“You will. You told me yourself, eleven days ago, that you could do it in your sleep. So do it.” She placed her hand on the scanner and waited for the beep before swinging open the door.

Inside, the room was quiet and dark. Everyone was already asleep. I tiptoed in and stood by my bunk. A shower sounded lovely but might wake everyone up.

I collapsed on my thin mattress and closed my eyes. Tomorrow was everything. It could change my life. Or be the end of any hope I had left.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I finished the last bite of my breakfast and nodded to Ahiga and Santiago. “Later.”

Ahiga gave me a long look. I wasn’t sure what it meant exactly. To be careful? I was going to do my best. I just hoped that whatever message he’d sent to the Aunare made it.

There was nothing either of us could say to each other, not here, so I got up and walked away.

“Chica!” Santiago called before I got to the end of the table.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “What?” I yelled back.

“Be careful out there. Pace yourself. Stronger Together.” Santiago had become my big brother on Abaddon, yelling to anyone who would hear him that my job was total bullshit, but he didn’t realize there was nothing anyone could do about it. He didn’t know that I was going to try to fix this whole mess today.

“Stronger Together,” I said back to him and started down the aisle.

“Stay safe!” Someone yelled out, and one of the guys from my classes waved at me. I couldn’t remember his name, but he was nice.

“Going to do my best.”

I’d taught classes five times so far, and that had gained me some friends. Because I was doing such an unusually shitty job that ended with me at the medic after almost every workday, more and more people seemed to be looking out for me. Or maybe they were just wondering how long I’d survive. I was pretty sure someone on the base was taking bets.

Audrey came out from the kitchen, meeting me halfway to the trash. Ready for her shift, she was wearing a pair of navy scrubs with her hair in a tight bun. The rest of the girls from my bunk were in the kitchen, too. They felt like they could relax back there and not worry about who was coming up behind them, which was totally understandable once I heard some of their stories.