"There was a lot going on with Eli, if you recall. And I completely forgot about it until I saw her again. Yesterday she put her hand up like she was telling me to stop. It was odd because I wasn't trying to approach her. But today she did the same thing and then lowered her thumb. She's counting down the days until something happens. I have this awful feeling that I'm running out of time. Like you said today. We're living on borrowed time."

"I was referring to our time together. Not your life. Nothing is going to happen to you."

Why did he keep saying that? He didn't know the future. I swallowed hard.

"We'll figure it out together. The others should be showing up any minute."

"Don't you think I'm right?" I asked.

"It's a leap. We don't have any reason to believe she wants to hurt you."

"She's working for Don."

"Liza should have a better understanding of her motivations by now. She's been researching her all day. I should give you a few minutes to settle in." He looked down at his hands. Despite his words, he didn't move from the bed.

"V?"

He lifted his head and locked eyes with me. And for the first time I was able to read him. At least, I thought I could. He looked sad. I swallowed hard. Because I was pretty sure I knew why he was sad. He thought I was right. He thought I only had four days to live, even though he said my conclusion was a leap.

He grabbed the top of his hoodie and pulled it down slightly to cover his eyes. He cleared his throat and stood up. I watched him walk out of the room before I could say anything else.

I didn't need any time to settle in. It wasn't like I was going to unpack my bags. This wasn't a permanent situation. Either we'd figure it out in four days or I'd be dead anyway. Despite what V thought, there was no need to analyze Sadie Davis' motivations. I could

see it in her eyes. The hollowness. Don had the same look in his eyes. They were killers. They sucked the joy and life out of everyone they met. Just like me.

"Eli Serrano is at the entrance," Athena's computerized voice said through the speaker system.

I quickly walked out of the room. It would be better if Eli didn't know I was sleeping here. Having V and him in the same room was awkward enough. I didn't need to add to the hostility.

"Access granted," V said and the window whirred open.

I wasn't sure why, but ever since finding out that Eli was 26, I could see it. He didn't carry himself the same way the other boys did in my classes. He stood up a little straighter and had more of an air of authority around him. Maybe that was why I was so easily attracted to him. His confidence was a little contagious. It made me believe in myself too.

Eli smiled as he made his way over to me. "How were the rest of your classes?"

"I had a hard time focusing."

"Why?"

"Because I was thinking about time. And the fact that I'm running out of it." Now more than ever.

"You don't have to go through with it."

"Go through with what?" V asked.

I turned toward him. For the first time, I realized that he carried himself in the same way that Eli did. Everything about him oozed confidence. He must be older than me too. Why wouldn't he just show me his face? Or give me a name more than just one letter?

"Go through with what?" V repeated.

I wasn't sure how he'd react to me wanting to kill Don, so I was relieved when Athena's voice interrupted us.

"Liza Roth is at the entrance."

"Access granted," V said. He took a step toward me. I knew he wanted to know what Eli was referring to. He wasn't just going to forget about it. Especially since I was acting so guilty.

"What the holy hell is all this?" Liza asked.

Thank you for another distraction. We all turned toward her.