Page 64 of The Imaginary Friend's Obsession

“Now, while we’re here… Is one of you going to tell me the truth, or is this going to be another incident that I have to write off as a freak accident?”

“I can explain,” Ezra says.

“Webothcan,” I say.

We share a long, loaded look. Both of us know how dangerous the truth can be, and neither of us can give the full story unless we’re both willing to lay everything out on the table. Our secrecy and lies over the last few months. Our abilities, which set us apart from normal people.

After searching my expression, Ezra nods. I turn to Dr. Wright.

“I suppose I should start by reintroducing myself,” I say. “My real name is Daisy Dumont…”

* * *

It takes a long while to sort through everything that’s happened over the last few months. By the time I’m done, Lucy has tended to my face, declared me otherwise healthy, and left to check on Subject X-16. Ezra has pulled his seat beside mine, and we sit with our hands clasped between us as we wait for Dr. Wright to speak.

“Well, I’m not happy with how you’ve handled all of this,” she says, with a pointed look at Ezra. “But I suppose I can’t blame you, either. I was here while the old guard was in charge of the MRF too, Ezra. I understand how afraid you must have been. But I want you to come to me with these concerns from now on.”

“To you,” Ezra says. “As in, not Director Ramsey?”

Dr. Wright’s lips firm as though she’s trying to hide a smile—but then she gives in, and they curve upward. “We haven’t officially made the announcement yet, but he’ll be stepping down from that position soon.”

Ezra’s smile is genuine. “Are congratulations in order?”

“Yes, well. I think we’re all aware that I’ve been the one keeping things running for a while now. Might as well make it official.” She opens her desk and flicks through a stack of papers until she finds what she wants.

I clear my throat delicately. “Sorry to interrupt, and I appreciate your understanding, but…” I clench my hands in my lap, trying to stop them from trembling. “What will this mean for Dorian?”

“As Daisy just explained, Dorian is innocent,” Ezra says. “He’s harmless. More than that, he helped us. He saved my life, and likely the lives of countless others, by preventing Godric from walking free.”

Dr. Wright looks at him—her gaze curious, assessing. “What would you have me do, Ezra?”

Ezra’s grip on my hand tightens. I squeeze him back.

“I think now is the time that we decide what kind of facility we want this place to be,” he says. “And if we want to be better than our predecessors, then…” He sits straighter. “We should do the right thing by setting him free. He never deserved to be locked up in the first place.”

Dr. Wright twirls a pen in one hand, her expression impossible to read. “This has always been a place that captures monsters,” she says. “There is a lot that you don’t know, Ezra. If word of this reached the shareholders…”

“There’s a lot that the shareholders don’t know, too,” Ezra says.

I stay quiet as they share a look. There is so much to this I don’t understand, and I don’t need to. I know that Dorian and I are a small part of a larger story, but all I want is for our chapter to have a happy ending.

“This is all very unorthodox,” Dr. Wright says.

“When has the MRF ever been anything else?” Ezra asks, smiling. “Youget to decide what our new normal is,DirectorWright.”

She mirrors his smile. “You’re correct,” she says. “And in most cases, I would want more time to review this. But I think the facts are clear here, and given the assistance that you and X-15 have given us in our time of need, I’m willing to waive some of the formalities.” She scribbles a signature on the bottom of the paper she grabbed, and pushes it across the table to me. “I’m happy to declare X-15 as our facility’s first ‘safe to release’ subject.”

It takes a moment for the words to sink in. I just sit and stare at her, my lips slightly parted. “Just like that?” I whisper, hardly able to believe it.

“It appears to me that X-15 never harmed anyone, including during this incident when he was set free. He should never have been taken into MRF custody in the first place, and I believe that he has suffered unfairly for long enough. We’ll be checking in with you as things settle down here, but he can leave immediately.”

Immediately. It is so much sooner than I could’ve hoped, and I blink away a sudden blur of tears. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“You and your friend saved a lot of lives today.” She reaches over to shake my hand briskly. “I should go check on Sixteen, so Ezra, if you’d like to do the honors, you should still have access to X-15’s cell.”

Ezra blinks, looking as stunned as I feel. “Yes, ma’am. Consider it handled.”

And just like that, she leaves us.

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