“Neither do you.” Doc neared Yaya, their faces inches apart. “But if you come to the lab, you won’t have to hurt her. We’ll find out that special thing, and there won’t be any others like Bryant Peters.”

Yaya flinched away, almost stumbling over the tub. “You picked her special, huh? Someone sweeter.”

Doc lowered her eyes.

“If it comes down to lab or murder, I’ll—” Yaya didn’t know. Her tongue ran over her teeth. She hadn’t expected Doc to trap her like this.

“If you got away from ABP, free and clear, what would you do with your life?” Doc asked. “Maybe we can work something out.”

“You have no power with them,” Yaya said.

Doc leaned in, leaving Yaya nowhere to retreat. “There’s leverage. You’re a unique specimen, and they’re probably at fault. All they need is some confirmation—”

“Have they tried Catholicism?”

“More jokes.” Doc shook her head and stepped back. “You’ll never believe me, but you don’t have Sibs. I’ve seen thousands of dossiers.” She reached for Yaya’s cleft.

Against Yaya’s will, Magenta reached one red limb between teeth and folds. It curled against Doc’s palm and slithered around her fingers. No one had ever touched Yaya with such tenderness. If she didn’t know better, she would’ve thought Magenta loved Doc.

Did she know better?

Doc had fondness in her eyes. “Does she look like death to you?” she asked, gaze fixed on Magenta’s tentacle. “Your leg was hurt and then healed within hours. You were threatened, and now Magenta protects you. You’re processing some substance or molecule that makes you sharper. How is this not healing? You’re changing into something new and beautiful and incredible, and you can do anything you want. Don’t waste your life nursing pain.”

“Is that what happened to the last one like me?” Yaya asked. “Because it sounded like you killed her and stalked off without a hitch.”

“We’ve had other unique specimens, but there’s a scale, and you’re near the top.” Doc let go of Magenta’s arm and ran a hand down her forehead. “Do you think my skin was always pale? My hair white? I was a brunette once. Do you think my eyes weren’t a fuller blue? I didn’t used to drink spiced chai and eat chili and Thai. These days, if it can’t burn holes in asphalt, my tongue hardly knows the difference between food and plastic. ABP chemicals did this, mixed with pieces of that girl from the Kentucky Incident, the last unique specimen anything like you.”