Hector smacks the back of his brother’s head. “Shut up, man. Who wants to hear that?”
“I’m just being honest!”
Brady shakes his head. “Only further proof that Carlos is a dumbass. He’s just saying that because now he’s positive you’re out of his league.”
I look away, embarrassed. I’ve wanted people to see me my whole life, but now that it’s here I can’t believe how much I don’t want to talk about my appearance. Seriously, how long can a conversation about what I look like go? Time for a subject change.
“Forget about me—just think what this could do for you, Brady.” I smile as I look between him and Bea. “No more worrying about hurting anyone.”
His face goes beet red. “I can’t even picture it.”
Seth points at his brother. “It’s not happening until this drug is stable. Fiona went through hell before it worked. Allie said all the patients did. Speaking of, she’ll be wanting to get your vitals. I’ll send the nurse to get her.”
“Okay.” I suck in a breath, not particularly excited because she’ll want to poke at me. I’ve never pictured what it would look like to see a needle in my skin. It makes me queasy. Better distract myself. “Let’s hurry and take pictures, guys. This is kind of a big deal.”
“Hell yes it is!” Bea hops over, and Seth takes our picture. Then Hector, Carlos, and Brady join in. They all take turns taking pictures, and I tell myself it’s okay to smile because these might be the only images I’ll get for awhile.
Allie and the nurse come in, and they tell everyone but Seth they need to leave until they’re finished. “Sorry,” Allie says to me. “The other patients are already experiencing decreased effectiveness. I want you to enjoy your friends, but I need these tests, too.”
“I understand.” I gulp as the nurse pulls out a needle.
“Fi, look at me,” Seth says. “It won’t be as bad that way.”
“Do I look that scared?” I ask, though I do what he says. The nurse rubs something wet in the crook of my elbow, and then there’s an uncomfortable prick that makes me cringe.
He smirks. “You’ve gone pretty white.”
“How are you feeling?” Allie says as the nurse keeps fiddling with my arm. How many vials of blood does she need?
“Fine.” I glance at my reflection. I am pale. Funny. “Still getting used to my face, and I feel exposed. But I’m not in pain, and I don’t really feel sick. A little hungry, though.”
She smiles. “We’ll get you something to eat from the mess hall on the surface.”
I nod. “So, was it a good first test?”
Allie’s face turns more serious. “The pain levels were much more than anticipated, and some of the other patients are still feeling ill despite their mutations having gone away. So though the drug did do its job, the side effects are still light years from ideal. And the fading is much faster than I anticipated. Hopefully in the next round I can make it last longer.”
Finally the nurse finishes, and directs me to hold the cotton swab to my skin. “You can’t expect perfection on the first test,” I say to Allie. “This was incredible for the time you’ve had with the element.”
Allie offers a tiny smile. “Thanks. Oh, I wanted to ask you about possibly getting more merinite—I don’t have much left from the first sample we took.”
“That’s fine. Just take Graham with you when he gets back? No one else.”
“Of course.” She picks up a vial of my blood, seeming in awe that she can see it. “This is quite exciting, to have the privilege of seeing you like this.”
A sudden wave of gratitude hits for what Allie’s given me. “Can I get a picture with you? For memory’s sake.”
“No!” Allie blurts out.
Seth gives her a surprised look. “Why not?”
Allie waves it off, seeming embarrassed. “I just don’t like my picture taken. And besides, this is supposed to be top secret.”
I frown. “I just wanted a picture with the person who made this possible.”
“I’m sorry.” She stares at the ground. “You were the one who made it possible though. I couldn’t have done it without the merinite, and that’s all thanks to you.”
“Oh well…” My voice trails off as I catch sight of myself in the mirror again. There’s no mistaking that there’s something less solid about the way I look. “I guess it’s starting to wear off.”
Allie looks up, panic on her face. “Oh no! We need to test these samples now.”
“On it!” The nurse is already halfway to the door, Allie right on her heels.
Seth doesn’t say anything as he watches me fade. Now that I’m going, I’m not sure how to feel. Part of me is relieved, but then the other half can’t stop staring at my reflection in the mirror. I need to memorize it. I don’t have enough time to do that. I go from slightly hazy to ghostly to barely there in less than half an hour. Then I’m back to a teal dress with white leggings.
Seth takes my hand. “Are you sad?”
“I don’t know.” I can’t take my eyes off the mirror, surprised by the confidence I feel now that I’m back in my own invisible skin. “Maybe I will be later, but right now I’m glad to be back to my—”
The door bursts open, and Graham flies in. His eyes are wide and he pants. “We’re in trouble, Fi. Big trouble.”
“What?” If Graham is saying that, then it must be horrible. “Where’s Mom and Miles? Did you go out to get them?”
“We were too late.” He cringes as he holds out his phone. There’s a picture, and it’s terrifying. Above Mom’s bed, there’s a message written in what I’m sure is blood: I have her. You know what I want in return. —The Phantom
Chapter 40
I find the bed just before my legs give out. This can’t be happening. The Phantom kidnapped my mom, and I have no doubt that blood on the wall is hers. She’s hurt, captured, alone. And I’m here seeing myself. “What are we gonna do, Graham? What about Miles and Lee Seol?”
“Missing. We have no proof The Phantom took the Navarros or Miles and Lee Seol, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t.” Instead of floating, he actually sits on the bed next to me. “Madison is a war zone, sis. Major Norton is working on a plan to take back the town, but Juan’s men are already approaching the factory.”
I put my hand to my mouth. I feel so helpless and entirely at fault. “I wish I’d told everyone to leave town.”
“No one knew they’d move so fast.”
Pursing my lips, I think of Seth’s dad. He figured out Lee Seol’s meet-up with the Spudlings…we should have told the Army that day. But instead I gave The Phantom time to plan. “We have to get Mom back.”
Graham nods. “But she’s probably at their base under SuperMart. It’ll be hard to get in there.”
“Lee Seol can.”
“We just have to find…” Seth begins to say, but then grabs his head. He crumples onto the bed, and it looks like he’s biting back screams.
Graham stares at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” I put my hand on Seth’s shoulder, knowing exactly what’s happening to him. This vision glitch looks much worse than usual by the way his face contorts with pain—way too reminiscent of the first time it happened. “Seth? What do you need?”
He just moans back.
“Should I get a nurse?” Graham asks.
“No!” I yell, and my brother stares at me like I’m insane. How am I supposed to cover this up surrounded by people who can’t find out? “It’s just…”
The doorknob turns, and my worst fear is Allie walking through. It would be slightly less bad if it were The Pack, though they’ve been so suspicious lately as it is. But the person who appears is one I didn’t expect at all. It’s Tagawa, in combat uniform, complete with rifle in hand. As if his bony spikes weren’t intimidating enough. “The Major asked me to come get you and your friends—you’re needed up top.”