The Isle by Jordana Frankel Page A

out.”
    Callum grins sheepishly.
    â€œA real, live Fountain of Youth,” I murmur. “Just like in the stories.”
    â€œWell, I haven’t found anything to suggest the water can reverse human aging, but as Ren learned, Derek’s been alive for centuries.”
    At the mention of Derek’s name, Ren glances at her cuffcomm. She stifles her sigh, but we both see how worried she is.
    â€œThen why isn’t everyone you gave the cure to immortal?” I ask.
    â€œI filtered out any unidentifiable phytonutrients when making it. I left only the antitumorals and the antivirals, I was so terrified.”
    â€œEven if you hadn’t, the immortality isn’t a permanent side effect,” Ren says. “Derek needs to drink the water every day or he’ll turn into a corpse.”
    Callum lowers himself slowly onto the corner of his desk. “Unbelievable,” he whispers, scratching his cheek. After a few moments of awe, he shakes his head. “Well, maybe they wouldn’t have become immortal, but they would definitely have had a hard time dying—at least until the water was no longer in their system. I’ve identified more than one phytonutrient responsible for regeneration.”
    I nearly jump out of my skin at the word. Nudging Ren withmy bandaged wrist, I lean into her ear so only she can hear me. “Could it help? Would Callum give me some? Maybe if I drink more, my hands really will come back.”
    Ren turns and says, “What do you think, Doc? Can we give Aven a dose or two?”
    â€œI don’t see why not.” Callum stands and pulls out an eyedropper from a drawer. He fills it with water from the tank, then pinches the water free into an empty vial.
    He passes the vial to me. Too late, he remembers that I can’t hold it.
    Ren takes it. Bringing it to my lips, she says, “Drink up.” I tip my head back and, slowly, she pours it into my mouth.
    When it’s all gone, I smack my lips together. “Yum.” Just like when Derek gave it to me, I feel a jolt, a surge of electricity powering up my veins and my muscles and my bones. “Whoa,” I say, going a little cross-eyed.
    â€œWhat is it?” Callum asks, taking the glass back.
    â€œNothing bad . . . it gives me a buzz. I feel strong.”
    He replaces the glass in a drawer and turns to me. “The phytonutrients are going to work. I believe one of them switches on the chain of proteins responsible for regeneration. It’s a good sign. Now, we just have to wait.”
    Callum yawns, shaking himself awake. “On that note, ladies, let me show you to your room?”
    Ren and I share a secret look of excitement. Callum will have a bed for us, he has to—we won’t be sleeping on just a mattress tonight.
    He sees our not-so-secret look and grins, gesturing towardthe door. “After me,” he says.
    As he leads us out of the lab and back through the corridor, the water speeds through my veins. I feel invincible.
    â€œWe can talk about the prisoners tomorrow too, right?”
    Ren sighs. “That’s a pretty big conversation,” she says. Her tone worries me.
    â€œAven, why don’t you go ahead—last door on the right. Ren, if you’re up to it, I can draw some blood now?”
    â€œFine,” Ren heaves, hanging her head dramatically in the middle of the hallway. “Let’s get it out of the way.”
    Callum chuckles as she kisses me on the forehead. “I’ll be there in two shakes, but you go to sleep. Don’t wait for me,” she says.
    â€œI won’t.” I peck her cheek in return.
    At the last room I nearly faint. In the corner is a massive, four-poster bed topped off with clean white blankets. I rush for it. Plopping down and finding myself actually bouncing, I deem this mattress more than acceptable.
    On the night table, under the lamp, lays a sleek black cuffcomm. Looking closer, I see my name’s