“You don’t,” he says. “Because you don’t understandwhat we’re dealing with. She appears to have the ability to physically shut off her brain and body, simulating a kind of death. Why do you think I’m focusing on efforts to wear her down mentally? Physical torture will not break her; traditional interrogation methods are useless to us. If she decides to keep a secret, she’ll take it straight to her grave—”
“If you would just let me fucking talk to her—”
“You are not as powerful as you think you are,” he shouts at me, his composure finally breaking. “And she is not as vulnerable as you think she is.”
I look away, heat flaring up my neck.
“You seem to think that just because she didn’t kill you, she cares for you,” Warner says, pouring acid into an open wound. “Let me be clear: you have not been chosen. She will not become pliable and cooperative at your behest, handing over her closely held secrets simply because you asked nicely.” He pauses. “Or have you already forgotten that when it mattered most, she didn’t hesitate to shoot you?”
I look away, equal parts angry and embarrassed. “Look, that’s not what I meant, okay? I don’t think I’m special. I didn’t mean it like that—”
“You’re going to get us all killed,” Warner says sharply, “if you continue to believe you can take a wolf home and tame it. Maybe the wolf chose to leave you breathing, but that doesn’t change the fact that it slaughtered your friends.”
I turn to the window again, flattening my hands on the frame, trying not to exhale loudly enough to betray the tremble in my breath. I want to sink through the floor. Ican’t argue with anything Warner is saying—he’s right about all of it—and yet I’m absolutely convinced that if he waits any longer to pull her out of this coma, she’s not going to survive.
“Right now,” Warner is saying, “my priority is figuring out what’s in that vial. Our team has been running tests, and so far we haven’t been able to—”
A familiar, shrill ring sounds throughout the room, and this time it’s Warner’s pager going off. He reads the missive with increasing levels of alarm.
“What is it?” Kenji asks, getting to his feet. “What’s wrong?”
Warner stands and slides the receiver out of his pocket, flipping open the razor-thin metal. An explosion of staticky sound fills the room right away, the crash and clamor of chaos echoing. “She’s awake, sir,” comes a reedy, garbled voice. “She’s awake but it’s not—it’s not normal— There’s something wrong with her. She’s out of control and we don’t know what to do—”
“Don’t sedate her,” Warner says sharply.
“But—sir—”
“Restrain her, but don’t sedate her,” he says. “I need to see this. I’ll be right there.”
Warner snaps the receiver shut.
My heart is suddenly beating so hard I don’t know whether to rip the fucking thing out of my chest or jump out the window.
“I’m coming with you,” I say.
“No way, man,” Kenji says, already reaching for his gun. He checks the magazine. “Sit down.”
“Don’t do this,” I say, my voice rising. “Don’t shut me out of this—”
“Nazeera,” Warner says. “Get things ready as much as you can. I’m not sure how this is going to end, but let’s try to be prepared.”
She nods, then walks out the room without a word.
“This is bullshit,” I say, hating the way I sound. Childish. Desperate. “You can’t just leave me here—”
“Kenji?” Warner looks at him, but Kenji’s already moving.
“I’m ready,” he says. “I just need to grab another—”
“Stay here,” Warner says.
Kenji rocks back on his heels. “What?”
“Please,” he says, glancing at his wife. Juliette offers him a bleak smile, squeezing his hand as he draws away.
“But—You should have backup—”
Warner turns to look at me, and my fists are clenched, my head crowding with pain.
