Terror Read Free Page A

which meant he’d hit a nerve. He exhaled. “Please, at the very least, do your uncle the favor of lowering your voice in public. I don’t think it
that
odd to want a little privacy for our conversation. Do you? I assure you that it’s not an uncomplicated matter. So let’s just sit on a stoop here or maybe walk to a quiet coffee shop if you want where we can discuss things.”
    â€œSorry,” Gaia said. “But it’s not a good time.”
    â€œAre you going to St. Vincent’s?” Oliver asked.
    â€œNo…,” she said. “Maybe. Why does that matter?”
    â€œMaybe it doesn’t,” Oliver said. “I don’t know. I just want a few minutes of your time.”
    â€œWhich I’ve already granted,” Gaia snapped, looking at her watch again. “As I said before, I’m late. And this person is not in the best of health.”
    Oliver felt himself boiling over. He grabbed Gaia by both shoulders. He stared into her eyes, hoping to mesmerize her. “Whoever it is can wait a few more minutes. It’s not Jake, is it?”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Gaia said. Oliver sensed she was slipping away. “Look, you can send me an e-mail as soon as you know more details about this new enemy on the streets. That’s the best way to get ahold of me. E-mail.”
    Gaia started to walk away.
She needs to hear this,
Oliver thought. His instincts told him to grab her, but reason took hold. He hustled in front of her and started walking alongside her. “You have two options. You can leave the city now or go into the thick of battle with an unknown, yet populous army. Take your pick.”
    â€œLeave. Me. Alone.”
    â€œI can’t,” Oliver said. “I don’t know what it is, but I sense that you’re particularly vulnerable right now. You have to watch your back.”
    â€œI will.”
    Oliver was suddenly consumed by urgent rage. His eyes widened, and he stepped toward Gaia. It took some mental control to keep from literally shaking sense into her. “Ignoring this warning could be suicide, Gaia. Don’t do it.”
    â€œMessage received. Danger duly noted. But I really have to go, Oliver. And if you don’t stop harassing me, I’m going to run.”
    â€œDon’t do that.” Oliver felt the breath forcing its way out of his nostrils. His patience was almost used up. He was on the verge of getting extremely pissed, and once he got to that point, there was no telling what he’d do. Apparently sensing this fact, Gaia took off in a sprint. Oliver’s instincts took over and he ran after her. But just as he was beginning to bridge the gap, he realized how ridiculous he was being.
What am I going to do, tackle her?
    Oliver shuffled to a stop. He looked around him to make sure there were no significant witnesses. No cops. Watching her sprint away, he considered following her. But he couldn’t. A full-speed chase through the Village would have been more than just a little suspicious.
Damn it!
Oliver kicked a metal trash can. A stuffed bag flew out and the can rolled to the bottom of the curb, then back and forth in a semicircle. When had Gaia turned into such a jittery ball of nerves? Why was she being so defensive? Stupid girl. It was just a matter of time before those fake agents got to her, and then she’d be wishing she’d skipped town with her uncle. When they turned her into their personal lab rat, she’d be wishing she hadn’t been such a stupid, insolent little brat.

Perfectly Content
    GAIA RAN TOWARD HER ADOPTED nonhome, the Collingwood Residency Hall—or “the bunker,” as she had taken to calling it. She couldn’t go see Ed and Kai now. Oliver would definitely follow her. Not to mention, according to him, the streets were crawling with some invisiblenew enemy. And she had to admit, the few people she’d run by did seem oddly menacing. It