"She's stopped it," Dr. Inglis said.
I opened my eyes and saw her staring at me. When I looked down at my hands, they'd gone back to normal. The rage had evaporated.
Dr. Inglis bent in front of me. "That was excellent, Maya. Can you tell me how you reversed the process?"
Nast brushed her aside. "That's not important. Tell us what happened, Maya. You got angry, didn't you? I could see it."
I looked at him, then turned to Dr. Inglis. "I'd like to leave now."
"You'll leave when--" Nast began.
"Yes, I think that's a good idea," said a voice behind us.
I turned to see Antone in the doorway, his hand still on the knob, his breath coming fast, like he'd been running. Moreno stood behind him.
Nast rose. "If you want to watch this discussion, Calvin, the video feed is active."
"I've been watching." He walked in. "Under the terms of our agreement, sir, I am allowed to veto any treatment of my daughter. I'm going to ask that you allow me to cut this interview short. It's been too much for her and the strain is clearly showing."
"That isn't strain," Nast said. "She's reverting. You know it and I know it, and coddling the girl isn't going to change that."
As they argued, Dr. Inglis tried to reassure Antone, verbally tripping over herself. Behind him, Moreno rolled his eyes and shot a smirk my way, as if we were sharing some secret.
Finally, Nast agreed they were done with the interview anyway, so Antone could take me. He led me out as Moreno stayed behind to talk to Nast.
"You started to shift, didn't you?" Antone whispered as we walked down the hall.
I considered ignoring him, but that seemed petty. Not just petty but unwise. What's that saying about the fire and the frying pan? Antone was my frying pan. It wasn't a comfortable place to be, but it was safe, at least compared to the fire.
"I did."
"I know what they were saying wasn't easy to hear, but you didn't seem that angry."
&nb
sp; "I wasn't. Not until . . ."
"Until what? Did they say something to trigger it?"
"I . . . I don't think so. I was okay. And then . . . and then I wasn't. I don't know how to explain--"
"Calvin!"
Pumps clicked on the hardwood as Dr. Inglis jogged toward us. Antone looked back, then turned away and kept walking.
"Calvin, please."
He slowed until she caught up.
"I'm so sorry about--" she began.
He stopped so abruptly she fell back. "You were supposed to be in there for me. In my stead. Watching out for my daughter's interests."
"I--"
"I trusted you, Maggie, and when things went wrong, you were right in there, pushing Maya as hard as he was."
Her mouth opened and closed, and she stared up at him with . . . Oh God. I recognized that look. Any teenage girl did.