-Carolina
Relief.
Instant relief comes when I tell Rand the secret I’ve been carrying around all these years. It’s like a 250-pound weight has been lifted off my chest.
I smile at Rand. “Oh, my God. It feels good to get that out in the open.”
Rand stands there gawking at me. I stand and wave my hand in front of his face. “Earth to Rand? Hello, Rand!”
Fuck. I’ve gone and shocked the Rambling Man into silence. He’s the best Science Director Saber Security ever had, so if he has a stroke at this news, Luke and Celia will kill me.
“Rand?” I put my hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”
He swallows and stares at a spot behind me. “Am I okay? I can’t fucking believe this.”
Well, shit.
“I never should have told you!” I grab my purse and head for the door.
“Wait!” Rand reaches me before I grab the door handle. “Stop.”
I whirl on him. “Why? So you can make me feel like a bigger freak than I already am? I never told anyone what happened. Well, I told my therapist, but other than that - no one else. And the look on your face is why.”
“Wait,” Rand grabs both of my arms. “I’m not handling this very well.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” I push his chest, but damn, those muscles are not budging. He tightens his hold on my arms. I feel the panic start to well up in my chest. “Get off me.”
“Don’t go.”
Panic reaches a crescendo. His face blurs until I see the leering face of Dash in my vision. “I SAID GET OFF OF ME!”
I hook my foot around his ankle and shove him as hard as I can. Rand falls onto his ass, and I make a break out the door. I don’t know where I’m going. I need to get the hell out of that room and out of the building. I don’t get very far before I run straight into a rock wall.
“Carolina?” Flint grabs my hands before I can scratch the shit out of his face.
I can’t speak. I’m in full-blown panic mode now, and there’s no stopping it. I can’t breathe. I see stars right before I pass out.
???
I slowly regain consciousness.
I’m lying on a couch in the world’s messiest office. I sit up.
“Motherfucker,” I grab my pounding head.
“Take it easy, sis,” Celia pats my forehead with a cool washcloth. “Are you okay?”
Am I okay?
Well, that’s a difficult question to answer. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s take this one step at a time, shall we?” Celia helps me get comfortable. “Are you physically hurt? Any cuts? Scrapes? Bruises?”
I mentally scan my body. “Other than feeling like a truck ran over me, I think I’m physically fine.”
Celia nods. “Okay. How about mentally?”
I fold the washcloth in my hands. “Uh. I’m alright.”
