The Arrival by CM Doporto Read Free Book Online Page A

buzzed. I rolled
out of bed.
    “Hey, it’s me,” Gaby said.  “Open up.”
    She waited outside, looking in both
directions. I guess after last night, she didn’t want to be seen coming into my
room. “Yeah, come on in.”
    She walked in with her arms crossed and
her hands tucked against her body. “So, what happened? I heard Dimas called a
meeting with you this morning.”
    “Not much, thank God.” I cast a side
glance at Kate. She always had trouble keeping things to herself.
    “Sorry, I was worried about you and what
might happen.”
    I shrugged it off. No sense getting mad.
I hesitated to tell Gaby the latest news, but it wouldn’t stay secret for long.
Besides, I had to know if she had gotten a pass, too.
    “Did he say anything about last night?”
Gaby sat on the edge of my bed, watching Kate whip strands of hair around her
fingers, forming an intricate braid that swept to the side of her face.
    “No. But I think he knows something,
because he’s sending Kate and me home for four weeks.”
    “Really?” Gaby sat up straight. “Why you?”
Her voice squeaked, and disappointment weighed heavy in her expression.
    “I’m sorry.” My heart ached for her. “I
asked if he would let us all leave, but apparently he didn’t agree.”
    “That’s okay.” Tears welled in her brown
eyes, and she quickly blinked them away.  “Anyone else getting to go?”
    “I have no idea. Kate and I were
wondering the same thing.” I felt horrible that Gaby had to stay behind. It
wasn’t fair, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to help her. I
wanted to help all of us escape Nidus.
    “When were you informed, Kate?” Gaby
asked.
    Kate paused and looked at us through the
mirror. “I found out about ten minutes after Miranda left.”
    A smiled played on Gaby’s lips. “Maybe
they haven’t contacted me yet.” She checked her digital tablet but by the expression
on her face, I knew the answer.
    “I hope they let you go, too, because
it’s not fair to you, Aliah, Jessica, Destiny, or the rest of the girls that
have been here for months.” I stopped at that, being extra cautious about the
eye and tablets around us.  
    “No, it’s not.” Gaby sighed heavily and
her shoulders slumped. “And I’ll probably never see you two again.”
    I arched a brow. “What do you mean?”
    “Oh, come on, Miranda. You both say it’s
only for a few weeks, but for all I know, they’re dismissing you for good.”
    “Gaby, we’re not lying.” I eased beside
her on my bed. “We have been given a return date of June 30th. So, I promise
you, we are coming back. In fact, Dimas warned me if I tried to run away he
would come and get me.”
    “Like that will stop you.”  She
humphed.  “I bet you’ll try it again.”
    “Uh, yeah, I don’t think so.” I had
tried to escape Nidus a month after we arrived. While running around the track
during gym class, I bolted and got jolted by an invisible fence that knocked me
out. I woke up in the Med Center, and that’s how Gaby and I got to know each other.
She cared for me, and we’d stuck together ever since.
    “She’s right.” Kate turned around. “We’re
telling the truth, Gaby.  I’ll show you the communication.” She went to her
room and came back with her digital tablet.
    It didn’t take long for Gaby’s tears to
reappear. Kate held her tablet, showing Gaby the message. Gaby shook her head,
refusing to read it. She picked up a pillow and squeezed it tightly against her
body.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Her voice
trailed off as she buried her face in the pillow. Half a minute later she
lifted her head. “I’m scared. I don’t want to die.”
    I slid my arm around her, trying to ease
her pain. “Gaby, you’re not going to die.”
    “Oh, Miranda.”  Gaby sobbed.  “You have
no idea.”
    What was going on? “What do you know,
Gaby?” I implored. “It’s okay, you can tell me.” 
    She glanced at the ceiling and the
all-seeing