Excerpt: Transfusion

"I'm sorry, Caitlyn. It didn't work."

She nodded, staring down at her intertwined hands. She hadn't expected it to work.

"What's the next step, Dr. Pace?" asked Mr. Freemantle.

"We can continue chemo, but it will only delay the end result. The only other solution is a total Transfusion."

Mrs. Freemantle gasped slightly, reaching for her husband's hand. Cait looked up, interested at her parent's reaction. Her father was shaking his head.

"That is not a choice for our daughter. We will take her home and care for her." Both her parents nodded in agreement. It was nice to see her parents agree on something, even if it was her own impending death. Ever since her older sister Kimmy had died four years ago, the Freemantles had barely spoken to each other, let alone support one another's argument.

"You understand that if you take Caitlyn home she will die? Transfusion, while it is risky, if it succeeds she will be cured." Dr. Pace's voice was beginning to rise. Caitlyn perked up even more, there was more emotion in the room then she could remember sensing in years.

"Cured?" her father spat, "She will be a monster!"