Page 94 of First Verse

A clinical touch and unfamiliar voice.

“Whatever he told you… these are severe withdrawals. Blood pressure… dangerous…”

Hands holding me down as I writhe.

The pinch of a needle.

Darkness again.

Everywhere.

* * *

Katherine’s voicein my ear—maybe in my head.

“Find the light, Wilder.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

wilder

I’m surrounded by light so bright my eyes water uncontrollably. But I don’t think this is what Katherine meant.

This light is from a merciless sun beating down on the California desert. Directly in front of me sprawls a single-story building of darkly reflective glass and beige stucco. My apparent home for the next ninety days.

My body is feeble, my head spiky static, my heart a chasm. The last two weeks are a grainy smear of ash and fire, the flight and car ride here a blur, the goodbye to my parents a few minutes ago almost forgotten.

I don’t know if I’m lucid or in the grip of an endless nightmare.

A man stands just outside the entrance. He’s wearing a suit but doesn’t look stiff, and he has pale, intelligent blue eyes. There’s no pity in them. No judgment, either. Just calm assurance and a hint of anticipation, like he knows something I don’t and looks forward to sharing it with me.

“Welcome to Oasis, Wilder. My name is Dr. Chastain.” With a soft smile, he gestures toward the door. “Ready?”

My sweaty fingers clench around the strap of my duffel bag.

Am I ready?

Yes.

No.

Maybe?

Fuck it.

I force my weak legs to carry me forward. “Yeah, Doc. I’m ready for air conditioning.” I eye his dark suit. “How are you not boiling right now?”

He chuckles. “I’m used to it.”

As he opens the door, cool air rushes out. Goosebumps roll over my damp, pallid skin. I manage two more steps, but my body jerks to a stop on the threshold.

I’m suspended between light and shadow, between the toxic, clinging webs of the past and the vast, terrifying unknown.

“Do you need help?” asks a low, kind voice.

My chin jerks. A hand settles on my shoulder. “One step at a time, Wilder. Together.”

Deep in my darkness, a small, fragile light flickers to life.

And we walk inside.

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