It was official. Lawrence was having this Revealers base disband. President Walter had already hunted down the base in Charleston—the whole building had been decimated. They had to abandon this base too, if they didn’t want to be discovered soon.
“It’s all her fault,” Travis said. “She replaced Ducix with Walter.”
“It’s not like Ducix was friendly with us,” Troop said.
“Yeah, but he didn’t try to annihilate every trace of the Revealers either.”
The building was buzzing with activity; people packing up office belongings and taking them home, preparing to clear out. By the end of this week, this base would be no more. Just an empty building. His eyes flickered back to Pierce/Kristi, who was slumped in a plastic chair.
“Is she alright?” Owl tugged on the tail of his shirt.
“Um, I think so.” Troop didn’t believe his own words, and Owl knew it.
He walked over to Pierce/Kristi and gently shook her.
She blinked blearily. “Oh, did I fall asleep again?”
He nodded.
“I think I’ll take that caffeine pill you offered me earlier.”
He wordlessly dug one out from his pocket and forked it over. She dry swallowed it.
“I don’t think the caffeine pill’s going to be much help,” Owl said.
Pierce/Kristi cracked her neck and settled into a more comfortable position. Within a few seconds, she was fast asleep again. Owl reached over to shake her awake, but Troop stopped her.
“Sh—don’t wake her up if she’s tired,” he said in a stern voice.
“I don’t think she’s tired. I think there’s something wrong with her,” Owl said. “Let me ask her some questions. Maybe I can find out why she’s feeling so unenergetic.”
“No. I told you to leave her alone.”
Owl ignored him and tried to dart around his legs to rouse up Kristi/Pierce.
“I mean it, Owl! Just give her some peace, will you?” Troop snapped.
Owl paused midstep, looking hurt. “I just want to help.”
Something cracked inside of Troop and he lost it. “Why can’t you just stop being annoying for once? You’re constantly in everyone’s way and you think you’re helping but you’re really not. Maybe you’re smart, but that’s not doing much good if you’re just being so—just get out of my sight!”
Owl bit her lower lip, tears threatening to spill out from the corners of her eyes. Troop immediately felt guilty. He shouldn’t have taken out his anger and frustration on the poor kid. She didn’t know any better. But Pierce/Kristi’s worsening condition was seriously putting him under great pressure. None of the doctors could find out what was causing her decrease in health.
Owl fled the area, running as fast as her short legs could carry her.
“I’m sorry!” Troop called. “I didn’t mean what I said.”
But she ignored him and disappeared out of sight. Just as he had told her to. Troop sighed and scooped up Pierce. She felt light and he could feel her bones jutting out. He shook his head in despair; she hadn’t been able to keep down any of the food she’d eaten.
