He seemed to be waiting, watching me for a reaction. But I wasn’t sure what to say. His twisted logic chilled me, yet inspired some sympathy, too. I mean, going to the gallows for someone you loved was tragic.
“I’m sorry that you died and everything,” I said after what seemed like a long stretch of silence. “The DDT will be here any minute.”
“You shouldn’t have contacted them.”
“You shouldn’t have taped me up.”
“I did it for your own good. In one hundred and twenty years, you are my only failure. I regret not helping you, Sharayah,” he said sadly.
Then a shift took place in his expression, as if he was realizing something he’d forgotten until now. “But you aren’t Sharayah. Are you?”
I hesitated, then shook my head.
“Who are you?”
Lying seemed a waste of time, so I went with the truth. “Amber.”
“A Temp Lifer?” he guessed.
“Yes. Sent to repair the damage you did to Sharayah by letting her think she’d killed you. What really happened that night?”
“I was getting ready to give my speech about deceitful love. After that I always walked away, knowing they’d be wiser now. Only Sharayah ruined it and I fell. I missed the rocks but suffered bad cuts. Do you know what happens to Dark Lifers if they bleed?”
“They can’t stay in the body very long.”
“Right, and have to immediately find a new one,” he explained. “I hitched a ride and switched with the guy who picked me up. Unfortunately, the car was a hot one and I got arrested. I spent three stinking, disgusting, humiliating weeks in jail.”
“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”
“Not sympathy, but respect for my attempts to reach you. I never gave up trying to find you, even though it took weeks. Finally I found you in San Jose and slipped into the body of a young man residing in a nearby dorm.”
Something clicked. “Was his name Caleb, and did he go out with a girl named Katelyn?”
“Very good,” he said, impressed.
“What about the real Gabe?” I asked. “Is he really paralyzed?”
“I’m the only real Gabe — my name is Gabriel Deverau — but I suppose you mean the body I used when I dated Sharayah. What was his real name?” He touched his chin thoughtfully. “Well, no matter. He only has a few memories of my time in his body. Aside from some cuts and confusion, he walked away to resume his safe, boring life. And now I must resume my lives, too.”
I cringed at his use of “lives” plural. He was a menace and would keep breaking hearts unless he was stopped. Still, I was relieved that he didn’t have any plans to drown me.
“The DD Team will never catch me,” he said as he started up the stairs.
“You’re just leaving?” I cried, thrashing my bound hands and legs. “What about me?”
“The DD Team can set you free.”
Then he was gone.
22
Oh, great.
I’d lied to Gabe so convincingly that he’d left without untaping me.
Still, I could turn my “lie” into the truth easily enough.
Bending sideways, I reached for my GEM again.
It took awhile to push it out of my pocket with just my fingertips, but after a lot of groaning and twisting, I was rewarded with a thump on the floor. The GEM flipped over twice, then fell open to a beautiful blank page.
Before I’d finished asking for the DD Team and explaining where I was, there was a startling flash and four members of the DD Team, wearing business suits, squished into the tiny cabin. Gabe must be high on their Wanted, Dead and Alive list for them to send in four team members.
They didn’t waste any time, either, uncoiling their silver ropes as they surrounded me. Their rapid-fire questions made me dizzy: What did the Dark Lifer look like? Did he give a name? Where did he go? I did my best to answer but I couldn’t tell them much. And I grew increasingly uncomfortable, squished like a badly wrapped gift against the bench cushions.
Finally I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Enough questions!” I interrupted. “Would someone please untape me?”
* * *
A short time later, wearing only one shoe and the clothes from Gabe, I hobbled back to Club Revolution.
About a mile away, I felt the vibrations in the air and the ground and saw the beautiful sight of bright lights blazing against the backdrop of the dark, misty night.
Then I turned a corner and saw the most wonderful sight in the entire world.
Eli — running toward me.
I ran, too, so full of emotion that I didn’t even think about what I looked like or who I was when I threw my arms around him.
“I’m so glad to see you!” I cried, burying my face in his jacket.
“Amber! I’ve been searching everywhere and was ready to call the police. Where have you been?”
I shook my head, too tired and cold to think about anything except how good it felt to be in his arms.
“You’re freezing. Here, take my coat,” he offered.
But I shook my head, remembering Gabe/Dyce giving me his jacket. “Just hold me,” I whispered. “Oh, Eli! I’m so glad to be back with you.”
“What happened?”
“It was Dyce … I mean Gabe. He-he lied and then tried to kidnap me.” I held out my hands, which were raw and red under the shining street lights.
“Bastard! Where is he? I’ll go there and—”
“And what?” I almost laughed at his ferocious tone; it was like he was a Chihuahua ready to take on a wolf, which was so sweet that I almost cried. “It’s okay now. He’s gone for good.”
“Are you all right? Should we call the police?”
“Already taken care of,” I said, not having the energy to go into all the details.
“But what happened? I don’t understand any of this.”
“I’ll explain later,” I promised. “Now I just want to be held.”
And kissed, I thought.
He must have been thinking the same thing, because he pulled me closer and tipped my chin, his touch so gentle, making me feel safe and warm. Not the tingling thrill of Gabe’s touch, but so much more real and honest. I could trust Eli with my life and my heart. You’re wrong about love, Gabe, I thought.
Smiling for the first time in hours, I looked into Eli’s eyes and lifted my lips toward his — until we heard a gasp and jumped apart.
Turning around, I saw Sadie staring at us with the most disgusted look I’d ever seen on her face.
“Ohmygod, Rayah!” she exclaimed. “Kissing your own brother! That’s just sick!”
* * *
It took some fast talking, but Sadie eventually believed that we weren’t kissing (which was true, since she’d so rudely interrupted) and that Eli was just comforting me because I’d been kidnapped. Showing Sadie my bruised wrists and ankles added proof.
After that, things were kind of a blur. Sadie talked a lot, relieved I wasn’t going to call the police, then told me she’d run into Warren but he’d blown her off. She’d called him some appropriate names and told him where he could go. Then she met a new guy who was way better than Warren, anyway.
When I asked about Mauve, Sadie shrugged and said she was back with Alonzo. Apparently, for the first time in Mauve’s history, she was trying monogamy. I had my doubts but hoped it worked for her.
Eli wanted me to stay with him at his friends’ house but I didn’t want to have to make small talk with strangers. He promised to pick me up early (in about six hours) for the Voice Choice audition, then he dropped me off at the crappo condo.