Dr. Sato didn't release me from the Clinic. My door remained locked, and she alone came and went. She said I had a dangerous stomach virus that could make others sick, but to which she was immune. Yeah right.
I celebrated my eighteenth birthday with her and the few books she allowed to occupy my time. They bored me to death.
Worrying about Drake made me sick, as no one had any useful information. Missy had been mysteriously replaced by a new receptionist who knew nothing relevant.
Lucy and Luke's thoughts revealed their desperate need to reach me, but I couldn't communicate with them like I could with Drake. That still puzzled me.
Dr. Sato did allow me to keep notebooks, so I started writing everything I wanted to say to Drake in my special language. That journal became my only connection to him, or anyone else, for three long weeks.
The torture of isolation, of endless contemplation, forced me to analyze every detail of my existence at Rent-A-Kid. We often got postcards from kids who had left to start their new life, and I got care packages from my "parents." They could easily fake these, use them to keep us passive and hopeful, and from rocking the boat or questioning our lives.
It had worked.
How could I have been so gullible for so long? I had allowed myself to become the ultimate victim in every area of my life, from the Rent-A-Kid nightmare to the bullies at school or on assignment.
And what about my life goals—if I ever got to have a real life? My teachers always encouraged me to pursue linguistics and to do something with international relations. That made sense, but really, once I left here, I wanted to get as far away from this life as possible.
My life up until now had been pretty shallow. And now, just as I saw the truth, they locked me up and made me impotent. Rent-A-Kid turned me into a victim once again, unable to affect any kind of change.
Each time my mind turned toward the baby growing in my stomach, an intense and overwhelming panic took over, until I couldn't think or focus. My heart rate would skyrocket, and Dr. Sato would come in with something in a syringe that put me to sleep.
The utter betrayal and violation of having my body raped without my knowledge.... I had no way of processing this level of terror.
My purgatory ended on a day as boring as the rest, when Dr. Sato came in smiling.
"Good news. Your tests are clear and you can go. You have party waiting and friends. Then you go to New York."
"Wait, I was supposed to have another assignment before I left." I needed that assignment to connect with Brad.
"That canceled. You too sick. But okay for party."
I couldn't believe my ears, so I listened with my mind. 'Can't... disappear... friends miss her... must do party... not showing yet... must move her....'
So they would move me. But where? If only I had Drake's ability to control other people. How did he do that? And how did they catch a streetwise, super-strong guy who could control people? How had they even found him? If they could contain him, my chances of escape seemed pretty slim.
I instinctively put a hand over my abdomen; it happened a lot these days. I moved it before Dr. Sato noticed. The reasons to resent this child, this pregnancy, grew daily. Yet love grew in my heart despite it all. This baby could not be blamed for the way in which it had been conceived, and it was my job to protect it. From them. From the world.
Even the horror of its inception could not keep me from loving what Drake and I had created.
What would Drake say when he found out? If he found out? If he'd served his purpose, what would they do to him? Would they just... get rid of him? I doubted they'd let him go, but my mind refused to consider the alternative.
Dr. Sato handed me a beautiful red ball gown. It was to be a fancy affair, my fake going-away party. After a quick shower, I did up my long hair in a French twist, put on makeup and jewelry from the supplies Dr. Sato handed me, and slipped on my red heels. I was ready to make my entrance.
And my exit.
***
When Lucy and Luke saw me outside the ballroom entrance, they nearly plowed me over with hugs.
"What happened to you?" "We tried to visit but they wouldn't let us in." "Are you okay?" "We have so much to tell you."
"Wow, hold on a sec guys, one at a time. I have a confession to make. I've been spying on you. I know it goes against our friendship code, but I was so anxious to know what was happening."
Luke looked so sad it nearly made me cry. "So you know?" He reached for my hand.
I switched to our special language. "Yes, I know about the baby and about Drake."
They hugged me again—the way friends hug when words just aren't enough.
"We can talk, but we have to pretend like we're celebrating. We can't let them know we know, and we obviously need a new plan. Apparently, I won't be going on that last assignment."