“You were with Lennon Rose,” she says. She must have seen us out the window.
Marcella’s attention snaps up, and Brynn quickly puts the computer aside. She looks hopeful, and it sinks my heart.
“Is she coming up?” Brynn asks.
Just then, Sydney walks out from the bedroom, clearly having overheard. I’m sad when I have to shake my head no.
“She’s not,” I tell Brynn. “She … She had to return the car to her friend.”
Brynn looks momentarily comforted at the idea of Lennon Rose having friends in this outside world. And although I know that’s not the reason Lennon Rose didn’t come inside, it seems cruel to say that I have no idea why Lennon Rose doesn’t want to see them. Especially with the information I’m about to relay.
“Can you all sit down?” I ask, motioning toward the couch. Marcella’s eyes widen with concern, her posture rigid as she makes room for the other girls to sit. I take the chair across from them, and Sydney notices the book on my lap.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“First,” I say, resting my hand on top of the poems, “I have some information. And honestly, a lot has happened today.”
“Since school let out?” Sydney asks, pretending to check a watch.
“Yeah,” I say, letting her know it’s serious. “And I’m not even sure where to start.…”
“All of it,” Marcella says. “Just spill it all.”
Annalise leans forward, her elbows on her knees. I wish I had good news.
“I saw Jackson today at the game,” I say. “He flew out here to talk to me.”
“It’s about time,” Marcella mutters.
“What did he say?” Brynn asks timidly. “I, um … I told him where you were.”
I smile. “I know,” I reply. “And it’s okay.” She looks relieved.
“He’s been worried about you,” she adds. “He’s missed you.”
“Yeah,” I say. “He told me that, too.”
Brynn’s eyes glass over as she smiles. “I’m glad he said it. I bet you needed to hear it.”
“This is about Jackson?” Sydney asks as if I’ve overreacted in calling a house meeting.
“No,” I tell her. “It’s about what he said. He discovered more paperwork in his mother’s things.”
“What kind of paperwork?” Sydney asks.
“He’s not entirely sure,” I say. “He’s coming by later to drop it off, but he thinks … He thinks it means the doctors gave us an … expiration date.”
The girls are quiet for a moment.
“You’re saying they installed a kill switch?” Annalise asks. Brynn gasps and grabs Marcella’s hand.
“I don’t know,” I say. “But Jackson interpreted the paperwork to mean that our systems will shut down at seven years. They planned to kill us so the sponsors would have to upgrade. Get newer models.”
The girls are horrified as they stare at me, unable to respond, until finally, Sydney touches her throat. “Do you think that’s true?” she asks.
“I honestly don’t know,” I say. “But I hope not. And even if … Even if they did that to us, it might be something Raven can reverse,right?” I ask, looking at Annalise. And it just hits me now, putting those words out where the girls can hear the true terror behind them.
They put a kill switch in our heads. Maybe Dr. Groger was right when he told us we wouldn’t get far.
