“Rebecca!” He grabs my arm, and I jerk away.
“Don’t touch me!”
“They’re going to come back!”
“Good! We’re done here.”
“Please!” He’s pleading now. “Just stop and listen! You don’t understand how this works. I’m sorry. I don’t have much control over myself right now.”
I pull away, but he wrecks me with the expression on his face. My heart erupts in the storm that rages every time we’re close. I love him so much I don’t even know how to say it.
“I know you want to hate me,” he says, but he couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m ready to tell him that when the door bursts open.
Guards rush in and grab both of us as the scene plays out in a blur. Daniel curses. I’m pulled from the room and struggle against their grips. Pain. My arms smart from the pressure of fists around them.
“Calm down, miss. Are you okay?”
I still when I sense I’m not the one in danger, and the man lets me go once we’re in the hallway.
“We got here as fast as we could. Did he hurt you?”
Did he hurt me? What? I open my mouth to respond. But what? I asked for them to come. I wanted out. To punish Daniel for his silence, his resignation, his betrayal. My tongue freezes, my skin tingling with anxiety. Something isn’t right, though. I made a mistake. Yes, I’m the one who messed up.
The scene spirals back into focus, and I charge into the room where they have Daniel pinned against the wall.
“Stop it! Stop!” I scream, rushing at them.
Stunned by my interference, they let go and Daniel falls to the floor. I ignore everything except my dazed roommate who’s already suffered several blows. I’m a monster.
“Daniel?”
His gaze shifts to mine, and I shoot a furious look at the guards. “He didn’t hurt me,” I spit at them.
“Well, he shouldn’t have resisted. He attacked Foley.”
I continue to glare at them. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Give us a minute.”
“That’s not a good idea. He could be dangerous.”
“I’m not worried about that. Go!”
We’re all surprised at the venom in my command. It’s enough to send them away again, and I turn back to Daniel who’s managed to push himself up to a sitting position. He coughs and wipes at some of the blood on his face with his sleeve. His eyes rest on me, and my conscience screams its apologies.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.
I reach for one of the fresh welts on his face and gasp.
“What is it?” he asks. “Another vision?”
I nod slowly, mesmerized by the scene. He lets me watch, but it doesn’t play out as expected. I have no idea what to do with it. For all his strength, I don’t know how he’ll handle this one.
“Rebecca?”
I draw in a breath and scan his broken face, the pain I’ve caused. How can I possibly injure him again? That I’ve fallen in love with him is obvious. How I’ll survive the reality is the question.
“I saw the surgery,” I whisper, taking his arm and running my fingers along the scar under his sleeve. He doesn’t move. “There were no implants.”
He pales and shakes his head.
