The Registry

by Shannon Stoker

  “Sorry, sir, but I don’t know his number or nothing like that. I can’t even think of his name. We only see each other in passing. He’ll be here in a few hours though; we have opposite twelve-hour shifts.”

  Leonard tried to hide his excitement, but Grant knew that since they’d walked in, all Leonard and Ross had wanted to do was go back out to the fights. They looked to him for approval. Grant knew he was being soft, but there was little else to do in the area. He bit the bullet and took a sip of the stale beer.

  “Hey, barkeep! You got a betting book? Looks like we’re trapped here a couple of hours,” Grant said.

  Both Leonard and Ross grunted with happiness. The two of them looked at the spread among tonight’s fighters. Grant decided to let them enjoy it, since he had a feeling the rest of the night could be difficult. He thought about how lucky they were that he was such a nice guy.

  Chapter 35

  A woman should never be in public without her husband. Married life is a gift; if the wife is seen without her mate it will spoil the grand appearances they make together.

  —The Registry Guide for Girls

  Clothes were flying out of Alex’s closet. Mia and Whitney dove to pick up the pieces they liked.

  “This is perfect for you,” Alex said. He held up a silk button-down and handed it to Whitney. “Go try it on right away.”

  Mia knew there was no way that outfit would work. It looked more like women’s clothing. Whitney was relishing the attention and scooped up some more pieces before hopping into the bathroom.

  “I haven’t seen a fashion show since the last time Frank let me get him new clothes. That was months ago!” Alex said.

  He reached up to the top shelf and pulled down a box of clothes that still had tags. “And he won’t wear what I buy him, anyway.”

  Mia went through the box and wasn’t surprised. There were fitted pants and satin paisley-print tops. Alex had a different outlook on the world than anyone else she’d ever met. Now was a good time to find out more about his unique perspective.

  “Do you know why the Registry exists? Why our world is this way?” she asked.

  He stopped going through clothes, frowned, and sat down on the enormous bed.

  “Sweetie, I wish I did for sure. I know it’s not as old as the government wants you to think. Maybe only a hundred years.”

  “Well, then how did the armed services start? Why do people throw away sons? You have to know something.”

  “Because people are greedy and sons aren’t worth any money,” he answered.

  Mia didn’t understand why no one could answer her questions. The frustration grew inside her.

  “Don’t look so sad,” Alex said. “I’ll tell you what I’ve heard.”

  The sides of Mia’s mouth curled up a little.

  “There was a great war, about a hundred years ago. All able-bodied men were called into action and sent somewhere across the ocean. That’s how mandatory enlistment got its start.”

  Alex’s version matched up with Andrew’s. Mia wanted Alex to tell her something new.

  “Did women ever serve?” Mia asked.

  “I heard they used to have women soldiers, but after the population scare they were needed back here more than on the front lines.” Alex didn’t seem interested in female soldiers. He continued. “See, all the men were away. The women back home were vulnerable. Something happened. I don’t know what. But the home population took a big hit. When the war was over there wasn’t much of a home to come back to. Americans had to build from the ground up again. That’s how the Registry was started.”

  Mia thought back to Whitney’s explanation. Alex’s ideas didn’t match up with the population-control story.

  “What happened here? That wiped out the women, I mean?” Mia asked.

  “I’ve heard so many explanations. Other countries invaded, big bombs, plagues, nuclear explosions. You think of it, I’ve heard it,” Alex commented.

  “Why wouldn’t the government want the people to know? I know the Registry saved the country after it almost collapsed. But what caused the war?” Alex looked stunned at Mia’s comments.

  “I guess I never thought about it. In military training, they make it clear that we won the war and earned the respect of the world. It would’ve felt . . . unpatriotic to ask. And up till Steffy, I didn’t really question much.”

  If this was the version Alex found credible, Mia was curious what other explanations he’d heard. Before she had the opportunity to ask, the bathroom door swung open and Whitney stepped out in her silk shirt.

  “This is the most beautiful outfit I’ve ever worn,” she said as she twirled around. “But I don’t think I can pass for a lost boy.”

  Mia clapped her hands and laughed. Alex joined in. She let her concerns slip away and went back to sorting through the mess of clothing. The reason for the Registry’s existence, whatever it was, didn’t matter, at least not right now.

  Chapter 36

  Failure to report for service will result in an immediate death sentence. Reporting is your first act of courage.

  —The Boy’s Guide to Service

  Peals of laughter came from upstairs and Andrew was curious what the girls and Alex found so amusing. But he wasn’t curious enough to ask. Frank handed him another stack of blankets to line the back of the van with. It was a long drive to Saint Louis and they were going to keep the girls as comfy as possible. It was approaching midnight and the summer wind produced a slight chill. Andrew threw the bedding down and wished he could travel in the back. It would be nice to lie down, maybe even fall asleep.

  Even though the drive would take eight hours, Andrew doubted he would sleep at all. He had never been that far south, and while he had gone to school in a major city, he wasn’t a fan of big-city life. Frank was no help. He was sending them off but had no clue to whom or for how long.

  So far, Frank had been a gracious host. Andrew took his first real shower in days and Frank gave him some new clothes. Andrew was happy to have a pair of jeans with a plain white T-shirt on again. He was scared the pants wouldn’t be long enough, but they were a perfect fit. Because they were leaving so soon, there was not enough time to wash their clothing, so Frank gave Andrew some extra items.

  He laughed when he thought about the sorry state of the packs the girls had originally brought with them. This time, Andrew got them all ready and made sure they had necessities like clothes, food, and water. He chose hearty food that would be filling and last awhile. Frank thought this was unnecessary and wanted to give him the leftover chicken, but Andrew knew that would hold only for a day at best, and he needed something more reliable.

  “I think that about does it. We’re ready to go.” Frank leaned against the house as Andrew closed the door to the cab, dropping his pack inside. “Before we get the girls down and say our good-byes, why don’t you and I talk?”

  Andrew had known this was coming. Frank wanted to talk about the knife incident. Andrew had been hoping to avoid this. He had no intention of apologizing. He felt his actions were appropriate. He had promised Mia he would help her, and that included providing protection whenever necessary.

  “Maybe you should part ways with the ladies. You could stay here with us if you want,” Frank said. Andrew was shocked by his suggestion. “You haven’t been identified yet. They’re blaming this whole thing on a trucker, but the deeper you get into it, the harder it will be to pull yourself out.”

  Andrew understood Frank’s warning; if he were caught, it would be death, or life in service. Taking into account the whole situation, odds were on the former. The memory of the young fighter he had killed came to mind, as did the image of Mia. He couldn’t seem to get her out of his head. The way she made him feel was unnatural. Like he knew he should stay away from her but couldn’t bring himself to do it. He knew it would be impossible to stop now. He shook his head. Frank nodded in return.

  “That’s how I thought you would respond, but I had to tell you anyway.
You’re not planning on crossing that border, are you?”

  Andrew shook his head again. He knew that was a crazy idea.

  “Good boy. You’ll be surprised how fast the four years will go by, and then you can find her. I’m sure she’ll wait for you.”

  What was Frank talking about? Andrew asked himself. Who would he be looking for? Mia. No. Frank had the wrong idea. The thought of waiting around for a girl angered Andrew. He was a man; he was entitled to pick his mate. He would earn that right when he finished his service. He would never have to search one out. He could feel the rage bubbling inside of him as Frank continued to talk. He wanted to wring the man’s neck but instead took a deep breath and gritted his teeth before interrupting.

  “You are mistaken. I am helping her because she blackmailed me. I have no plans to contact her ever again. I am an American male and I plan on getting a girl through the Registry after I complete my time and am ready to settle down.”

  Andrew could tell Frank was surprised by his response, but he also knew the tone in which it was delivered closed the conversation. Frank gave Andrew a meek smile before yelling inside for the girls.

  Alex walked down with Mia and Whitney. All three were smiling over their new friendship. Both of the girls had taken showers and changed clothes as well. Whitney’s black eye was starting to heal, and her jeans and plaid shirt hid her gender almost as well as the shiner.

  Mia was toned down, too. She wore a pair of black work pants that looked like a tent, belted no doubt. Her new top was a gray mechanic’s shirt. It did a better job of hiding her figure than the T-shirt had. She still looked like a girl, though. Andrew looked her up and down again. Her smile was what did it; it was light and feminine. It almost made him smile, just seeing it. Andrew looked away; he needed to stop thinking about her features. All that mattered was that she pass as a boy, and overall, Andrew was happy with the transformation. He didn’t think he would have to worry as much about their being found out with their new apparel.

  Andrew walked up and shook Alex’s hand before heading to the van. He climbed into the driver’s seat and waited. He was taking the first shift on the road, giving Frank the chance to catch some sleep. After all, Frank had to turn around and drive right back.

  Andrew glanced back toward the house and noticed the tears in the girls’ eyes. He thought it was ridiculous how upset they were. If they wanted to act like men, they needed to stop it with the tears. But there stood Alex blubbering with them. Andrew wanted to honk the horn and hurry them along. It was crazy how all of them were behaving. They were strangers.

  The good-byes were said, and Frank helped the girls into the back. He gave Alex a short hug and slid into the passenger seat. Frank repeated the directions, but Andrew didn’t need him to. If anything, the Midwest Area was predictable, and the entire trip would be mostly on one road.

  Andrew backed the van out and took off. He was happy when Frank started to doze; Andrew wanted the quiet. He tried to focus his energy on reciting the military codes he had memorized. His dream was still to make the air force, and he had to study before the placement exam. He had dreamed of piloting planes since he learned of flight. His mind wandered to flying fighter jets across the sky. Yet even in his fantasies, Mia’s face seemed a constant he couldn’t shake. He reminded himself that she was just some pretty girl. There was nothing special about her. He snapped his attention back to the road and focused on his studies again as he drove through the dark.

  Chapter 37

  Postservice is always a period of adjustment; reenlistment is an option for those who miss the exhilaration of battle.

  —The Boy’s Guide to Service

  Grant prided himself on being a man of structure. He was trained well and knew how to keep himself in top physical and mental shape. Staying up this late was not part of his daily practice. It was almost two A.M. and the boring Midwest Area scenery was just as dull at night as during the day. He drove the agent’s black SUV, which had no sunroof to let in any glimpse of the stars. The men were too interested in the fighting youths to notice that Grant had slipped away with their car. He knew where he was going and what he needed to do. Leonard and Ross were of no use to him, at this point in time anyway.

  The second-shift bartender had been much more responsive. He remembered a thin new boy, looking for honest work. It was Grant’s lucky night, because the worker also remembered who he left with. A wealthy man named Frank Piozzi, who lived well below his means in a tiny farmhouse about an hour away. Grant thought it was odd that someone who lived an hour away could be considered a local, but a lot of things out this way were odd.

  Grant wasn’t excited about picking up his wife. He wasn’t sure what her punishment would be yet. The thought of her running away and rejecting him was driving him to rage. She did not have the right to make any decisions, let alone turn him down. Her punishment would have to be severe. He was debating making her kill her friends, or at least watch helplessly while he did. Maybe if she could learn her place their marriage could still work. Either way, he planned on taking all three of them back to his estate, another reason to ditch the agents.

  The dilapidated house came into view. The bartender’s directions were dead-on, and it would have been impossible to miss this place. Grant threw the car into park and pulled out his bag from the backseat. It was filled with some specialty items from his own collection: several handguns, knives, and other fighting equipment. He smiled to himself when he pulled out what he was looking for.

  Lunar-vision glasses. They looked just like sunglasses, a little stylish even. These were one of his earliest inventions. They were smaller than night-vision goggles, and unlike those bulky tools, they allowed the viewer to see everything as if it were day. There were no foggy green images. It was like having a personal sun. They didn’t go with his outfit, but he doubted anyone was going to comment on his fashion sense tonight.

  A barn loomed in the back of the house. Grant had a feeling that was where he would find his wife, fast asleep on some makeshift bed. He thought about how she’d chopped off her hair and decided he wouldn’t be able to show her off until it grew back. Another reason to maybe just kill her. He swung open the barn doors and scared a chicken, which flew low through the air in front of him.

  The stench was awful. Grant hated the smell of the whole area. It didn’t sound like the chicken had woken anyone, not that it mattered. He reached into his bag and pulled out a gun. He decided it would be easiest to hold one of them hostage in order to make the other two comply.

  After surveying the floor, his eyes caught a glimpse of the rickety stairs. He looked up at the loft and thought it was a good place to house boys. He cursed himself for not packing his heat sensor. He didn’t want to walk all the way to the top if nobody was there.

  Grant slowly walked up the steps, not wanting to wake anyone and lose whatever surprise he had left. He came upon the row of unused beds. He felt the first couple, and none of them were warm or looked slept in. It didn’t look like anyone had been there at all. Grant’s anger rose when he thought the bartender had lied to him and sent him on a wild goose chase. Even though the stairs were dangerous, Grant showed no fear as he walked down, kicking a feeding trough at the bottom of the steps.

  Grant began to head back toward the car. He was growing determined to destroy the bartender when he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. A fence, with parts painted white. He strolled over to examine it and noticed three brushes drying out. A coy smile crossed his face. They were here.

  He stared up at the creepy old house and assumed they were inside. Grant might not have been a country man, but he knew it was unheard of to house a laborer in your home. It was more common to force them to sleep on your lawn than under your roof.

  This discovery could mean only one thing. Piozzi knew. This changed Grant’s plan. At first he had thought of him as an innocent bystander, but now he was the responsible party in need of punishment. Grant was thrilled by t
his knowledge, pleased at how the night had turned out.

  It was simple to break into the old house. Grant just slid open the back door. He laughed to himself at how trusting people were in this area. While the interior was much finer than Grant had anticipated, the house was still small. He did a quick search through it. He noticed a pile of dirty clothes in the basement, far too many for one person, and five dishes set in the dishwasher. This was all the confirmation he needed to know that Mia was here.

  The array of pictures in the front room made it clear the Piozzis were a gay couple. Grant could not begin to comprehend what these men would have to gain from helping a runaway girl. He didn’t care either. The fact that they were helping her was enough to lock them up for the rest of their lives.

  Grant examined the rest of the house. Only one person was present. Grant was pleased the man didn’t wake up when Grant opened his bedroom door. Rather than act without a plan, Grant retreated back to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water while debating his next move.

  Based on some letters on the counter, Grant found out that the man’s name must be Alex. Grant did feel some relief at Mia’s absence. His game of cat and mouse was not over and he already had his next step lined up.

  He walked back upstairs and into the room where Alex was still fast asleep. Grant watched him for a moment. He was in a huge mahogany bed that took up almost the entire room. Everything was decorated in deep royal blues, including the man’s silk pajamas. Grant noted that while Alex looked in peak shape, he probably would not be a fighter and Grant had little to worry about. He removed his glasses, flipped on the light, sat on the bed, and introduced himself.

  “Hello, I’m Grant Marsden. You can call me Mr. Marsden.”

  The sleeping man jumped up, shocked by Grant’s presence. Grant watched as the man struggled to adjust to the new brightness. He noticed the clock; it was almost four A.M. He hated being up this late and hoped to wrap it up soon.