Crossing the Line Read Free

very long time. And even though I knew logically I shouldn’t trust anyone at the IDA at this point, I couldn’t help but feel better when she entered the room.
    Which was why I was relieved when she came in with Director Simmonds three days after I had arrived. Dr. March took a seat on one side of the table and indicated I should do the same. Simmonds stood behind her. His expression seemed softer toward me, but still had an underlying suspicion.
    â€œI’ve done all the tests I can think of on the Gerex you gave us,” Dr. March said. “Between that and what I’ve seen from you I can honestly say it’s like nothing I’ve ever come across before.”
    I sat up straighter. “Are you saying you can’t get me off it?”
    â€œNo, I’m pretty sure I can, but I think it’s going to be extremely difficult and painful for you.” She met my eyes briefly before continuing. “Usually, in a situation like this there are medications that help with detox and lessen withdrawal symptoms, but in this case—with a drug this strong and complex—I’m afraid to put anything new into your system.”
    â€œYou think I can be easily addicted to something else?” I asked.
    â€œI honestly don’t know,” she said. “But it’s not a risk I’m willing to take. You’ll probably have cravings for some time after your detox, but I’m looking into some alternative techniques to relieve those. Inthe meantime, if you want this, we’re going to have to do it cold.”
    â€œI can take it,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure I could. I was so close to being free I would have agreed to almost anything. “I need this out of me.”
    No one spoke for a moment. Dr. March glanced up at Simmonds, who nodded. “We’ll have you moved to the medical wing and get you started today.”
    That was when the realization slapped me in the face. I had already had my last dose of Gerex. I balled my fists to keep myself under control, and reminded myself that this was what I wanted.
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    Simmonds led me to the medical wing through a series of underground tunnels. It made sense that he would want to keep my presence a secret until he knew more, one way or the other.
    Dr. March showed me to a sterile white room, complete with a bed. She knew I had a few hours until I would feel any symptoms and left me to get settled.
    But I couldn’t settle. I paced the room anxiously, trying to push down the fear and prepare myself for what was coming. It had been years since KATO had truly denied me Gerex. I tried to convince myself that I could handle it, but it didn’t work.
    I felt the shaking start just before the pain did. Dr. March appeared shortly after the symptoms set in. She held me while I screamed until I eventually passed out from the pain and exhaustion of the struggle. I felt like my eyes had barely closed before the same excruciating burning sensation that had knocked me out jolted me back awake.
    I lost all track of time, screaming and crying and fighting tobreathe. I wanted the Gerex
desperately
, and it took everything I had not to give in—not to tear the building apart looking for the bottles I had brought in with me.
    After a while, the suffocating fire died inside me, and left me sore and aching. That was when the sweating and vomiting started. Nothing I ate stayed in my stomach. Even the water Dr. March forced into me was too much to keep down. The number of times I had fallen asleep sobbing was more than I could count. And even though I was sweating, I couldn’t seem to stop shivering. Dr. March had brought in extra blankets to try and make me as comfortable as possible, but nothing she did helped.
    Toward the end of all of it, I finally started to level out. I still craved the Gerex fiercely, but I didn’t depend on it to exist like I used to. It probably helped that my body