Page 160 of Everdoll

“Care comes without conditions, Miss Olind.”

This time, it was Mina who laughed.

“Forgive me, but it’d be foolish of me not to take advantage of an opportunity like this.”

“Opportunity? What do you want from me?”

She glanced around the darkened street. As she took a slow, measured step toward me. I swallowed hard, pressing a finger to my throat to feel my pulse. I needed to know this was really happening.

She walks to me. Her body is getting closer. Mina is close.

Raising her gaze, she drank me in, and I could only shiver under it.

“I want every document Eleanor Kern has kept regarding sleeping pills. As her son, you must know something. You’re going to give me an interview.”

The gravity on her face almost made me let out a laugh.

“All the records were destroyed in the fire. You know that very well, too.”

“Oh, yes, I know. But I also know you were taking those damn pills, too. And it’s a mystery why you didn’t mutate like the others.”

To be honest, I’d expected her to start questioning me about the past and the clones once more. But why was she so fixated on it?

“I know nothing. I’m sorry.

“You’re so annoying.”

“I truly don’t know anything.”

She stared for a while, then sighed. “Goodnight, then.”

“Wait.”

I called out to her without thinking. She halted and was now studying me curiously. “Why?” I asked. “Why are you so interested in this?”

At my words, she strode toward me once more. The distance between us withered away, and I curled my trembling hands into fists, burying them in my pockets. Mina had always been shorter than me, and in that moment, looking down at her, being pinned by those wide, bright eyes that refused to flinch, I felt the blood rush through me.

“Because I don’t want to make the same mistakes. I couldn’t be there for you, but there are still people I can protect.”

Hearing her warm voice, my face winced.

“Protect? In this state?”

She irritated. “What’s my state?”

“You’re weak, Mina. We’re all weak.”

Her jaw tightened. She retorted sharply, her voice controlled to keep it from trembling. “No matter what, I’ll help others. I’ll believe in hope. It doesn’t concern you anyway. I’m leaving now.”

Just as she was about to turn away again, I quickly shouted, “I have a reason. There’s a reason I stopped fighting… That’s why I’m telling you.”

“Oh, who’s surprised, Raymond? You always have a reason. You used to say that all the time. ‘I have a reason. Trust me.’ And I did. I always trusted you. But not anymore.”

She tilted her head, her eyes low. “I’ll never trust your words again, Mr. Loxton.”

The first to break eye contact, I looked away. “You better be.”

As I sensed her footsteps were fading away, I closed my eyes in a silent farewell. I wanted to flee that place immediately, but no longer because I wished to replay this day over and over in my mind; the sweet adrenaline had given way to pure grief.