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“I…” How can I not trust another human pletely？ We’re family—both part of the brotherhood of
extinction。 “I don’t have time。 I have so far to go and… Jamie is waiting。”
“You’re not alone；” he realizes。 His expression shows uncertainty for the first time。
“My brother。 He’s just nine； and he’s so frightened when I’m away。 It will take me half the night to get
back to him。 He won’t know if I’ve been caught。 He’s sohungry。 ” As if to make my point； my stomach
growls loudly。
Jared’s smile is back； brighter than before。 “Will it help if I give you a ride？”
“A ride？” I echo。
“I’ll make you a deal。 You wait here while I gather more food； and I’ll take you anywhere you want to
go in my jeep。 It’s faster than running—even faster thanyou running。”
“You have a car？”
“Of course。 Do you think I walked out here？”
I think of the six hours it took me to walk here； and my forehead furrows。
“We’ll be back to your brother in no time；” he promises。 “Don’t move from this spot； okay？”
I nod。
“And eat something； please。 I don’t want your stomach to give us away。” He grins； and his eyes crinkle
up； fanning lines out of the corners。 My heart gives one hard thump； and I know I will wait here if it takes
him all night。
He is still holding my hand。 He lets go slowly； his eyes not leaving mine。 He takes a step backward； then
pauses。
I scream。
I woke up covered in sweat。 Even before I was all the way awake； my fingers were on the back of my
neck； tracing the short line left from the insertion。 I could barely detect the faint pink blemish with my
fingertips。 The medicines the Healer had used had done their job。
Jared’s poorly healed scar had never been much of a disguise。
I flicked on the light beside my bed； waiting for my breathing to slow； veins full of adrenaline from the
realistic dream。
A new dream； but in essence so much the same as the many others that had plagued me in the past
months。
No； not a dream。 Surely a memory。
I could still feel the heat of Jared’s lips on mine。 My hands reached out without my permission； searching
across the rumpled sheet； looking for something they did not find。 My heart ached when they gave up；
falling to the bed limp and empty。
I blinked away the unwele moisture in my eyes。 I didn’t know how much more of this I could stand。
How did anyone survive this world； with these bodies whose memories wouldn’t stay in the past where
they should？ With these emotions that were so strong I couldn’t tell whatI felt anymore？
I was going to be exhausted tomorrow； but I felt so far from sleep that I knew it would be hours before I
could relax。 I might as well do my duty and get it over with。 Maybe it would help me take my mind off
things I’d rather not think about。
I rolled off the bed and stumbled to the puter on the otherwise empty desk。 It took a few seconds
for the screen to glow to life； and another few seconds to open my mail program。 It wasn’t hard to find
the Seeker’s address； I only had four contacts： the Seeker； the Healer； my new employer； and his wife；
my forter。
There was another human with my host； Melanie Stryder。
I typed； not bothering with a greeting。
His name is Jamie Stryder； he is her brother。
For a panicked moment； I wondered at her control。 All this time； and I’d never even guessed at the
boy’s existence—not because he didn’t matter to her； but because she protected him more fiercely than
other secrets I’d unraveled。 Did she have more secrets this big； this important？ So sacred that she kept
them even from my dreams？ Was she that strong？ My fingers trembled as I keyed the rest of the
information。
I sent it off。 As soon as it was gone； terror washed through me。
Not Jamie！
Her voice in my head was as clear as my own spoken aloud。 I shuddered in horror。
Even as I struggled with the fear of what was happening； I was gripped with the insane desire to e…mail
the Seeker again and apologize for sending her my crazy dreams。 To tell her I was half asleep and to pay
no attention to the silly message I’d sent。
The desire was not my own。
I shut off the puter。
I hate you；the voice snarled in my head。
“Then maybe you should leave；” I snapped。 The sound of my voice； answering her aloud； made me
shudder again。
She hadn’t spoken to me since the first moments I’d been here。 There was no doubt that she was getting
stronger。 Just like the dreams。
And there was no question about it； I was going to have to visit my forter tomorrow。 Tears of
disappointment and humiliation welled in my eyes at the thought。
I went back to bed； put a pillow over my face； and tried to think of nothing at all。
CHAPTER 5
Unforted
Hello there； Wanderer！ Won’t you take a seat and make yourself at home？”
I hesitated on the threshold of the forter’s office； one foot in and one foot out。
She smiled； just a tiny movement at the corners of her mouth。 It was much easier to read facial
expressions now； the little muscle twitches and shifts had bee familiar through months of exposure。 I
could see that the forter found my reluctance a bit amusing。 At the same time； I could sense her
frustration that I was still uneasy ing to her。
With a quiet sigh of resignation； I walked into the small brightly colored room and took my usual
seat—the puffy red one； the one farthest from where she sat。
Her lips pursed。
To avoid her gaze； I stared through the open windows at the clouds scuttling past the sun。 The faint tang
of ocean brine blew softly through the room。
I met her eyes guiltily。 “I did leave a message about that last appointment。 I had a student who requested
some of my time。…”
“Yes； I know。” She smiled the tiny smile again。 “I got your message。”
She was attractive for an older woman； as humans went。 She’d let her hair stay a natural gray—it was
soft； tending toward white rather than silver； and she wore it long； pulled back in a loose ponytail。 Her
eyes were an interesting green color I’d never seen on anyone else。
“I’m sorry；” I said； since she seemed to be waiting for a response。
“That’s all right。 I understand。 It’s difficult for you to e here。 You wish so much that it wasn’t
necessary。 It’s never been necessary for you before。 This frightens you。”
I stared down at the wooden floor。 “Yes； forter。”
“I know I’ve asked you to call me Kathy。”
“Yes… Kathy。”
She laughed lightly。 “You are not at ease with human names yet； are you； Wanderer？”
“No。 To be honest； it seems… like a surrender。”
I looked up to see her nod slowly。 “Well； I can understand why you； especially； would feel that way。”
I swallowed loudly when she said that； and stared again at the floor。
“Let’s talk about something easier for a moment；” Kathy suggested。 “Do you continue to enjoy your
Calling？”
“I do。” Thiswas easier。 “I’ve begun a new semester。 I wondered if it would get tiresome； repeating the
same material； but so far it doesn’t。 Having new ears makes the stories new again。”
“I hear g