72: UNLIKELY ALLIANCES

Lexie drives us to a field with an open stretch of land. It looks like the place had been commissioned for an industrial building, but the foundations were yet to be put in place. For what seems like stretch of miles in every direction, there are only industrial buildings and factories. We are a safe distance from Deveras civilization. William makes a phone call outside while Lexie and I stay in the car, the windows doing little to shield us from the pollution in the air.

I move to the backseat and cradle my mom’s unconscious body. She’s breathing fine, but no amount of shaking or talking has woken her up yet. Most of her wounds are still fresh, unable to heal. Something must be impairing her fast healing abilities.

My phone rings from the front seat.

Lexie rummages through the dashboard compartment where she had stuffed most of the things I’d shaken out of her backpack, and hands me my ringing phone.

“Thanks.” I say, collecting it from her, grateful not only for the massive help she