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forehead as I concentrated to push him back. He staggered, then grinned at me. His body quivered, straining, but he managed to step toward me.
    His head spun around, and when he looked back at me, his lips curved. “It seems you have a reprieve, little mouse.” He gestured, and the three men turned and disappeared into the alley as though they had never been there.
    I saw what had made them disappear. Julius was there, staring right at me, the nose of the ambulance just visible around the corner of a building behind him. One look at his white face, and I knew he had seen the whole thing.
    I choked back a sob. My knees buckled, and I dropped my forehead to the ground, fingernails scraping the wet concrete. I wanted to run. To get away, but I could hardly move a limb, let alone get back onto my feet. He had me now. And he knew my secret.
    I had really fucked things up.

Chapter Six
    The light was gloriously low. Dimmed white walls surrounded me. There was a soft noise. Breathing. I tried to focus on where it came from. Then I saw him—the doctor, Julius—lying in a crumpled heap on a chair in a corner of the room. Facing me. Probably to make sure I didn’t escape again.
    But I wouldn’t escape. There was nowhere I could go. I was in a world that was totally foreign to me. However far-fetched this whole scenario was, it was the truth. I’d seen it for myself. I was a century beyond my time.
    Julius had seen my secret in that alley. My weakness. And I’d have to try to find out what he was going to do about it. What he wanted of me. Because once they knew what I could do, everyone wanted me to do
something
for them.
    Now that I could see clearly, I studied him asleep in the chair. His head had slipped into an odd angle and rested on the side of the high back. He was quite tall, long limbs that managed to make the chair seem small. His arms hung loosely on the armrests. His legs were sprawled out in front of him like he hadn’t been able to get comfortable before sleep overcame him.
    He had on a crisp, white T-shirt, which made his skin look golden. Even relaxed, I could see the hard bumps of muscles that stretched beneath the skin on his arms. They looked strong and dependable.
    His dark brown hair was messy and ruffled in untidy wisps over his forehead, half hiding his eyes. There were blue smudges beneath his eyes, suggesting that it had been some time since he’d managed sleep. He had a straight, strong nose. Generous lips. Dark stubble darkened his face and accentuated sharp cheeks and a firm jawline. In sleep, he was relaxed. Young. Maybe early thirties.
    A finger twitched. I saw large veins on the back of his hands. They looked like caring hands, ones that were used to healing people. Hands that had woken me into this new world.
    The flood of memories returned of the past few hours. Exhausted, I’d given myself up to whatever he might do to me. There were flashes of his hushed, urgent voice, a blur of lights. Warmth, then sleep. He had been gentle with me, something I hadn’t expected.
    I twisted my head, wanting to move. My body protested like I had bruised all my muscles and they had stiffened in defiance. A groan escaped my mouth. Julius’s eyes snapped opened and focused straight on me. He tensed. It started with comprehension in his eyes and flowed into his face, his shoulders, then the rest of his body. His intelligent eyes grew intent. His mouth pulled into a tense line. He sat forward slowly until his elbows rested on his knees and his hands dropped between.
    “Who
are
you?” His voice was a molten deep rumble that filled the silence.
    There was danger in me telling him too much. Too little and he wouldn’t believe me, too much and he’d have questions. Questions I’d have no intention of answering.
    He uncoiled his body from the seat and moved over to me with fluid grace. He propped my head up. I felt water on my lips and opened my mouth for a glorious mouthful. It was cool and washed easily down