every detail of someone’s appearance and my body felt eager to try it on like a new pair of fancy shoes. I suppressed the sensation. I wouldn’t change into her now; I would wait until I no longer had a choice. Soon I’d be able to copy her perfectly despite the fact that I didn’t yet know anything about her—not about her worries, her fears, or her dreams. I’d be nothing but a hollow imitation of the girl she used to be.
After a few seconds, I pulled back, but I still couldn’t take my eyes off the girl who’d never walk out of this room again. And though her survival would ruin the mission, I wished that she’d prove everyone wrong, that she’d miraculously heal and return to her family and friends.
“You should clean your tears before you leave the room,” Major said.
I looked up. He had already turned to talk to Hawk-Face in the doorway. I wiped the moisture from my cheeks and leaned down, close to Madison’s face. “You have to live, do you hear me? Please, please live.” But a part of me knew there was nothing left in her to listen to my plea.