GRACE:

“How dare Jackie question my usage. She doesn’t even know me.”

I gripped the Frankenstein book in my purse so no one could snatch it from me again. I craved its precious contents. My skin crawled with anticipation. If I didn’t inject the serum soon, I’d vomit.

How could she know anything about the serum? Or my weird skin reactions? The rash was nothing my expensive creams wouldn’t treat.

True, we connected instantly, but that didn’t make her an expert on my life. I needed a friend, and she felt safe, but that was before she started asking nosey questions. Like all the girls at this stupid school, she was probably jealous of my status and the fact that I was dating Feraz Tal. Of all the beautiful women to choose from, he picked me. That should count for something.

Jackie called out, “Hey, wait up!”

She ran after me like a lunatic.

“Get a clue. I’m not interested in being friends anymore.”

She pleaded, “Come on, Grace. Give me a break.”

“Why should I? You can’t even keep your story straight. Your mother is close by, but she abandoned you. You ask about my family one second, but seem to know everything about them the next. I see right through your lies.”

“Let me explain.”

“And then you have the audacity to call my boyfriend an asshole. How dare you? Go back to the gutter where you belong.” My awful words brought up a little vomit with them. I swallowed it down with regret. I never talk to people that way.

“Grace, please.”

I stopped and turned to face Jackie. She seemed unfazed, like she was used to hearing that sort of thing. That made me feel even worse for saying it. Even though I lived a privilege life, it pained me to see others struggle. I genuinely wanted to help her.

“Sorry. That wasn’t nice. I didn’t mean it. I like Baxter, and I’m sure he’s doing the best he can to provide for you.”

Jackie shrugged. “Hey, no sweat. I’m used to people talking down to me.”

Guilt choked me. I’m not that kind of person, but hadn’t I done enough for the day, feeding and clothing Jackie? I had to get rid of her now. She knew too much.

“I wish nothing but the best for you. Truly… See you around, Jackie.” I waved and walked away.

She followed me again. “What about that movie?”

“No thanks.”

“Please, Grace, I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Stay with Baxter.”

“There’s not enough room for me in the janitor’s quarters.”

“Then why did you come here?” Was she trying to take advantage of my good will? Feraz warned me he had a bad feeling about her, but I never turn my back on a stray…

Jackie didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t give up her pursuit.

“Stop following me!” I worried she knew where I lived. What if she was a stalker? My generosity often got me into trouble.

“I know I seem unhinged, but can we please go somewhere and talk?”

That was the last thing I wanted to do, so I kept walking.

“Please Grace?”

“We have nothing to talk about. Goodnight, Jackie.”

She still followed, relentless. “There’s a lot going on that you need to know about, Grace. It has to do with the serum in your Frankenstein book. Trust me, you’ll want to know this very important information…”

Jackie spoke with conviction, but gave no concrete details. Father always warned me about people like that, but I had more important things on my mind. I needed my fix…

“Maybe some other time. I’m not feeling well.” I beelined toward my apartment. Every step took me closer to getting a hit of the serum that rattled inside my favorite book.

Jackie was at a loss for words again. Was she making things up on the spot? It was hard to tell if she was trustworthy or not. Something about Jackie made her likable, but con artists have their tricks. Coming from a prominent family, it was easy to become a target.

She grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face her once more. Her eyes were wild. I recognized that look from my own reflection in the mirror. Was she on drugs too?

“There are evil forces at play, and we need to work together. How can I explain it to you? Where do I begin?”

“Try the beginning.” I crossed my arms, protecting the Frankenstein book in my purse.

Jackie took a deep breath before spewing her insane story. “You want me to start from the beginning… Okay, so… Basically… Your mom, Beatrice sent me here to… watch over you.”

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I burst with laughter. “My dead mother sent you here? I want some of what you’re on.”

“Grace, I know this sounds crazy, but it’s true. Beatrice tasked me with protecting you and preventing… Let’s just say that drug has a lot of unintended consequences. If Life Rite’s immortality serum goes to the highest bidders, the gap between the rich and poor will be even more staggering, if you can believe it.”

“That, I can believe. The golden apple has seeds.” I kept walking, my apartment now in sight. In a few short minutes, I’d shoot up and forget all about this insane tangent with my new friend-for-a-day. My parents always said I was too nice. Maybe they were right.

Jackie still followed. “Mark created the serum to cure Beatrice, but she refused to take it.”

“Don’t talk about my parents. You don’t know anything about them except for what you read in the press. Father always says, the strangers who discuss our lives clearly aren’t happy with their own.”

“I know Beatrice is buried in the volcano on Bennu Island,” Jackie declared.

That got my attention. No one knew that little secret. Father told the media she was cremated.

“What? How do you know that?”

“Trust me. I know a lot more than you think. I’m a Claudi too. Well, sort of. It’s a long story. Can we please go inside and talk?” Jackie stared at me with intensity.

“You’re a Claudi? We’re… related?”

There was a resemblance in her facial features, but it was dark outside, and I was jittery from the lack of serum running through my veins. I’d believe anything she said just to race home to inject that sweet liquid into my veins.

“Yes, and I promise to explain everything if you give me another chance. Please, Grace. I desperately need your help.”

“What do you need help with?”

“Saving the world.”

“You’re insane.”

“True, but there’s ways to prove my allegiance to the Claudi family. I knew about Beatrice being buried in the volcano. I also know your parents anniversary is May twentieth.”

“Anyone with an internet connection knows that.”

“Does the public know Mark rebuilt their wedding chapel on Bennu Island, brick by brick?”

“No…” My heart caught in my throat. “How did you know that too?”

“Give me another chance to prove myself. You won’t regret it.”

I sighed, exhausted from my unmet craving. “Okay. Fine. Whatever.”

Jackie celebrated her win. We bound toward my place, up the stairs, and into the front door.

“I have to pee. Make yourself at home.”

The beelined for the bathroom, leaving Jackie in the living room. When the door locked behind me, I wasted no time. I opened the Frankenstein book, prepped the syringe, wrapped my arm, and pushed the liquid into my blood stream. I exhaled the bliss that came with satisfying the craving, like scratching an incessant mosquito bite. Too bad the relaxation never lasted long. I’d need more soon, but luckily I had a reliable supply.

Jackie knocked on the bathroom door. “You okay in there?”

“Never better.” I looked in the mirror and smiled. My skin glowed, and my eyes sparkled. I felt truly alive, pulsating with the endless possibilities of life. Not to mention, I looked fabulous again!

My excitement faded when I noticed that scaly patch of skin on my neck growing right before my eyes. Another inch of skin scabbed over. What was happening to me? What did Jackie know about it? How could she have known my mother was buried in the volcano on Bennu Island? Did my mother actually send her to protect me?

“Don’t fall for her lies,” I whispered to myself as I quickly filled the empty vial with a blood sample. It was a small price to pay for the ecstasy of the drug. The empty syringe and full vial of blood went back in the Frankenstein book. I moved skillfully, like a pro, and opened the door to let Jackie inside.

“Okay, spill it. How do you know those things about my family? Did you meet my mother before she died?”

I chuckled at the absurdity. Feeling good again, I decided to let Jackie entertain me a little longer before kicking her out. I’d pack her a suitcase with more clothes and food to soften the blow.

“Yeah, believe it or not. Beatrice sent me here to stop the Life Rite serum from getting out. It’s far more dangerous than you think.”

I rolled my eyes. “How dramatic.”

“Who is making the Life Rite serum? You? Feraz?”

“I get it. You don’t like my boyfriend. He’s not for everyone, but leave him out of this.”

I refused to let anyone talk bad about the love of my life. We planned to marry after college. Maybe someday he’d build me a chapel, brick by brick.

Jackie put her hands up in surrender. “Okay, let’s take him out of the equation for a minute. Let’s talk about the serum. You can’t hide the fact that you’re taking it because I saw it with my own eyes. It’s addictive, isn’t it?”

“You can say that again.” How could I describe the feeling it gave me? “It’s… everything.”

Jackie nodded. “I can relate. I got addicted to the slipstream, to the point where nothing else mattered. It’s easy to get lost in it.”

No matter how crazy she sounded, Jackie felt safe. No one knew I was addicted to anything. Imagine the Hampshire University gossip mill chewing that juicy tidbit. Grace Claudi, Feraz Tal’s future fiancé, addicted to drugs?! What a scandal! But Jackie didn’t judge me.

“I can stop if I want,” I lied. “What’s the slipstream?”

“Have you ever gone to a place where…” Jackie had a hard time articulating. “It’s like an ethereal void with endless probabilities… memories… alternate dimensions.”

I laughed so hard, my stomach hurt. “For real, what are you on? Give me some! I have money. I’ll pay.”

“If you’re taking the serum, you should have access to the slipstream…”

Jackie looked confused, probably trying to keep her ridiculous story straight. Maybe some previous life trauma gave her psychosis. Should I be scared of her or take pity? Only time would tell.

Tight knots pained my tummy, but not from laughter this time.

“Ah!” I doubled over and fell to the floor, holding my stomach.

Jackie asked, “Are you okay?”

I couldn’t speak. This wasn’t the first time the sharp pains paralyzed me. These were different then the random cramps I’d had earlier. This stabbing sensation was crushing, excruciating, debilitating. It was an unfortunate side effect from the serum that came and went ever since we started with the… experiments.

“What’s happening?” Jackie asked, frantic.

I grabbed onto her to help pull myself up. My arms shook with weakness. I locked eyes with Jackie to ground myself.

“Oh my! Grace, are you okay? You look…” Jackie didn’t finish her sentence.

I examined myself in the mirror to confirm my fear. I had aged a decade! Dark circles, new wrinkles, a grayish tint to my pale skin.

“Gross.”

I knew the serum’s bad side effects, so why did I still want to take it? Why couldn’t I stop?

“Firestorm? Are you seeing this?” Jackie asked.

“Fire what?” My brain could not compute the crazy coming out of her mouth. “I need to lie down.”

Jackie helped me to my room and into bed. “It’s okay. Rest. I’ll get you some water.”

Before going to the kitchen, she stopped in the bathroom. No doubt to examine my empty syringe and blood sample. I was too weak to stop her. Jackie mumbled something about a fire storm, but it sounded like gobbledygook.

My heavy eyes closed. Rest came quickly, but with it brought restless dreams of losing my mother, Beatrice, on Bennu Island last summer. The strange call of the Bennu birds, saying goodbye to my mother, the local boy she randomly introduced me to before she died…

My father and I would never be the same after losing her to muscular dystrophy. She’d never see me become a mother or witness the great accomplishments I vowed to make by investigating the Grid through the Institute. When I needed guidance, she wouldn’t be there. I tossed and turned through the night terrors fueled by loss and regret.