The sandalwood. I could smell it.
You like the way that tastes, sugar?
No.
Just like that, sugar.
Stop!
“Breathe, Sophia!” The words echoed from far away.
Let’s play a little game, sugar.
My hands shook as I touched Lucas’s face, the only clear part of my vision.
“You have to breathe,” he said. “In and out. Come on.”
The room darkened, his face fading from view…
Something soft cushioned me. Voices nearby spoke in low tones, but my eyes stayed resolutely closed.
“…don’t know what she’ll do when we leave.”
“She’s strong. She’ll be fine.” This from Adam.
“Will she be fine if we don’t come back?”
My stomach cramped, and I groaned, blinking my eyes open. Lucas had taken me to one of the common areas near the interview room, now empty. Isaac stood in the doorway, guarding us.
Adam smiled when my eyes opened. “Hey. There she is. You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I rasped out.
Lucas sat on a table next to me, elbows on his knees, features harsh. “A single word took you back there. I could see it in your eyes, the terror and pain. You’re going to let a stranger dig into that? Sell it to the world?”
“I can’t even remember most of it.”
“You remember enough.”
I held a hand out. “Help me up.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line and did as I asked.
I took his face in my hands. “I have to do this, just like you have to go on the…mission. We have one chance at both of us surviving, and this is it. Let’s just get through it, okay?”
After a beat, he sighed, and the three of us went back to the interview area.
Just like before, I was the last to be interviewed, and by the time they called my name, the butterflies in my stomach had turned to clawed bats and my insides felt ravaged. Inside the room, two chairs sat facing each other beneath three blinding lights, and it occurred to me that thousands, maybe millions of people would see this interview, and I hadn’t worn a drop of makeup in years. I hadn’t even considered what I should wear for such an occasion.
What a stupid thing to care about. The camo pants and black tee would be fine.
Logan invited me to sit. I crossed my legs at the ankles and placed my clenched hands in my lap.
My breath caught in my throat.
His smile went soft.
And it went on for hours. Anytime I stumbled on one of my fabricated answers, Logan would help me until I got it right.
