Infinite Risk Read Online Free PDF Page B

cruelties.”
    â€œI can’t know your intentions,” I said. “But it felt like a warning. There are lots of ways to become a monster, and the easiest is to look the other way when you see people in pain.”
    â€œYou give me too much credit.”
    â€œI’ll do better. And … I think I understand now. Life is about connections. To save Kian, I have to help him meet other people. Me, alone, it’s a start, but not enough.”
    â€œYour ramblings have become nonsensical. For you to imagine I’m helping you without recompense, that is madness.” He sounded annoyed.
    I stifled a smile. “Of course not. You’re the Harbinger.”
    â€œIt would behoove you to remember that.”
    As I glanced at the clock, I sighed. Almost four, school would suck more than usual tomorrow. “Right. Well, I’m going back to sleep. Either get out or keep quiet.”
    He stared. “You’d let me stay?”
    â€œWhat do I care?” It occurred to me that the Harbinger was the closest I had to a friend in this timeline. Is that awesome or terrible? Full of bravado, I went on. “Stand guard in the corner, watch TV, or eat my instant noodles. But replace those if you do.”
    â€œI’ll stay for a while,” he said softly.
    The TV flickered to life. When he sat down in the grubby vinyl armchair, I didn’t expect to sleep. But it was better than being alone, and I was tired. In the morning, he was gone, along with two packs of ramen. In their place, he had left two cherry Danishes and yogurt, along with a note. Cup Noodles are delicious. Why did no one inform me? See you soon. –H.
    I had the Harbinger’s offering for breakfast and then ran for the bus. More homework on the ride to school, and then I pondered the adaptation of my original plan. It wouldn’t be easy to integrate Kian with Devon’s group, considering what they thought of him, but—
    To my surprise, Kian was waiting near the bus stop when I hopped off. I could tell he had tried extra hard since he’d tucked his paisley polyester shirt into his jeans and was wearing a belt. Overall it didn’t help much. But it was so good to see him, alive and healthy, instead of dying in my arms that my smile must’ve been about a thousand watts—to the point that it startled him. He blinked, pausing before he took a step toward me. Awkwardly, he fiddled with his backpack straps.
    â€œI thought we could walk to school together.”
    â€œYou ride the CTA too?”
    He nodded. “Different route, though, I guess, or I’d have seen you.”
    â€œWhich means you were looking,” I teased.
    Kian’s eyes widened, and he stumbled back a step like I was about to declare him a stalker. “What? No. I mean—”
    â€œRelax.” Only by interrupting could I put him at ease. “So what do you do on weekends? I don’t know anything about this town.” And then I used personal intel to sweeten the deal. “You know what would be cool? A theater that showed the classics.” I ached a little, remembering all our dates in Harvard Square, precious memories that only I shared.
    But as I hoped, that distracted him. “Are you into golden-age cinema?”
    His eyes were so, so bright and hopeful, that I wished I could be Nine, not Edie the Echo, out of time. If I really was a transfer student, things would be so different. Getting to know him like this—and not as part of the game—would be incredible. As we walked, I tried not to let the wistful feeling overwhelm me.
    â€œTotally. Casablanca, North by Northwest. ” I named movies that I already knew Kian loved. “ Notorious. To Catch a Thief. Indiscreet. ”
    â€œI’m sensing a Cary Grant theme here,” he noted.
    Of all the old movies I’d watched with Kian before, Cary Grant was my favorite. I could understand why people loved Humphrey Bogart, but Grant