“Fine. Thank you,” Juliana said. “We’ll be happy to take a train in the morning. Now, please, somebody help this person!”
“The medical staff will enter when you leave,” Dr. Wichtmann said. “No one wishes to be exposed to your condition.”
“I’m going, I’m going, just send them down.” Juliana stepped out through the door, past a couple of armed S.S. guards, and hurried along the corridor toward the dormitory. The guards trailed her at a distance until she reached her hall.
She spent the rest of her afternoon sitting on her bed, knees to her chin, and shaking.
Eventually, Mia came home from her own testing, and she hurried over when she saw the horrified look on Juliana’s face.
“What’s wrong?” Mia asked, taking one of Juliana’s gloved hands. “What happened? Tell me.”
“They wanted me to kill somebody,” Juliana whispered.
“Are you serious?”
“He was strapped to a table. Everyone acted like it was no big deal, like I wasn’t even supposed to care about killing some helpless person.”
“Why would they think that?”
“Because I’m a monster.” Juliana laid her head on her knees. “Just a monster who can’t touch anyone. Death in a white dress.” Juliana pulled her hand away from Mia’s. “You shouldn’t touch me.”
“You’re not a monster.” Mia rubbed her arm through her sleeve. “You’re the only sane person here. I’m so glad you came, Juliana. I felt like I was losing my mind.”
“I’m not glad,” Juliana said. “I mean, I’m glad I met you, but this place is just...scary. I told them I wanted to leave. They said they’d put us on a train in the morning.”
“Oh, no!” Mia’s face broke down, and she covered it with both hands. “You’re going to leave? You’re leaving me here?”
“You can come with us. To America, if you like.”
“I can’t!” Mia was already crying. “Juliana, my father sold me to them. They’ll go back and punish my family if I leave.”
Juliana’s shoulders sagged. She didn’t know what to do now, and she wondered how the people running the base would react.
She found out a few hours later, when Alise stopped by their room just before dinner, while Juliana and Mia were quietly reading.
“How are you two today?” Alise asked. “Anything exciting happen?”
They both shook their heads.
“You look so cute today,” Alise told Mia. “New make-up? Or did you change your hair?”
“Same old everything,” Mia told her.
“Well, you look beautiful. Listen, I need to speak with Juliana in private for a minute. Want to go on to the dining room, and we’ll see you there?”
“I suppose I could...” Mia rose slowly from her bed, but she looked uncertain. “Are you going to be all right, Juliana?”
“I’m fine,” Juliana nodded her head, though she didn’t feel fine at all. She felt repulsive and evil. “See you at dinner.”
Mia trudged out of the room, clearly not wanting to leave Juliana alone with Alise. Alise closed the door behind her, then turned her gray eyes on Juliana, who still sat on the bed.
“Let’s talk, Juliana.” Alise sauntered towards her, then pulled out the chair from Juliana’s writing desk and sat just a few feet away. “You can be honest with me. Are you unhappy here?”
“They wanted me to kill someone today.”
“Oh, he was only a common criminal,” Alise said. “You have to understand, Juliana, that with your touch being so...medical, they have to test the effects on people. Why not criminals? It’s not like we’ll ever run out of them, unfortunately, and the Reich has already sentenced them to death. So their death should at least have value, shouldn’t it? Add something to the knowledge of humanity? Like how your power works. That’s worth the life of a man already sentenced to die, isn’t it?”
“I’m not going to kill anyone for them. You can tell them I said that when you report back.”
“Juliana, I’m here because I’m worried about you.”
“I doubt that,” Juliana said.
Alise glanced at the door, as if concerned someone might be spying on them. Then she leaned closer and whispered, “I want to show you something. About me and my power. But you must promise to keep it secret. Will you?”
“If you want.” Juliana shrugged.
“This might seem strange, but be calm and watch.” Alise took in a deep, slow breath, filling her lungs all the way, her gray eyes fixed on Juliana’s face. When she exhaled, she breathed out a cloud of what looked like tiny, pink, fluffy flower petals. Juliana flinched as they landed all over her face, neck, and arms...but then she felt much, much better.