Lost by Francine Pascal Page B

across the bridge of his nose and down the other side of his face. His back rose and fell slowly with his breathing. If he hadn’t looked so worked over, Gaia would have thought he was just sleeping happily, knocked out from an all-night drinking binge.
    This was not good. It wouldn’t be long before one of those previous bystanders contacted the police. The cops were probably on their way here right now. Gaia stood up quickly and reached her hand down to Sam.
    â€œWe have to get you out of here,” she said.
    He grasped her forearm and allowed her to yank him to his feet. “Why?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”
    Before she could answer him, he swayed and his knees collapsed, and she had to wrap her arms around his back to keep him from hitting the ground. His eyes rolled back momentarily, and Gaia shook him to keep him awake.
    â€œSam?” she said. She reached up and slapped him a couple of times for good measure. He blinked rapidly, and it took him a moment to focus, but he finally did.
    â€œWhoa. What was that?” he asked groggily.
    â€œYou almost passed out” Gaia said, her brow wrinkling.
    â€œOh . . . well, I haven’t exactly eaten much in the last two days,” he said weakly.
    â€œJeez!” Gaia exclaimed, covering her hand with her mouth. “What about your insulin? I totally forgot.”
    â€œActually, I have plenty,” he said, struggling for the Sharpie-like syringe he had in his pocket to demonstrate. “For some reason, back at the compound they were very generous about supplying me with insulin. I guess they wanted to keep me alive.” He sluggishly dragged the back of his arm across his forehead. “What’s the rush again?”
    â€œIt’s him,” Gaia said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder. “You really want to answer to the cops right now? Because I don’t. Besides, you think he’s the last one, but he’s not. These people mean business, trust me.”
    In fact, Gaia realized as she was standing there, still holding on to Sam, if she was smart, she wouldn’t take everything he said at face value. Loki and his men did mean business. And she couldn’t imagine them letting any prisoner get away unscathed. Was Sam telling her the truth, or had he been turned by Loki? Was he here on a mission for him? Was he here to keep an eye on her?
    â€œSo, where do we go?” Sam asked, tucking his hands under his arms.
    Gaia looked into his eyes, searching for a change. Searching for a hint of darkness, of watchfulness, of distrust. But there was nothing. Nothing but the same old Sam. Just a weakened, tired version of the guy she once loved. She had to trust him. She had to put her suspicions aside. She was just so glad that he was actually alive, how could she possibly think of anything else?
    â€œI don’t know, but you need to keep a low profile, at least until we’re sure it’s safe,” Gaia said, grabbing his bicep. She turned him toward the street, and they walked into the rain, the drops stinging her face with their force.
    â€œWell, I have no place,” Sam said. “It’s not like I can go back to the dorm.”
    â€œSo you’ll stay with me,” Gaia said, before truly taking the time to think it through. Sam turned to look at her—she could tell from the corner of her eye—but she couldn’t look back at him at that moment. She didn’t want to know what he was thinking, if he was excited or took this as some sign that she still wanted him.
    Right now she had to deal with logistics, not with emotions. And keeping Sam close by, while it did come with its own set of problems, seemed like the safest solution.
    Glutton for Punishment
    ED STOOD ON THE EDGE OF THE sidewalk in front of the school, trying ever so hard not to turn around and look each and every time the big metal doors to the school squealed open and clanged shut again. He knew