Chapter 17

At first Danadidn't taste the blood. She was spellbound by Claire's hypnosis. She'd never witnessed one in person before. It seemed so simple, his voice the pendulum that lowered her into oblivion. He counted backwards.

"10."

"9."

"8."

"7."

"6."

"5."

"4."

"3."

"2."

"1."

And all at once the change occurred.

The labored breathing, the rapid eye movement, body tremors and muscle spasms. It was like watching a silent war.

All the while, Dana was fighting her own internal battle. Her heart ached as she watched her friend wrestle demons only she could see. The only thing keeping her rooted was Jake. He held her hand in a vice-like grip, tethering her to his side.

Even though Dr. Dvita had assured them of his experience and that Claire wouldn't be suffering physical harm, Dana knew watching Claire struggle was tearing Jake apart inside. His pulse pounded out a distress signal against her palm, but she could do nothing but stand by, silently chewing her nails until she drew blood.

Jake noticed it first. He pulled a handkerchief from inside his jacket and pressed it to her fingers. The crimson stain bled defiantly through the white fibers. The familiar queasiness that always accompanied Dana's encounters with blood made her lightheaded.

But Jake squeezed her hand tighter, his voice an anchor. "Focus on Claire."

Dana did. And that's when it happened.

All at once, Claire went still.

"Hello," Dr. Dvita said, his words deliberately soft. "Welcome back."

"It's good to be back." The voice hit Dana like a punch in the gut. It came from Claire, but it didn't belong to her.

"It's been a while since we spoke," Dr. Dvita prompted. "Can you fill me in on what you've been up to?"

Claire laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I would," Dvita continued. "I'm particularly interested in what happened last night. After we spoke, where did you go?"

"Where I always go."

"To the garden to write in your journal?"

"Yep."

"Did you speak to anyone in the garden?"

"Yep."

"Feel like sharing?"

Something impish slipped into the voice coming from Claire. "I'd rather you guess."

"Okay. Did you meet with Laura?"

"Ding! Ding!"

Dana's stomach dropped hearing Meredith was at Passages. Was this one of the three times Dr. Dvita had mentioned or something he was unaware of? Sensing her panic, Jake squeezed reassurance into her hand.

"Did you meet with anyone else?" Dvita asked Claire.

"You tell me."

"How about Taft?"

"Ding! Ding! Right again."

"What did you talk about?"

"The usual. Death, taxes, world domination."

"Did you speak to anyone else?"

"This game is boring."

Taking that as a no, Dr. Dvita changed his questioning. "Where did you go after the garden?"

"Well, it was Wednesday so I peed in a cup and collected my lollipop."

"Did you really get a lollipop?"

"No, I got chocolate pudding."

"I thought you didn't like pudding."

"I don't. But Max does."

"Ah, that's right." Dvita continued leading Claire. "How is Maximilian?"

"He doesn't like that name. I told you that."

"Right. Sorry. Maximilian is a peculiar name though."

"He's a peculiar guy."

"He is," Dvita agreed. "Would you consider him a friend?"

Claire twitched, her hands balling into fists for a fleeting moment before she relaxed and replied with that detached voice. "He's just an orderly."

"I see. Well, I don't mean for this news to alarm you, but since you aren't friends perhaps you won't be concerned."

Again, Claire twitched, though infinitesimally this time. "What news?"

"Last night, Passages caught fire, and someone was killed. Do you know what happened?"

Claire twitched so violently Jake dragged Dana across the room to get to her. But Dr. Dvita held up his hand to stop them from interrupting. Just as suddenly as the convulsions started, they stopped. And this time, when Claire spoke, it was in her own voice, and it was full of fear. "I told him not to go," she whispered. "I told him it would make him look guilty."

"Who, Claire?"

"Max."

"He was with you last night?"

"Yes. He said he heard something and came to get me and Betty out."

"Max kept you safe from the fire, didn't he?"

"Yes. He keeps everyone safe. I told him to stay with me, but he went back in to help the others."

"Why did they need help?"

"The Reaper." Claire's words were so quiet, Dana thought she'd misheard, but Dr. Dvita had heard it too.

"The Reaper," he repeated. "Who is the Reaper?"

"He comes for the wicked. He came for Taft, didn't he?"

"Yes," Dvita confirmed.

A single sob escaped Claire.

"Do you know who the Reaper is?

Claire shook her head. "I can't say."

"You can't say, or you don't know?" Dvita pressed.

Her head shook from side to side so vigorously her black hair covered her face, blurring out her features.

"That's enough," Jake bellowed. He shook Dana off and pushed his way into the room. "Bring her out of it now, or I will."