THREE DAYS LATER, on her birthday, Case strolled with Will and Fader along the yellow-bricked path in the rooftop park. The dome was open, the day warm, and the sky clear and achingly blue. After the dreariness of the Black Island, the sun on her skin was like a warm greeting from an old friend.
Her birthday had begun earlier that morning, making love with Will in his big round bed. He’d then brought them breakfast in bed, which they’d followed with more love making.
They’d fallen back to sleep until Adi texted Will. A new flower had arrived, and Receiving had sent it to the “Jungle”—the greenhouse on the roof—and prepped it. She assumed “prepped” meant placing it in the isolated clean room, separated from the scents of other flowers.
“Where’s this one from?” she asked as they walked al
