The Program [Book Two of The Test]

Epilogue [PART ONE]

The whole adoptive parents thing kinda got to mom when I had told her about it all. But, she seemed to understand that I did view them as that; my parents. That doesn't mean she isn't upset about it. "I'm good. A friend of John's is spending the night anyway. And who knows, they might be up all night trying to figure out a way to get a hold of Natalie, so I wouldn't get much sleep there anyway."

"So, I guess that answers my next question about whether or not you've heard from your little friend."

I just kinda rested on my arm, feeling restless and yawning even more. "She's more than a friend, mom." Another yawn. "Listen, I really don't think I can..." Yawn. "Talk anymore. I'm really tired. It's been a long, well...month."

She kissed my forehead, something that made me smile again, and said, "I understand, honey. Get some rest."

And as she ran her hand over my hair and then down to my shoulders, careful to be gentle as I was still sore and rubbing at my back soothingly, I felt my eyes close, my mother humming sweet melodies as I drifted off.

❒❒❒❒

All night, I dreamed about Lexi. I wasn't ashamed to admit that, knowing that the longer I went without seeing her and everything about her -her smile, laugh, pathetic jokes- only made me miss her that much more.

But my dreams were also filled with the last time I saw her, all of us struggling to get out of Mary's office as she fired the gun, Lexi caught in its path.

It was all still so clear. The fire of the gun as it went off. Me trying to run in front of it but mom was begging me to stay back.

Dad, the very person who wanted Lexi dead the most, pulling her down and taking the bullet for her.

It was all so unreal, and Lexi looked shocked as well.

None of us ever thought that he would do something like that.

But we got past it, Lexi dragging him out as he groaned even more.

And that's when Natalie came in, Bridget beside her and rushing to John's side as he lay practically lifeless on the floor. And Mary, apparently realizing that things probably weren't going to work out in her favor, escaped and hasn't been found.

I had felt bad that things turned out the way they did, John getting hurt in the process of the plan we had come up with. When we had been trapped in our cell, us still coughing from being surrounded by smoke, we realized that a plan was needed. We didn't have a strong one, but when John saw Lexi handing me a knife, we both knew what needed to be done.

But all of that seems so long ago now.

I heard a commotion outside but didn't think anything of it; news reporters and other freaks have been trying to get in here all month. Everyone sees that the comas couldn't possibly be a coincidence anymore, and Bridget's been having to keep the other people from the test -including those who can't remember it- under lock down and away from nosy idiots.