The Lofties (The Echelon Book 2) by Ramona Finn (no david read aloud .txt) 📕

sighed in something like relief, turned his face to the pillow. I eased his mask off, and he opened his eyes.

“Lock?”

His lips moved, but no words came. He reached for me, past me, for something beyond me. His eyes bulged, unfocused, and fluttered shut.

“What is it? What do you need?” I looked where he’d pointed and saw a shelf full of blankets, coarse woolen things, gray with age. I got one down and spread it over him. His skin still felt cold, so I got another and another. I bundled him in, covering him all the way to his chin.

“Okay to come in?” Ben poked his head through the door. I waved him over, and an older woman clutching a doctor’s bag came with him. “This is Livia,” said Ben. “She’s our medic.”

“Where’s Jasper?”

“He went with Starkey.” Ben guided me to the window, making room for Livia. “We split up after you left. This way, if they find us, they can’t kill us all. Not all at once, at least.” He glanced at my feet, and his lips quirked up. “Where are your shoes? What are you wearing?”

“We had to leave in a hurry.” I craned past him, needing to see. Livia was bent over Lock, drawing blood from his arm. His eyes were open and frightened, darting back and forth. Ben moved between us, blocking my view.

“Still, without even shoes? I didn’t notice, at first, your feet are so black.”

“My feet?” I looked down at myself, at the ruins of my finery. My dress hung in tatters, caked with dirt and blood and rust. I had mud-boots on, all the way to my knees. My left sleeve was gone, and my wrist—

“My bracelet.”

“Huh?” Ben’s brows went up. I clutched at my wrist.

“My bracelet, with the smiley face.” I snatched at my other sleeve, already knowing what I’d find—or rather, what I wouldn’t. It was gone, Ona’s bracelet, lost in the desert or drowned in the reservoir. Or Lazrad had gotten it, when she’d grabbed for my wrist. Had I felt something then? A snap? The slide of leather?

Lock cried out in pain. I shouldered past Ben and raced to his side.

“What are you doing to him?”

“Nothing now.” Livia held up an empty syringe. “I gave him a vitamin shot, but that’s all I can do. His nanobots aren’t working. Without them, he’ll die.”

“There’s nothing you can do?” I leaned over the bed, tugging Lock’s covers to his chin. “You can’t give him gretha? Or—or, Jasper had his own nanobots. You can’t give him those till we get his online?”

Livia sighed. “Gretha wouldn’t help him. Oxygen’s better, but he’s got plenty of that.” She peeled off her gloves and dropped them in the wastebasket. “As for Jasper’s nanobots, you’d have to ask him. But last I heard, they didn’t work.”

I clenched my teeth, fighting nausea. “So, how long? How long till he’s—?”

“A few days, maybe. No longer.”

I managed a stiff nod, throat closed tight. Lock had passed out, or he was resting. His skin had a bruised look where his mask had dug in. His lips were cracked at the corners, raw and wet. Ben came up behind me, and I willed him not to touch me, not here, not now. He cleared his throat instead.

“We’ll be outside,” he said. “Aunt Jetha will be back soon, so come find us when you’re ready.”

I waited till the bedroom door clicked shut, and the outside door beyond it. Then, I stretched out beside Lock. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heart. His pulse was weak, more a whoosh than a beat, and I felt for his hand under the covers.

“You’re so cold,” I whispered. I felt Lock turn his head. His chin brushed my crown, his breath ruffling my hair.

“Cold.” His hand twitched in mine. “Warmer now.”

“Don’t try to talk.” I pressed as close as I could, sharing my warmth. Lock’s shivering eased, and I felt his breathing settle. His hand slackened in mine, and I knew he was asleep.

“Remember when you held me like this?” I stroked his palm, feeling the calluses there. “Down in the vent, when I’d used up everything I had. You kept me safe. Let me sleep.”

Lock made a sound, half-hum, half-snore. He shifted against me, nuzzling into my hair.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I should’ve known, dragging you into this— If I’d just told you no, gone to Reyland on my own...” I sniffed and blinked. “I just wanted you with me, wanted someone by my side. Feels like so long, I’ve been going it alone. I thought with you there—” I buried my face in his shoulder. I felt numb inside, like his chill had crept into me.

“It’s my fault you’re like this.”

Lock lay quiet, submerged in sleep. I let his silence and the thin rasp of his breathing accuse me. Tears stung my eyes, and I closed them. I lay and listened to Lock’s heartbeat till I dozed off myself. When I woke, the sky was red, the sun going down over the valley. Lock was still sleeping, curled into my side. I stood up and left him there, careful not to disturb him.

“You should be home,” I said. “Somewhere safe, with your family. You never deserved this.”

Lock murmured in his sleep. I turned and fled, my guilt threatening to smother me. I ran out into the sunset and into Ben’s arms. He caught me as I stumbled and steadied me on my feet.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” I stepped back, self-conscious, brushing at my skirts. “Were you waiting for me?”

“No. Sort of. Yes.” He turned away from me, a strange expression on his face. “I’m glad you’re here. When you left, part of me thought I’d never see you again.”

When I’d left. It felt like just yesterday I’d kissed Ben goodbye. Just yesterday, and in another lifetime. I knew I should say something, but nothing came to mind. I closed my eyes instead, and I saw Lock down the mine, laid out