Page 62 of Rebirth

“Fuck this.” I lunge forward, grabbing her by the shoulders as I tackle her to the ground. We hit the ground hard, her taking the brunt of the fall as we roll through the leaves, and I pin her beneath me.

“What the fuck is going on?!” I can’t mask the fury dripping from my voice, and I don’t try to.

Maisie just smiles up at me coolly, and for the first time since I’ve met her, she speaks. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Cut the bullshit!” I shout. “Those…things, the people who attacked us…” My eyes widen as I glare down at her, eyes roving over her uncorrupted skin. “You’re the only one not infected…”

Maisie shrugs nonchalantly, a response that only serves to piss me the fuck off.

I grab her by the front of her dress and slam her against the ground again.

She smiles at me, eyes widening with madness I’ve only seen when people go mental. Just that look alone in her eyes has my awareness heightening.

“What does it matter?” She shrugs, completely unfazed.

“It matters,” I seethe, “because innocent people died. Because my friend turned into…something to protect me. All because of whatever sick game you’re playing!”

Because I know she has something to do with this. I can feel it.

Her reaction alone is proof.

“You’re delusional,” she replies, that stupid fucking smile still on her face as if she has all the winning cards in her hand and I’m about to lose everything.

Over my dead body.

I tighten my grip on her dress. “Don’t play dumb with me. Those people...the way they attacked…What they turned into…What Bert turned into. You have something to do with this!”

Maisie laughs. “You have no proof.”

Rage swells within me and the cool metal of my gun presses into her temple in a movement that’s so deadly I almost momentarily pause. “Tell me the truth. Now.”

She looks up at me, eyes suddenly cold. “Or what? You’ll shoot me? Go ahead then.”

“Don’t test me.”

Maisie smiles. “I didn’t infect those people. I am no monster…not like your friend.” Her eyes go cold again as she pins them on me and I stiffen at her reference to He’rox.

“You don’t get to talk about him.” I press the gun harder against her temple as I lean in closer. “And I don’t believe you.”

Keeping her gaze locked on mine, Maisie slowly raises one hand. I watch her warily, ready to pull back at any moment. But she simply pulls up her sleeve to reveal intact, unmarked skin.

“See? No signs of infection.” Maisie lowers her hand calmly. “Now, if you’ll kindly release me—”

I stare at her, moments ticking by between us as our gazes remain locked. Staring at her like this, it’s like I can see into her soul. And all I can see is black. A soulless black pit.

Her eyes are human, yet, there is something else there.

Brows furrowing I ease up a little only to flip her onto her back. She lets out a surprised yelp as I grip the neck of her dress and rip it across her back.

My eyes widen, a lump swelling in my throat as I’m faced with something I’ve seen before.

Back in He’rox’s lab. Except now, right here, it’s a bit different.

A singular thick black vein pulses from her tailbone right up her spinal column, disappearing into the nape of her neck.

Rising, I stare at her.

“You…infected yourself,” I whisper.

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