Page 71 of Juniper Unraveling

“I do. What is it?”

“It’s for your protection.”

“The baby, will she be okay?”

“You’re assuming it’s a girl.” He lifts my shirt and sets the barrel of the gun in the center of my armpit. “In answer to your question, I’m not aware of any ill effects. But then, I’ve never had the opportunity to test on offspring.”

A sharp sting hits my skin, which feels as if he’s torn it away from the bone. Tears well in my eyes at the burn that lingers after he removes the injector gun from beneath my arm.

“That’s one. There are four.” His words send an anchor of dread to the pit of my stomach, while he settles the gun at my other armpit. “What would you name this girl?” The conversation is so forced and out of place it’s almost laughable, but I go along with it, because he’s right. I need distraction while he gives me the shot.

My body tenses for the next shot, while the first fizzles away. “Wren.”

Another thump and the burn sears my skin, this one perhaps more intense than the last. Or maybe I’ve forgotten the pain already.

“Wren’s an interesting name. How did you come about that one?”

Horror washes through me when he lifts my leg and grabs hold of my foot.

I tip my head back, wondering if it’s easier not to watch, and instead focus on the fluorescent bulbs overhead. “It was my mother’s. She always hated it. That’s why they named me after my father. But I loved her name. I’ve always loved her name.”

The thump at the bottom of my foot sends an involuntary whimper past my lips, and I squeeze my eyes closed to hold back the tears.

“Last one. Have you ever heard of the Juniper tree?”

“I’ve … heard of them.”

“They’re rare out in Deadlands. But I know of one. If you keep the sun on your right shoulder, it’s about a good three-hour walk at dawn. Should you ever need shelter while on your travels, there’s water inside the trunk of it, and a small bit of food.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Some say it’s haunted by the voices of children,” he prattles on, ignoring me.

Without warning, the final injection pierces the bottom of my foot as if I stepped on glass that’s broken through the skin.

“These injections are—”

“Doctor Falkenrath!”

The voice casts a ripple of fear down my spine, and I slide from the chair, ducking below the table, as Doctor Falkenrath discards the injection gun.

“In here, Doctor Ericsson.” His voice is eerily calm, which should serve to ease my rattled nerves, but the thought of what will happen in the next five minutes sets my teeth chattering.

The clamor of shoes against the tiles tells me there are multiple men standing inside the lab, but I don’t dare peek. Not until I know what’s to come of me.

“I understand there’s a girl working for you.”

“A girl? I’m afraid you’re mistaken—”

“He’s a liar!”

Ivan’s voice has me slapping a hand over my mouth to contain the scream trapped in my throat.

“He knew Dani was a girl. He’s known all along.”

“My interactions with young Daniel have been on a professional level. The sex of my assistant has remained inconsequential, as it is my understanding there’s little risk for girls sneaking past Legion officers, when they’re collected from the hives.”

I can almost see Ivan’s face, red with embarrassment as he stands beside his father.