“It certainly is,” he replies.
“Say Marie can save you,” Wes interjects. “How exactly does she plan togetthe cure from Tatum? I know she wants to use it, but how does she get it?”
“That is something only Marie knows,” Realm says. “But at this point, it’s not what the cure is—it’s who will get it first. Marie or The Program. And the problem with that, is some of her people work for both. In the end, I guess it’ll matter what side they choose.”
Realm coughs, and the sound is thick and worrisome. Wes looks toward the backseat, true concern playing over his features.
“You okay, man?” he asks. Realm nods that he is, his hand a fist at his chest.
“Never better,” Realm says.
•••
We arrive on a quiet street with widely spaced lots and a few wispy trees. When he said he had to grab something, I kind of thought he meant a burger or a file. Does he live here? It’s weird that I never wondered where he’s from. The real him.
Realm points out a house, and I pull up to the curb in my grandfather’s car. Wes and I get out, and although he can’t do much of the helping, Wes holds the door as I ease Realm to his feet. I loop my arm around his waist and get us to the curb. Wes comes over, and the three of us stare up at a two-story house. There are no cars parked in the driveway, no lights on or sign that anyone’s here.
Realm coughs again and spits a mouthful of blood onto the grass. Wes narrows his eyes, examining him.
“Dying?” he says. “What exactlyishappening to you?”
“A crashback, I’m assuming,” Realm tells him. “I was supposed to be immune, but who knows. Science, right?” He laughs, but my heart sinks. “That’s why we’re here.” He motions to the house, and I tighten my arm around him.
“Let’s hurry up and get what you need,” I say, and begin walking him toward the front porch.
As we approach, there is the distant chirping of crickets. A low buzz from the streetlights. We get on the porch, and Wes and I exchange a concerned glance as I open the screen door and knock. The sound echoes throughout the house, but I don’t hear any movement inside.
Realm groans, putting his finger on his temple to massage the area. I knock on the door again, harder. There is a swish of curtain from the nearby window, and my heart jumps.
There’s the sound of locks, a chain, and then the door opens—just a crack at first. Realm smiles wildly and holds up his hand, as if he’s just dropping by for a drink.
“Holy shit,” a male voice says. The door swings open, and a guy rushes out, quickly gathering Realm from my arms. “What’s wrong?”
“James,” Realm says with a grunt. “These are my friends.”
James turns to look at me and Wes, nodding a hello. I’m immediately stunned, not just because he’s gorgeous, or because of his startling blue eyes, but because he’sJames Murphy.
Wes glances over to check my reaction, not realizing that we have one of the people who beat The Program in front of us. One the most important people in the entire series of events.
“James, who is it?” a girl calls from inside. She comes to the door and skids to stop, surveying all of us. She has thick black curls and an expression of absolute horror that drags down her pretty features. I recognize her from when her picture was being flashed on the news. On billboards. Sloane Barstow.
“Michael,” she says, her voice dripping in concern. She comes over to wrap her arm around the other side of him, and together she and James help him toward the door.
“Wait,” I say. “We have to get him to Marie.”
Sloane looks confused by the name, and James narrows his eyes.
“Marie Devoroux?”he asks. “What does she have to do with this?” He turns to Realm accusingly. “What kind of shit are you into now?”
Realm winces, holding his chest before looking at him apologetically. “Not just me, James,” he says. “And it’s moving fast.”
He and James stare at each other for a long moment; Sloane is equally silent, but her expression begins to rage. When they don’t speak, she readjusts her grip on Realm, making him groan. I think she did it on purpose.
“Tell me what’s happening to you,” she demands. “Tell me right now, or I swear—”
“Poison,” Realm says, and I see James flinch. “The Treatment pill... basically poison at this point.”
James’s jaw tightens, and he and Sloane immediately turn to each other. James grabs Realm roughly and rests him against the house.
