Becauseiantshewasabouttoloseherbance,Crashotherlefthandoutandpresseditftagainstthewhitewallbesideher,usingittosteadyherself.
“I.”
Shedidn’tlookback.
Hervoicewassoweakitfeltlikeabreezecouldscatterit—butthestubbornnessihatsce-studentrefusaltopromise,heldlikeanaildrivenintowood.
Soshemovedthatway—onehandonthewall,shiftingparthtontothecoldsurface—walkinglikeshewascrossingatightrope.Stepbystep,shedraggedherfloating,powerlesslegsdownthehallwaytowardExamRoomOhefarend.
Elianfollowedbehindherinsilence,lessthanhalfastepaway,herbackpackstillonhisshoulder.
Theichallwaywaslessthaerslong,butforElialikeaslowmentaltorture.WitheverystepCratook,itlookedlikesheendihingshehadleft.Herfingersonthewallwhitenedfromtheforcerip,andEliaightenedasifaninvisiblecordhadbeenchedaroundit—terrifiedthatisedshewouldfinallygiveoutandcrashontothehardterrazzofloor.
Finally,Crareachedthedoorframeanddroppedintothepatientchair.
OnlythendidEliaheheavybackpathefloor,andsitinthepanionchairbehindher.
Theolderdoctorpushedhisreadinggssesup,gheintakeform,thenatCra’sunnaturallyflushedfadliftedahermometer.
Beep.Beep.
“Thirty-ninepointtwo.”Thedoctor’sbrowfurrowedinstantly.“You’reburningup.You’tevensitstraight.Whyareyouonlyinginnow?”HisgazeshiftedtoElianintheback.“Where’sherfamily?Areyouherbrother?”
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