Fluorescence: The Complete Tetralogy (46 page)

Fifteen minutes later, a bright green cab pulled up in front of us. I glanced at Alice and smiled. “See? Honest, right? I think I like this town already.”

. . .

A bell clanged loudly against the glass door as we entered the motel office. A musty smell irritated my nose the moment we walked in.

The man at the front desk turned toward us and cocked his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. He wore a tired old sweater vest and had a shiny bald head that reflected the light of the nearby desk lamp.

“Can I… help you?” He had a thick southern accent.

“We need a room, please,” I replied, adjusting the backpack
strap on my shoulder.

“I don’t deal with minors,” he said, gruffly. “Go home to your parents.”

“We’re not minors.” I slapped our fake IDs onto the counter.

He squinted at them and shook his head.

“Don’t mess with me, kid.”

“Do I really look like a kid to you?”

“Well, I don’t know about you.” He shrugged. “But she sure as hell does.” He pointed a boney finger at Alice. “What are you, girl? Thirteen?”

“She’s not. Trust me.” I was trying hard to not let him see how impatient I was becoming.

“I don’t trust kids,” he sneered, sucking his teeth.

“Okay. Then… let’s try this another way.” I shoved my hand into my pocket and pulled out some cash. I counted out the correct amount and then laid an extra hundred-dollar bill on top. “We pay cash. We don’t cause trouble and we’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”

The man glanced suspiciously at the bills, at me, and then back at the money. He cupped a hand on top of the pile and slid it off the counter. After a quick shuffle through it,
he shoved it into the pocket of his corduroys. Then he turned,
plucked a brass key from the hanging-rack behind him, and dangled it in front of me.

“Enjoy your stay, sir,” he said, with a crooked smile.

Chapter 31

I
pulled the door shut behind me and the hinges let out an ear-piercing squeal.

“Are you
going
to be okay, Alice?” I asked, peeking through
the grimy peephole as I locked the deadbolt. It was so dark outside, I could barely see a thing.

Alice sat on the edge of the bed kicking her heels against the frame. The ugly paisley decor surrounding her looked like something from the ‘70s.

“I didn’t like the way that guy looked at me,” she said.

I walked over to the window, separated the grungy beige curtains with my fingers, and peered out at the empty parking lot. The motel was only one floor and it backed up to a dairy farm. Nice and quiet. Almost too quiet.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t defend you better. We kind of needed this room for tonight and we couldn’t have risked him throwing us out.” I sat beside her on the bed.

“It wasn’t about that,” she continued, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt and wrinkling it in her hands. “It was how he argued with you about me. Like I couldn’t even hear him!
I’m not a thirteen-year-old kid! I’m sixteen and I been through
a hell of a lot more than—”

“I know that, Alice.” I cupped a hand over her knee. “Don’t
get so upset. I’m not the one questioning you.” I leaned down
to press a kiss to her cheek. “You’re definitely not a child anymore
. Don’t worry about what he said.” My lips gravitated toward her jaw line and I could taste the salt on her skin. “Don’t worry about anything else tonight.” I kissed the base of her neck, inhaling a deep breath of her scent, while my fingers caressed her leg.

“Stop it, Brian.” She jerked away. “I’m tired.” She rubbed
her neck where my lips had touched it and scowled. “And you need to shave.”

“I’m sorry. I just… We’ve been through a lot lately, and…
I miss
us
. You know?”

She rolled her eyes. “Have you even noticed what time it is?” I shot a glance at the clock—4:32 AM. “I think you’re being a little selfish, actually. Just leave me alone tonight, okay?”

“Alice, I’m sorry.”

“I said I was tired. Now move, please.” I got up the instant
she nudged me in the side with her elbow.

I helped her fold down the sheets.

“This place was so not worth that extra money,” she grumbled, fluffing up a pillow and tossing it back onto the bed. “But, whatever.” She crawled up under the sheets, laid her head down, and tugged the fleece blanket up to her shoulders.

“Goodnight, Brian,” she said and reached to switch off the lamp on the end table.

Now the room was lit only by the bright white fluorescent bulb buzzing in the bathroom.

I sulked over to sink and twisted on the faucet. Cool water
felt good against my face, washing away a day’s worth of hell.
I rubbed the prickly stubble on my chin and sneered. Two-day-old shadow. I hated it.

A flimsy disposable razor rested on the counter, wrapped
in frosted plastic. I picked it up, peeled open the wrapping and then craned back around to look at her.

What had I done wrong? She didn’t want anything to do with me.

We were tired, I knew, but all I had wanted was her support. A “thank you,” or a kiss goodnight. That was all.

But no. Nothing.

Screw it.

I dropped the razor on the counter, flipped off the light and crept over to the side of the bed opposite Alice. I
carefully lifted up the covers and squeezed under them, trying not to disturb her.

My eyes shut tight. I took a deep breath.

Sleep.

I needed sleep.

But there was so much adrenaline still pumping through
my veins. Throbbing in my head.

A chill shot up my spine and an image flashed through my mind.

Kareena’s icy fingers latching on to mine. I could feel it—her hand. Even in the darkness.

What the hell?

I rolled over to face Alice, who was sound asleep, her hands clutching onto her pillow like they always did, her
breathing quiet and slow. The light from the streetlamps shone
through the curtains and outlined her face, highlighting the soft curves of her cheeks.

For a moment, her dark brown hair reminded
me of
Kareena’s. Glossy waves of black framing cinnamon skin and
falling down past a tiny waist. Vibrant green eyes that begged
me not to go even when she knew I had no choice. So unlike her to show such compassion.

I closed my eyes again.

“Be careful,” she’d said. And her words kept playing through my head. That frightened voice. The glisten of tears building in her eyes. Everything she’d done for us—for me.

The way she’d grabbed my hand. How tightly she’d held
on. Her pulse racing through her fingertips, thumping against
my skin.

I opened my eyes to Alice.

Damn it, Brian, go to sleep.

Go to sleep…

. . .

Out of breath. Panting.

We ran as fast as we could through the building. Trying
to find the door—the portal—whatever they called it. Wherever
it was.

We dodged rubble and ash—fiberglass insulation and drywall crumbling all around us. The entire building was caving in, trying to swallow us whole.

“We can’t leave her!” Alice screamed, grabbing on to my arm and digging her heels into the ground.

“We don’t have a choice!” I tugged back, overpowering her easily enough, and she stumbled into me.

“How could you!?” She shoved me away. “We need her!” Hatred flashed in her gaze. “You’re selfish, Brian! You can’t do this. You’re not in charge!”

She broke free and darted off down the hall into oblivion.

“Alice!” I went after her. White flakes floated down from
above, clouding the air. Making it difficult to breathe. I coughed hard and pulled my shirt collar up to cover my nose
and mouth.

“Alice!” I called out again, but heard nothing.

The electricity shorted out and the halls went pitch black. I staggered forward in the direction she’d headed, calling out for her again and again. No answer. No footsteps.

“Alice!”

Nothing.

I blindly took another step and heard a crack beneath my foot.

The ground gave way and I fell.

“Brian!”

I opened my eyes to the dingy motel room.

“Brian!” Alice shook me violently.

“What?” I sat up. Blood rushed to my head and the room
swirled. “What is it?”

Burning white light stung my eyes.

My stomach tightened and… I fell.

Again.

W
e hit the ground hard. Alice landed beside me. I looked
up. Everything was white.

No.

I veered my head around.

“You!”

Saviors surrounded
us. The translator stepped closer and looked down his nose at me.

“Hello, Brian,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “We are pleased you
and the Tracker have made amends. We hope you have learned to control your anger.”

“Hardly!” I hissed, coming to my feet and making fists. “You bastards better tell us the truth. What happened to that man who died? The one who was infected?” I rolled my shoulders back. “Tell me.”

The translator focused over my shoulder.

“I’m talking to you,” I growled. “Why aren’t you…” Then, I
heard sobbing. Loud, congested sobbing. I turned.

“Kareena?”

She sat cross-legged on the floor behind us, her face buried
in her hands.

“Kareena!” I rushed over and knelt at her side. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

She slowly looked up from her hands. Her face was wet with tears. Black smudges of mascara bled down her reddened
cheeks.

“Brian?” she wheezed, sucking in a strained breath. “They found
out. They… found out.”

“What do you mean they found out? Who?” I bent down farther to look her in the eye. “What are you talking about?”

“They won’t let me go home.” She shuddered, gasping
for breath. “They’ve been holding me at the station for hours
. I don’t want to go back there. They’ll put me away… They’ll…”

I wiped her cheeks with my thumbs and cupped her face.

“Kareena? Look at me.”

She eased her gaze up to my face.

“Who?”

“Th-the,” she stammered. “The police.”

“No. But… how? I thought you’d be safe if we…”

“They found the charges. On my credit card. The hotel. The bus tickets. They traced the last few calls I made.” Her lip quivered and her darkened, nearly black eyes pierced me to the core. “I’m screwed, Brian. I’m so screwed!”

“We can fix this, Kareena. We’ll make things right.” I tried to hold on to her, but she pulled away and wrapped her
arms
around her body so tightly I couldn’t pry them off. She rocked
back and forth. Tears dropped into her lap.

“They’re going to put me in jail, Brian! Daddy can’t help me this time. I’m screwed. I’m just—”

“Shh.” I embraced her and brought her close to my chest,
cradling the back of her head. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. I promise I’ll keep you safe.” My fingers ran through her hair.

“Brian?” Alice came down beside us. “Is she… okay?”

“No. And she won’t be okay, either. Not anymore,” I replied,
gritting my teeth. “I’ll fix this, Kareena. I swear I’ll fix this.”

“Thank you.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands, leaving smears of black makeup across her temples.

“You!” I stood and confronted the translator again. “You did this! You fix this! Now! Unless you want us all to end up in prison. Experimented on or worse. Killed. Who the hell knows what our government will do to us once they find out we’re freaks?”

“We cannot interfere with the operation of your government.”

“Bullshit. You’ve probably already infected half of the damn politicians. You even infected David’s sister after you promised not to. You can’t just go around playing God to save your own asses.”

“We promised nothing,” he said, filtering the thought a moment. “You do not comprehend the importance of our mission.”

“And you don’t comprehend what’s happening to us! She needs your help.” I pointed behind me. Alice sat beside Kareena, holding her hand. “Look at her!” I veered back around. “Fix this, damn it. Or we’ll put an end to this ridiculous game. Or I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you and your kind are destroyed.”

The translator’s eyes narrowed and he stared at me, silently.

Studying me.

The blank, unreadable face sent a chill up my spine.

My heart thumped faster.

I regretted the threat.

Grey eyes. Dusty-white skin. Emotionless. Cold.

He waited for me to crack.

I felt warmth flushing through my fingers. Up my arm. My fluorescence sparking to life.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” I growled. “Why are
you just… Ahh!” I doubled over and held my arm. Blue raced
toward my fingers, going in the opposite direction it usually flowed.

“Do not question our methods,” he said, reaching an arm
out toward me.

Sharp pain shot through me like lightning. Tightness choked the air from my lungs.

I fell and hit the floor hard. I couldn’t breathe. My ribs were aching.

“We put the fluorescence inside you,” the translator said,
looking down at me with his hand outstretched. His eyes reflected a glimmer of hot blue and his fingertips sparked with blazing azure light. “We can remove it.”

I strained, reaching toward nothing. My skin turned a sick greyish-purple.

“But,” he continued, “your imperfection will flourish.”

No!

No. I wouldn’t take it back. Not the arrhythmia. Not for anything.

The translator rippled and warped out of focus. I closed my eyes against the sudden weakness. My energy draining. Oxygen being sucked out of me. The air so thin…