Page 110 of After the Burn

“It’s Lactated Ringer’s. Water and electrolytes. It’ll help maintain your blood volume while your blood is drawn,” Adrian explained, mostly for Beck’s peace of mind.

I shivered.

Beck immediately pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.

“It’s only the saline,” Adrian said, but he helped him pull it tight around me anyway.

Finley checked the weight of the collection bag and clamped the tubing. “That’s enough to begin.”

“Begin?” Beck growled.

Finley lifted the bag. “I’ll see how Harper responds before I take more.”

He hung my blood beside Harper’s examination table and prepared two lines.

One to carry my blood into her.

One to remove her blood.

The thought made my stomach clench.

Finley inserted the first needle into Harper’s uninjured arm.

She barely reacted.

The second went into the other.

Dark blood crept into the clear tube leading away from her. Mine began its slow descent from the hanging bag.

Out and in.

Her failing blood was replaced, one measured ounce at a time, with blood that had already learned to survive.

Finley adjusted both clamps until the flow rates matched. “The blood I remove will reduce the concentration of the active pathogen,” he explained, never taking his eyes off the lines. “Taryn’s blood carries adapted immune cells and whatever else changed after the meteor exposure.”

“You think that change can transfer?” Adrian asked.

“I think it can influence Harper’s response.”

“That isn’t the same thing.”

“I know.”

His honesty was more frightening than confidence would’ve been.

“I’m not turning Harper into one of us,” Finley continued. “I’m trying to interrupt the progression long enough for her body to establish its own balance.”

“And if it can’t?” Wren asked.

She stood near the door, Mojo clutched against her chest. For once, there was no teasing in her voice.

“Then I’ve bought her time.”

Minutes crawled by.

Finley checked Harper’s pulse, blood pressure, and pupils while Adrian recorded each number in the binder. Lucas counted her breaths. Wren stood by the door, keeping watch over both rooms without being asked.

The clinic smelled overwhelmingly of blood.