The Complication (The Program #6)(43)

“With all the other returners crashing back,” he says, “Marie was afraid the same would happen to you.”

“And the Adjustment?” I ask, anger starting to tick up in my voice. “Did they give me an Adjustment? Is that why I remember some things?”

“Yeah,” Realm says. “But I wasn’t there for that.”

So it’s all true. Dr. McKee adjusted me, and holy shit—it means that I have no idea what’s real and what’s not. I run my hand through my hair, knotting it in a bun with my fingers as I think.

“And what was your part?” I ask him.

Realm inhales and takes off his seat belt, settling in. “I was brought in as a consultant to keep an eye on you in case you showed any . . . complications,” he says. “And when they adjusted Wes, I thought it would all work out. You have a long history.” He flashes a pained smile. “Not all of it terrible. But it seems the more people try to fix things, the worse it gets.”

“A cure for a cure for a cure,” I murmur. “And Dr. Warren?” I ask, motioning vaguely down the road. “She’s from The Program? Do you think she knows me from there?”

Realm purses his lips. “Yes,” he says. “I imagine she does.”

I whine out my disbelief, horrified. Disgusted. “And for a year she’s been pretending to help me,” I say. “Why? And why isn’t she in jail?”

“Few people went to jail for The Program,” Realm says. “The powerful rarely pay a price for the damage they inflict on society. In fact,” he says, “they keep going. They find new ways to manipulate the masses.”

I watch him, seeing the defiance in his posture. The compassion in his expression. “Was Dr. Warren working with Marie and Dr. McKee?” I ask.

He shakes his head no. “As far as I can tell, Dr. Warren is on her own team—one with ties to The Program.” His mouth turns down. “I don’t want to scare you, but I believe there is a group of people still operating within The Program. Only this time, it’s without government involvement. But that’s just a hunch.”

“Are you usually right?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies.

My heart pounds, and I’m scared to ask my next question. “Are you saying . . . Do you think The Program is coming for me again?”

Realm holds my gaze steady. “Yes,” he repeats.

I fall back against my seat. I don’t even know what that means or how I’m supposed to react. “What do I do?” I ask.

“I don’t know yet,” Realm responds. “But I’ll keep you posted.” He adds the last part casually, and when I look over, we both laugh at how horrifically ridiculous this is. The Program—my nightmare—is still chasing me. And as far as I know, there’s nothing I can do about it.

“So . . . ,” Realm starts. “Maybe don’t make any more appointments with Dr. Warren.”

“Yeah, pretty much got that part,” I say. “Who else do you think she’s working with?”

“Couldn’t say,” Realm responds, his eyes trailing a person crossing the parking lot with a few grocery bags. I like how observant Realm is, and I assume he’s been this way the entire time. Has noticed things I haven’t. He might be a good person to have in my corner.

“From what I can tell,” he continues, looking at me, “we’ve got three groups fighting for control: the Adjustment—the latest cure; Dr. Wyatt, the monitor at the school—who claims to have the moral high ground; and The Program—who wants to burn it all down and control what’s left.”

“And which group do you fit into?” I ask.

Realm smiles at me. “The rebels, obviously.”

I laugh and nod along like that’s the right place to be. We fall quiet for a few moments, and I decide that although I don’t know him well enough to fully trust him, I don’t think he’s trying to hurt me either.

“Now that you’re no longer in therapy,” Realm says, “I can try to help. You know”—he smiles—“the whole consultant thing.”

I decide I can tell him all the same stuff I told Dr. Warren, because if he is working with her, he’ll find out anyway. But I don’t think he is; I think he actually wants to help. He coughs, turning his head away, and when he turns back to me, I start talking.

“I’m in love with Weston Ambrose,” I say. “And today I boldly lied to him. I told him we were never more than friends. I kind of hate it, even though I’m doing it for him.”

Realm seems troubled by the statement. “Why would you do that?” he asks.

“Because I’m trying to be a better person.” I furrow my brow. “Dr. McKee told me that if I told Wes about our past, it might kill him. Do you think that?” I ask. “Do you think the truth could kill Wes?”

“Honestly?” he says in a hushed voice. “No. No, I don’t think the truth will kill him. But I do think it might confuse him. It might change who he’ll become.”

It wasn’t an answer I expected. “What do you mean?” I ask.

“Well, that’s the thing about our past—it shapes our future. And right now, Wes has the luxury of a clean slate. For years, we all wanted our memories back, right? We fought so hard. And for what? Believe me,” Realm continues, “remembering doesn’t always make it easier.”