I don’t let Taggart and Monarch know I’m following them. I stay silent and duck into the shadows. I can hear them talking, hushed whispers, sounds I know were not made to be heard. When I reach the hospital wing, the door is shut. I shouldn’t open it. Monarch’s already upset with me and barging in is only going to upset him more.

But I do it anyway.

Another slip up. Another mark against me.

Monarch’s eyes go wide as he rushes for me, pushing me out the door. “Kayla, what are you doing? You can’t be here right now.”

My feet stay firmly planted. “What’s going on?” My eyes land on Taggart, leaning over the bed Maci lies in. Her eyes are closed, her skin pale, and heart beat missing.  “She died? The medicine didn’t help?”

Monarch’s eyebrows furrow. “What? No, Kayla. Maci’s fine.”

I’m not sure what to think, since I can’t hear her heart. But I can’t point it out, since no one knows this little secret of mine. “What about you?” I glance at his unsteady hands. “Is there something wrong with you?”

He shakes out his hands. “My old age must be catching up to me.” A pause. “Taggart was just helping me move Maci to a new bed.”

“What’s wrong with the bed she’s in?” I ask.

“It needs to be sterilized,” he answer, then frowns. “Kayla, what’s the matter with you? You never ask so many questions. Is there something you want to tell me? Anything at all.” He leans in and lowers his voice. “Whatever it is, I’ll understand.”

I rub my temples, listening to three hearts beat, wondering why I can’t hear Maci’s. “I don’t know.” Sweat dews my skin and the door starts to bleed. I blink, seeing red. I rub my eyes and blink again, but only a red door.

“Oh no, not now.” Monarch words rush me as he trips to the cabinet and takes out a bottle. He quickly jabs a needle into it and sucks out the purple liquid. He moves the needle for my arm.

I pull back. “What are you doing?”

“Kayla, we go through this every time,” Monarch says. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to help you.”

Monarch. This is Monarch. I let him press the needle into my arm and pump my blood with medicine until I can breathe again.

“Better?” he asks and I nod. “Good, now go to room and lie down for a while.”

I nod again and turn for the door, no more questions clogging my brain.

Monarch catches me by the shoulder. “Just relax, Kayla. I know it’s hard, but I need you to keep it together for a little bit longer. ”