Oh, God. Do I? My head aches. The desperation that made my feet run faster explodes through my brain as I search for every uploaded memory.
"Yes, Kara. I remember them all." I inch closer to her, trying to buy time, looking into her eyes like the whole universe is there, when all I see is a dead wasteland. Our time on the bridge finally flashes through my head, along with every word she ever recited to me. "Cummings. You loved Cummings. Yeats. Whitman." I'm breathless, trying to hide my desperation from her.
She smiles like she's amused. "Whitman." She nods satisfaction. "Then you remember this one?" she whispers. "Has anyone supposed it lucky to be born? I hasten to inform him that it is just as lucky to die, and I know it."
"No, Kara." I shake my head. "That's not what--"
"We never got to say good-bye to anyone, Locke. I'm giving Jenna far more than she gave to us."
"This isn't right, Kara. You know somewhere deep inside of you it's not right."
"Inside?" She stares at me, her pupils pulsating like they're trying to adjust to the light. "Have you seen what's in
side of me, Locke? Deep inside all I have is BioPerfect. And one small hole that's waiting for justice."
I hear a door slam. I turn and see Jenna and Allys jumping out of the truck--and in the distance Gatsbro's car racing up the hill too. I pray it's Miesha inside and not him. I'm running out of time.
Kara reaches down and scoops Kayla up in her arms. Her small body flops lifelessly.
"She's beautiful, isn't she? No wonder Jenna loves her so."
Jenna reaches my side, staring at Kayla in Kara's arms, looking at Kara's feet so close to the edge of the cliff. Her lips tremble. She lifts a hand out toward them, but when Kara inches away, she pulls it back in a fist. "Please. My God. Please."
Kara smiles. "You have no idea how many times I uttered those same exact words, Jenna. All those years, I hoped someone would come and save me. Someone would come and take my hand and walk me out of the darkness. My best friend, maybe?"
"Kara." Tears flow down Jenna's face. "You were my best friend. I tried to save you, but I couldn't. I was only seventeen, but I never forgot. Never. When I had Kayla--" Her words come in sobs. "Kayla," she whispers. "Her name. It was for you, Kara. You and Lily and Locke. Pieces of your names so that every time I looked at her--" Her voice chokes.
Kara looks down at Kayla in her arms. Her eyes scan the length of her body. She gently brushes a strand of hair from Kayla's face. Her head tilts to one side and then she looks up at Jenna. "I made the perfect choice, then, didn't I? If I wanted to destroy you, she would be the way." Her pupils contract to pinpoints.
I take a chance and step closer. "Please, Kara, come with me. Let's go back to the house. We still have a life to live," I whisper.
"We're not people, Locke. There is no life to live. We're only the memories of a boy and girl who lived a long time ago. Memories housed in look-alike bodies. Kara's dead. She died a long time ago." She talks like she has already detached herself from Kara, like she is talking about someone else
"No, Kara. We made it. We're alive."
"It was her fault. She was driving. If any part of her still exists, it deserves to die too."
"No. I need you. I still--"
"My lovely Kara."
I jerk my head to the side. Gatsbro is just feet from me right behind the spider, his hand extended to Kara.
"Come, my dear. Come away from that cliff. Let's go back to the estate where you can be treated the way you deserve. Like a queen. We'll forget this little indiscretion." He touches his forehead. "We'll even forget your unfortunate fit of anger."
I would be enraged, but I see Kara's brows rise like she's interested in his offer. She takes a step away from the edge. For the first time since we escaped, I am grateful for Gatsbro's presence.
"That's right, my dear. This is not the life for you."
She steps closer again, close enough that I think it might almost be safe to grab her and Kayla. I watch the smile on her face and the ice in her eyes. The calculations, Kara playing to the audience, Kara with impeccable timing. She looks back down at Kayla in her arms. Someone has to pay.
"Kayla," she whispers. She smooths the hair away from Kayla's cheek and looks back at me and Jenna. "Kara loved you," she says. "She loved you both." She holds Kayla out to me.
I hear Jenna choke back a moan. I step forward, and she pours Kayla's limp body into my arms. Jenna is already grabbing Kayla from me, sobbing, carrying her away.
Kara lifts her hand, waiting for Gatsbro to come and take it.
He turns his head to me and smiles like he has won. "Look behind you, my boy. You should never trust your work to the hired help. We'll all be going back--whole or in pieces. I can't leave valuable merchandise lying around for others to steal." I turn and see Hari with the tazegun aimed at me. Gatsbro looks back at Kara, the same smug grin still on his face, and he takes her outstretched hand in his. "You always were the smarter one."