Free The Other Side by Joshua McCune Page A

her was when rescue came, when she was in the ER, huddled with James . . . I bite hard into my lip.
    â€œWhere is he?” I say, quivering. I want to cry. I want to strangle him.
    She lifts my backpack from the floor and drops it on my bedside. “You look awful. “Don’t know if I’ll be able to pretty you up. Shame how this—”
    â€œWhere is he, Evelyn?”
    â€œWhere is who?” she asks. She unzips the pack. “You have nobody to blame but yourself, you know? Don’t suppose you have makeup in here? Never were much concerned with keeping up appearances.”
    While she investigates my pack, throwing barbs whenever she can, I focus on making sense of her words in an effort to stave off the looming darkness. “Nobody to blame but yourself?” James and Evelyn knew about our hideout on Saint Matthew Island, so why did Oren and his Diocletians wait to pounce? After we left, there was no guarantee he would find us again. Nobody knew our location—
    Until I panicked in the escape crate and attempted to contact every dragon I knew. Told them where we were headed.But why the subterfuge? Why flush us out? Why not capture Allie on the island beforehand?
    â€œThose mental cogs of yours still clunking along, Sarah?” Evelyn asks, checking my fake driver’s license. She flings it to the ground. “You’ll thank me later. Preston got your worst side.”
    She wets a pair of towels at the sink, returns to the bedside, and vigorously scrubs dried blood off my face. She drapes the towels over my handcuffs, then pulls a ski cap from somewhere inside her cloak and tugs it down over my CENSIR.
    â€œWell, you’re presentable. I guess. Be on your best behavior. Twenty-One’s enough of a pain in the ass when she’s in a good mood.”
    She’s at the door when I cave. “Why, Evelyn?”
    â€œIf you can’t figure that out, you’re even dumber than you look.”
    Before I can make any sense of her parting shot, Allie bounds into the room, all hops and skips and squeals. She jumps onto the bed and nuzzles into my chest. I groan, and she pulls back.
    â€œMr. O said not to touch you because you’re hurt and I already screwed up.” Her smile returns with a delighted laugh. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Melissa. Did you hear about the dragons? Mr. O says that when you get better, you canjoin us at HQ—that’s what Mr. O calls it. We can all be together like we’re supposed to. And we don’t have to be afraid of anything again. We’ll be safe. We need to convince Arabelle. She’s being stubborn and won’t talk to me.”
    She is so full of joy. It makes my own smile that much harder. “Don’t worry. I’ll set her straight. Now come on, give me a hug. A real one this time.”
    She wraps her arms around my neck and presses her cheek to mine. I relax to the pain in my ribs, allowing her slight weight to sink into me. When I can feel her heart beating above mine, I close my eyes. Behind the lilac of the shampoo, there’s the faint smell of iron that will grow stronger in the company of Greens, and the hint of woodsmoke and winter that I always associate with Baby.
    This is how I will remember her. At peace. Content.
    â€œTime to go, dear,” Oren says from the doorway.
    Allie kisses my cheek. “See you soon.”
    â€œYep. Be good. I love you.”
    She waves once, and then she is gone.
    â€œPlease don’t do this. I’ll do anything you want. Just leave her out of this. Please.”
    Oren gives me a rueful smile. “Move on with your life, Melissa.”
    After he leaves, I let myself cry.

10
    â€œDo you understand your rights as they have been read to you?”
    The sheriff repeats himself as a shift in light pulls my attention to the shadowed figure in the doorway. Claire? Her ghost here to take vengeance on me? A waking nightmare? I hope for