40

ALORA

APRIL 5, 2147

I stare in horror at Ellis’s body. He’s gone. He never got the chance to go back to his own time, to see if he could return to a better world.

The look on Bridger’s face breaks my heart—his features are contorted in anguish. He lunges toward Leithan. At the same time, Leithan fires a wild shot in Bridger’s direction as he backs away, scrambling to return to where he left the bioweapon case.

My pulse spikes. I’m afraid that the shot could hit Bridger, but he easily dodges it and I breathe a sigh of relief.

But at the same time, Dad appears right next to the case. He leans down and wraps his arms around the bioweapon, wincing as he uses his injured arm to pull it close to him.

And then he looks up. His eyes search for mine. So blue, just like mine. Just like Aunt Grace’s. Just like Vika’s.

I know what he’s going to do.

“No!” My voice sounds odd. Not like my own.

Dad whispers, “I love you. Always.”

“Please!” I cry out. “Don’t leave me!”

Then he closes his eyes for the final time and shifts out of the room.

I drop to my knees and scream.