E.R.I.C. (The Almost Series Book 2) by Christina Leigh Pritchard Page B

nodded.
    Darla shook her head. “That’s bad! Shay!”
    “It doesn’t matter. We need you to survive. You have to care for the next S.H.A.Y. My Amie wants you to raise her away from the scientists.”
    “They’ll never allow it.”
    “I know,” I said. “Before I die, I’m going to steal her and bring her to you. None of the robotic creatures can cross the Miami border.”
    “You’re already speaking as if you and your Amie are one voice,” Darla said. “This is bad, Shay, very, very bad.”
    “I am not bad for you!” Amie protested. “It’s a good thing I can’t physically harm you .” She waved her fist in Darla’s face. “Too bad you can’t see how angry I am at you!”
    “Calm down,” I said. “She didn’t say no.”
    “You’re talking to her again?”
    “Yes, that or I’m finally going crazy.”
    “I’d prefer you go crazy than really be connected to that monster.”
    “Stop calling me names!” Amie spat. Code resembling spit flew at Darla’s face. She didn’t flinch. How could she? She couldn’t see Amie or her coded spit.
    A twinge of pain shot through me. I could see why Amie didn’t want to just be a hologram. There was something missing to not be physically there when your mind most certainly was.
    “Are you going to be this kid’s mother or not?” I asked.
    Darla froze. The only movement came from the waves that still crashed into our raft. “Yes, of course. I do have one question for her.”
    “What? What do you wish to ask?” Amie became giddy. “I’ll answer anything! I now like this O.H.P. since she is going to raise my S.H.A.Y.!”
    I laughed.
    Darla grew serious. “When her last S.H.A.Y. turns eighteen, how do I stop her from dying as all the others before her?”
    Amie smiled. She leaned in, whispering (as if anyone but me could hear her). “I overwrote all the scientists’ original programming. This S.H.A.Y. can never mutate or become a host. She is completely human with a slightly higher intellect and excellent agility skills.”
    “If the scientists find out they’ll kill her,” I said.
    Amie nodded. Darla’s eyes widened.
    “What did she say?” Water splashed in Darla’s face. “What did your Amie say? You look scared.”
    “She made her last S.H.A.Y. completely normal except for a few modifications. She cannot be used by any other A.M.I.E.”
    Darla wept. “Maybe you’re A.M.I.E. is different from the others.”
    I frowned. I hoped so.
    Hands grabbed my ankles, dragging me under. I pressed in my nose piece, pushing off my cracked helmet. Nick held me tight, forcing me lower into the sea.
    What was he doing?
    Had he heard that I was connected to my Amie? That was certain death as far as the N.I.C. was concerned. I struggled against the keeper, reaching into my backpack. My hands grabbed what looked like a ceramic mug. I pressed a button and golf balls shot out like bullets at the keeper’s head. He released me, surfacing for air. I followed, snatching another prototype from my bag. This one, Dr. Cole claimed, was pointless and as useless as my golf ball and coffee invention. I smiled. Who would’ve ever thought I’d be able to use it—and in this way?
    I took out a rubber band, twirling it in my fingers like a lasso. It expanded and wrapped around Nick. I tugged, pulling him close. His body slammed into mine.
    “Shay!” Darla screamed. I turned towards the wreckage. Eric swam away from it and headed for Darla. Nick and I drifted, too far away for me to stop him.
    My heart pounded.
    If I let go of Nick, he’d kill me, but then Eric would kill Darla .
    Nick struggled, the two of us sinking and bobbing up and down.
    I had to save Darla!
    I swam away, reaching for my mother. Her fingertips stretched, touching mine. Nick shoved me down again, ripping my oxygen and bag from my body. Darla jumped on his back.
    Amie shouted commands but I couldn’t hear them.
    Suddenly, Nick flew from off me. I gagged, air filling my lungs.
    I couldn’t believe