Page 37 of Forged in Deception

“Everyone, preserve silence, please!” Bajwa called out loudly. The sharp sound of his voice hurt Karlin’s ears in the echo-filled room.

Everyone fell quiet immediately. Satisfied, Bajwa ducked out of the room and out into the darkening evening, followed moments later by Tourmaline.

Karlin waited for the others to pack up the remainder of their things. She watched in horror as Axel rolled his book up and stuffed it in his back pocket before heading over to stand beside her. Unfortunately, Paul was standing too close to them for her to mention her plans for his placebo dose.

“Nervous for tonight?” he whispered.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Being around a book abuser is a little unsettling, yes.”

Axel laughed out loud, eliciting a loud shush from Cora.

“Seriously, are you okay?” Axel asked, barely loud enough to be heard.

Karlin realized then that her hands had begun to shake. She was nervous, but she had to get a grip. Her patients were depending on her to be focused and to keep them safe.

Axel reached out and grasped her hand in his own, giving it a quick squeeze. Paul raised an eyebrow in their direction, but said nothing.

She wanted to yank her hand away before anyone else saw their touch, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to do it, not with the way that butterflies had begun dancing around in her stomach.

Everything was going to be fine.

Axel was going to find the evidence that she needed to take Senera down.

And somehow, she’d find another job and she’d be able to get John his PTSD dog and everything else he needed.

She knew what it had felt like to lose him, even momentarily, and it was the worst thing she’d ever gone through.

She would do whatever it took to help him.

No matter what.

ASHER

“Now, everyone, it’s time to close your eyes.”

Asher obeyed Bajwa’s command, pressing his eyelids firmly shut as he listened.

The man was chanting some incomprehensible gibberish, so far as Asher could tell, and it wasn’t easy to pay attention. Especially after spending the entire day doing basically the same thing. The only difference was that they were now in a rustic-looking hut instead of a modern yoga studio, and they had high school principal Bajwa instead of hippie fairy Tourmaline guiding them.

Asher let his mind wander to thoughts of Karlin’s hand in his and of how nervous she’d looked. He wanted so badly to comfort her and reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

He knew that she’d be awake most of the night monitoring the others–they’d all be sleeping here after taking the drug–and he hoped that they might get even a few minutes alone. He’d just have to stay awake himself rather than dying of boredom.

After what felt like forever, Bajwa finally stopped talking and allowed the group to open their eyes.

Cora looked eager for what was coming next, as did Lily. Paul looked almost lost, and Destiny was visibly praying.

Asher watched as Karlin picked up a tray of small cups filled with a green science-experiment-looking liquid and began handing them out one by one. Each of them had a white prescription sticker stuck to the glass. He felt her fingers brushing against his own as he took his cup and thanked her in a whisper.

She didn’t allow her gaze to linger on him before moving on, but he could notice the slight shaking in her hands had begun again.

He glanced down at the contents of the cup. It was obviously some kind of fake dose, but he still felt his own nerves acting up. Sure, he’d be sober instead of tripping on some crazy experimental drug, but he would have to be on full alert if he was going to ensure that no one else realized it. Especially Bajwa, who’d surely be paying close attention.

Finally, everyone had their cups, and Karlin took her seat again next to Bajwa.

“It’s time,” he said, giving everyone a gentle smile. “Drink up, and close your eyes.”

CHAPTER

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