Chapter 12

I arrived in Joransen after a two-hour flight. Before takeoff, Jessica had texted me. She'd told me that she'd arranged for someone to pick me up in case I couldn't find the place. The arrival hall was crowded, but I didn't see anyone holding a sign with my name on it despite scanning the crowd several times. I was about to call Jessica to ask whether the person picking me up had arrived when I heard a voice coming from behind me. "Nerissa!" I turned to see a young man with a bright and warm smile approach me. I said, "Sorry, but you are…" He seemed familiar, but I just couldn't remember who he was. He feigned anguish as he sighed, but I didn't miss the joy in his tone. "It's only been five years since we last saw each other. I'm your precious little junior, Nerissa. Have you forgotten about me already? It breaks my heart, you know." Slowly, things started to click. The tired, sleep-deprived face of a young man who'd spent 24 hours in the lab five years ago overlapped with the face