Chapter Two: The Price of One Person

With Amara beside her, Lin waited until he surrendered it. The tag read 207, though the corridor contained doors 201 through 209 with no second floor. “Were there ten of us?” Mia asked. The question was absurd, yet it pressed like a needle behind Lin's skull. Seat 2B beside her had been empty, but its cushion bore a dent and its cup holder contained half a glass of water. Henry switched on his recorder. “Roll call. Evidence for our future selves.” Nine people stated their names. On playback, a tenth person breathed close to the microphone. After each name it counted softly. When it reached nine, it whispered, “One still missing.”