The Registry

by Shannon Stoker

  “That’s a shame. I wish you would reconsider.” Her father’s voice carried through the door. “You are a great worker and a fabulous leader. How much time do you have?”

  Mia’s eyes widened as she realized Andrew was leaving. It wasn’t fair that he could take off on a whim and she was forever trapped. She kept her ear to the door and listened to the rest of their discussion.

  “A little less than a month,” Andrew said. “I want to take some time to just travel around. Get my head clear before I report for duty.”

  “But where will you go?” her mother asked. “I hear it is awful out there. Will you be safe?”

  “I mean no disrespect, Mrs. Morrissey,” Andrew said. “But it is not as bad as you think. I’ve learned a lot from you, sir, and I appreciate all your help these past years, but I need some time alone before I serve my country.”

  “Please, call me Laura. You are like a son to us. It will be hard to see you leave.”

  Mia almost laughed out loud at her mother’s comment. Being likened to one of her parents’ children was hardly a compliment. If he was their son they probably would have pushed him out without a second thought. Still, Mia felt frustration over how supportive her parents were of Andrew. She didn’t warrant the same amount of consideration from them.

  “I understand. Don’t worry about your time in service—fastest four years of your life,” her father said. “Do you have a branch you’re hoping to serve in?”

  “Air force, sir.”

  “That is quite impressive. Hardest branch to get into and it comes with the most prestige. Good luck. I was an army man, so I can’t offer any tips.”

  “I’ve been interested in flying for as long as I can remember,” Andrew said. “That’s part of the reason I want to leave. To see if I can find a place to brush up.”

  “Why tonight though?” asked her mother. “Shouldn’t you wait till the morning? I’m sure I can get a care package ready for you, maybe some food or extra clothes.”

  “Thank you, but no. It is better to travel at night. I’m hoping to make it to the highway and then try to hitch a ride in the morning,” Andrew said. “Besides, I’m afraid that if I stay I’ll change my mind and end up here till enlistment time.”

  Mia stood and made her way toward her room. She had heard enough. Tonight was the night she’d make a run for it. She was going to have something better than months of planning or Whitney’s common sense. She was going to have a personal guide.

  Chapter 10

  A wife never inquires into her husband’s background. She need only know that he has served his country nobly and faced many hardships in doing so. In due time he will reveal all he chooses to.

  —The Registry Guide for Girls

  The clock was fast approaching midnight. Mia waited until she was certain everyone was asleep. Dressed in baggy sweatpants and an oversize white T-shirt, she tiptoed downstairs. She stopped in the kitchen and loaded her pack with some bottled water and whatever food would fit, paying little attention to what she was grabbing, and then slid out the back door.

  As she made her way inside the garage, Mia felt a stab of guilt. Whitney was right above her, sleeping. Not knowing that she was getting ready to enter a life filled with loneliness and pain. The stairs that led up to Whitney’s apartment were outside at the rear of the garage. Mia knew she needed to offer Whitney one last chance to join her. She was about to step out when she heard the side door swing open.

  The idea of getting caught before she even left the property was too much for Mia. She dropped to the floor and hid in the darkness. She felt around till she found a large metal rod and grabbed it. She was more than prepared to use the device on anyone who tried to stop her. As her eyes adjusted to the dark Mia was able to see the outline of the other person’s feet under the car. They were wearing a pair of fluffy slippers.

  “Mia,” Whitney said. “I know it’s you. I saw you sneak out of the house.”

  Groaning, Mia rose to her feet. “You scared me. I’m leaving. Tonight. Now.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning.” Whitney turned around.

  “I’m serious, and I have a guide, a real one.”

  “Who?”

  “Andrew.”

  “Liar.”

  “It’s the truth. I’m supposed to pick him up. He’s walking toward the highway; he wanted to travel before his enlistment date and he’ll see me to the border. If you want to come you still can, but it’s now or never.”

  “You’re full of it. I’m going back to bed.”

  “I am dead serious.”

  Mia spotted a pair of scissors lying on a workbench. She grabbed them and with one quick snip chopped off her entire ponytail, cementing her boy disguise.

  “Your mother is going to freak out,” Whitney said.

  “Don’t stay. Please come with me. We can do this together. You can have a better life somewhere else, a life of your choosing,” Mia pleaded. She felt tears welling up at the thought of Whitney working as a servant for the government or as a bride with no free will, blindly serving her mate.

  She decided not to wait for Whitney’s response. She needed to show her the escape was happening. Mia opened the door to one of her father’s cars and sat down. She pulled down the visor and a set of keys fell into her lap. She felt around for the ignition, hoping not to lose her edge with Whitney.

  “You are serious.” Whitney’s eyes widened.

  “I am going to sit right here for ten minutes. Then I am going to start this thing up and leave, with or without you.”

  Mia stared straight ahead. As soon as Whitney left the garage, Mia calmed herself and placed the key in the ignition. Her hand was shaking. She reached into her bag and pulled out the article, studying the picture. She closed her eyes and with a quick rip shredded the paper, knowing it was too dangerous to hold on to. And partly for her own relief. Mia knew she would continue to obsess over the article and not focus on her getaway if it wasn’t destroyed. She didn’t need it anymore. She looked at the tiny shreds and wondered if she had made a mistake, if this all was a mistake, but she couldn’t look back now. The article’s remains would be scattered along the road. Mia thought it was a fitting good-bye to her former life.

  Her mind went back to the car. She hadn’t been in one for a long time. It was rare that her parents took her off the property. The last time had been over a year ago. Mia had cut herself chopping vegetables and her father needed to take her to the doctor right away. He wanted to make sure there was no scar. She could remember only the pain in her finger, not how he operated the car.

  The vehicle didn’t seem that complicated, though; she’d watched plenty of her father’s farmhands start up and drive tractors. It was always from a distance, but the machines seemed similar; she was sure she could figure it out.

  Looking in the rearview mirror, Mia examined her hair. She felt no regret for having chopped off her locks but still needed some touch-ups to make her look manlier. She laughed at this thought, because not trying was what made a haircut masculine.

  The noise of the main garage door opening startled Mia. Just as she had hoped, Whitney appeared and slid into the passenger seat. Mia was shocked at Whitney’s sudden transformation; her clothes and new haircut made it difficult to tell she wasn’t a boy.

  But then Whitney opened her mouth and all illusions vanished. “For the record, I am doing this for me. I think you are insane and making a huge mistake. I doubt anyone will even notice or care I am gone.”

  “Okay,” Mia said. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t.”

  “How did you get ready so fast?”

  “I told you, I’m a planner. One of the first things I did was pick out my boy gear, something you obviously didn’t do.” With that Whitney reached into her bag and pulled out a hat, placing it on Mia’s head. “Just try to stay out of anyone’s sight.”

  Never ceasing to amaze, Whitney also pulled out a map. She unfolded it to show the layout of the area. Mia d
idn’t understand any of it. Whitney pointed her finger to a place labeled IOWA.

  “This is the best I could find. It’s very old and has the old names on it, but I think it’s still good. Now, where are we meeting Andrew?”

  “He’s just walking toward the highway.”

  “I am going to guess and say this big, thick road is the highway.” Whitney pointed again. “We are here. So head down the driveway and then make a right.”

  Mia flipped the key and the car growled to a start. She looked at all the handles and the buttons but wasn’t sure which one to push.

  “What are you doing? Drive before someone hears us!”

  In a moment of panic, Mia began pushing everything she could. The windshield wipers ran and the lights flashed on and off. She tapped the floor pedals, and the engine revved. She moved one of the levers, and the car flew forward out of the open garage.

  Mia gave Whitney a guilty smile. She hit the road and turned right. Mia thought she would feel anxious and scared, but instead she felt peace drift over her. She was on her way out of this world.

  The ride was awkward and bumpy, and Whitney wasn’t doing much but criticizing. After about an hour grinding down the road and into the night, they were nearing the highway.

  “Keep your eyes open. He should be walking along the road now.” Mia slowed the car to a crawl.

  “How in the world did you get him to agree to help?” Whitney asked. “He never seemed like much of a rule breaker. I always got the impression he liked your father.”

  “Well, it wasn’t difficult.” Mia shrugged. “He apologized for running into me the other day and we got to talking. But he does have some weird rules. Like when we pick him up, don’t talk to him, don’t look at him, and don’t say a word.”

  “I’ve never spoken to him before; why should now be any different?” Whitney said. “I think I see someone.”

  Recognizing the figure as Andrew, Mia jerked the car over to the side of the road. Butterflies flew into her stomach as he opened the back door.

  “Are you heading south?” he asked.

  Mia kept her head straight forward and nodded. Andrew climbed into the backseat and closed the door.

  “I thought I wouldn’t find a ride till morning; not many travelers come through here except cargo trucks.”

  Approaching the entrance to the highway, Mia followed the sign leading south. The three of them continued on in silence. Whitney appeared confused by Andrew’s demeanor. Mia knew it was just a matter of moments until Whitney realized that she had lied.

  “Sir, I don’t mean any disrespect, but you know the speed limit is sixty-five out here?” Andrew said from the backseat. “It feels like you’re not going much over twenty.”

  Mia looked down at the speedometer and realized that was what he was referring to. She pressed down hard on the pedal, and the car flung into high gear. Mia was glad that the hum of the engine overtook the awkward silence.

  Glancing in the rearview mirror, Mia got a glimpse of Andrew; he was staring out the window as the cornstalks flew by. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Whitney giving her the stare-down, having figured out Mia’s deceit. Mia was just relieved that Whitney wasn’t saying anything to blow their cover.

  Chapter 11

  Joy is abundant in all marriages. Even previously mundane tasks are imbued with a new spark, and the happier the husband becomes, the larger the spark.

  —The Registry Guide for Girls

  No one spoke a word for the next few hours. Mia felt as if the silence was choking her. On occasion she glanced over at Whitney, whose angry expression had been replaced by a sleepy one. Mia had no clue where they were. She hoped Mexico wasn’t too far. A loud ping started coming from the dashboard. Mia looked and saw a little icon flashing, but wasn’t sure what it meant.

  “You’re almost out of gas,” Andrew said. “Pull over. Do you have a can in the trunk?”

  Mia had thought he was asleep. The sound of his voice made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She steered the car toward the side of the road but continued to coast, wanting to move as far as possible.

  “Stop the car,” Andrew said with a chill in his voice. “You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?”

  Mia shrugged, still not wanting to speak. She hit the brakes hard and the car jolted to a stop. Whitney was sprung from her sleep and smacked her head on the windshield. Pulling her hand over her face, she let out a yelp of pain.

  “Are you okay?” Andrew asked from the backseat.

  Whitney continued to moan and clutch her face. Mia was frozen, looking straight out into the pitch-blackness of night. She was going to accidentally kill her best friend before they made it to safety. Mia wanted to comfort Whitney and make sure she was all right, but before she could move, Andrew jumped out of the car and opened the passenger-side door.

  “Let me take a look,” he said almost gently, pulling Whitney’s hand down to examine her eye. Mia glanced over at them and noticed Whitney’s tears were subsiding while Andrew finished checking her out. His tall, lanky frame didn’t look intimidating when he crouched down. But even in the dark his eyes were still a powerful force. He caught Mia staring and they grew cold and hard.

  “I’m sorry, guy, but what were you thinking?” Andrew asked. “Is this your first night behind the wheel?”

  Mia gripped the steering wheel and shook her head.

  “It looks like your friend is fine, he’ll just end up with a shiner, but you need to drive more carefully.”

  “Yeah, be more careful,” Whitney said through short sobs.

  “You should have been wearing your seat belt, so it’s not all his fault,” Andrew said before rising to his full height.

  He walked over toward the driver’s side and leaned against Mia’s window.

  “You’re out of gas. The sign back there said the nearest station is fifteen miles away and I don’t think anyone is going to give you a ride.”

  Andrew continued walking toward the back and reached in to grab his satchel. Throwing the strap over his shoulder, he began walking away. “Thanks for the lift.”

  Panic struck Mia. She looked over at Whitney, who was still clutching her face.

  “That hurt. What’s a shiner?” Whitney asked.

  Mia mouthed the word “sorry,” swung open the driver’s-side door, and called out, “Wait.”

  She was already running toward him as she spoke. Once they met she tried her best to deepen her voice. “Can’t you help us? We’re not from around here.”

  “Well, your car has local plates . . .” Andrew’s voice started to trail off as he walked back toward the car. “I recognize this car. It’s one of Mr. Morrissey’s.”

  Andrew shoved Mia to the side and got a better look at the vehicle. He began examining the inside and looked at Whitney, who was still wiping away tears.

  “He sent us to come give you a ride. Wherever you want,” Mia said. “We’re new hires. First night on the job.”

  “Take off your hat.”

  Mia made no attempt to move.

  Andrew lunged forward and ripped the cap off her head. “You,” he said accusingly. “Let me guess, the crying baby is the manager’s daughter. What are you two doing?”

  “Running away, to Mexico.” Mia took a risk and came clean. “I was hoping you would help us at least get to the border.”

  “Help you? I’ll help you—by making sure you’re escorted safely back to your father’s house.”

  “I’m not going back. I’m never going back. I would rather die than marry that man. With your help I can avoid that fate.”

  Andrew scoffed, walked toward her, and grabbed her arm. He began pulling her toward Whitney. Mia squirmed. Andrew was more than double her size, but she managed to swing her foot in front of his and trip him. She curled herself around to force them both to land on their backs. Mia stood up, but it was clear Andrew’d had the wind knocked out of him.

  “Don’t you dare touch me like that ever
again,” Mia said. Her mind was raging.

  She watched him collect himself and was a little surprised when he refused to make eye contact with her. She thought of him defending the young boy. He seemed more of a protector than an assailant. She was about to plead her case again when he rose and started walking north.

  “Where are you going?” she asked as she chased after him.

  “If I can’t take you home I’m at least going there and telling your father. Giving him some sort of information about where you are.”

  Panic flooded Mia. She had to do something to make him stay.

  “If you do, I’ll tell everyone you abducted us,” Mia said defiantly, desperately.

  “Nobody will believe you.” Andrew shook his head and kept walking. “Your father knows I would never do anything like that.”

  “You’re wrong. They will pin it all on you. My father, my fiancé—I’m sure RAG agents will have been called in by the time you get there. I bet they’ll be thrilled to have someone to blame.” Mia felt like she was starting to get through to him. “You’re not stupid. Have you ever heard of a girl just running away? There is always an abductor. Your picture will be all over the paper. You’ll go to jail or have life in service. Your reputation means nothing to anyone. Your life is not as valuable as mine.”

  Andrew stopped walking and turned back toward Mia. She could almost feel the synapses firing in his brain. She kept still and confident and hoped he wouldn’t call her bluff. After staring at her for a minute, a look of defeat crossed his face.

  “What do you want from me?” Andrew asked.

  “We need you to help us get to Mexico,” Mia said shakily.

  “And what is your plan for accomplishing this?”

  “You.”

  Andrew looked stunned. “You don’t even have a plan! What made you think I knew how to get to Mexico?”

  “Well . . .” Mia felt her power slipping. “You know how boys act. You know how to travel. Just get us to the border and make people think we are boys traveling together. I’ll take care of it from there.”