The Registry

by Shannon Stoker

  Carter pulled out the chair next to Mia. She ran her hand through her short hair, wishing she had her long locks back.

  “What time is it?” Mia asked.

  Carter didn’t respond, just leaned over her and pointed to the bottom corner of the computer; the clock read 12:02 P.M.

  “You sleep okay, princess?”

  “Stop calling me that. You have no clue what I’ve been through to get here; I’m not a princess.”

  “You’re right. You should be a queen or a goddess.”

  Mia couldn’t believe a boy was being so forward. If anyone had spoken to her like this when she lived at home, her father would have had him beaten.

  She turned her head toward him, ready to stand her ground, but was met with his lips against hers. At first she pulled back, but he had already slid his hand behind her head, holding her in a gentle grasp. This was her first kiss. An image of Andrew flickered before her eyes, but she pushed it out and returned Carter’s touch. He pulled away and smiled; it was over before it had even started.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” He winked. “I hope you’re not offended.”

  Mia brought her hand to her lips; she didn’t know what she was. They tingled where his had been.

  “Next time, ask” was all she could manage to spit out.

  He laughed a little and nodded. “I do have to get back.” He stood up. “I’m sure we’ll get some time together soon. Remember, books are better than computers.”

  Mia was flustered. She didn’t want him to leave. Not so soon. She blurted out the first question that came to mind.

  “Do you have any history books? Anything on how the Registry started?”

  Carter made the same face everyone did when she asked that question. It looked like his interest was piqued. He glanced around before he sat down.

  “They don’t include that in any books. You won’t find it anywhere. I’m confident I know why, though. My dad told me.”

  Mia looked at him with intensity. She was curious about his answer. She hoped it was long and he could stay with her.

  “All over the world women never had many rights. Not until about a hundred and fifty years ago—I’m guessing on that number. It was never as severe as the Registry, but it wasn’t good for them,” Carter said. “Governments always need money. In other countries people give half their paychecks to their leaders. My dad has a one-thousand-dollar job, he pockets a thousand dollars. But in any other country he would only take five hundred; the rest would go to the country. Same if you buy something. A two-dollar loaf of bread costs three dollars. The extra money goes to the government.”

  Mia wasn’t sure what this lesson had to do with her question. She found Carter’s story just as unbelievable as the rest but let him continue as she focused on his mismatched eyes.

  “We were like that. Then about a century ago . . .”

  “The Great War.” Mia finished for him.

  “All men had to go fight, at least all young men. Some women went voluntarily, too. The politicians who stayed behind used this time to their advantage. They released a disease on the population.”

  “Why?” Mia couldn’t believe a government could be so cruel.

  “Women had rights; they were equals. They were taking control. Some of the old men didn’t like that. They unleashed some disease that was supposed to target only women. It wasn’t supposed to kill them, just slow them down. It would put women behind men again. It was too strong, though; it took out everyone. It was quick, too. In twenty-four hours it killed well over half the Americans, then just vanished.

  “We had to rebuild. That’s when the Registry came into place. It wasn’t designed to be this severe. The government didn’t realize how much money men were willing to spend on a wife. They made boatloads auctioning off the remaining women. The females who were serving in the war and lived were forced to join their counterparts back home.

  “There were still lots of males and not enough wives to go around, so mandatory enlistment stayed. It gave the men a place to go. Everything bounced back. The government had loads of money and a huge army. Men got to keep their whole paycheck. Things just evolved into the Registry.”

  Mia looked at the ground and tried to process Carter’s version of history. She wished there was some way to verify it. She didn’t have much time to think before his finger was on her chin.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  Mia’s brain didn’t have the time to process his request; she felt herself barely nod before he tilted her head up and met her lips with his. She found the second kiss even more enjoyable; it was soft and wet.

  “If you keep distracting me I’ll miss the whole day,” he said, and kissed her again before standing up.

  With a wink and a smile he walked up the stairs, leaving Mia stunned and dazed sitting at the bar. Her lips tingled with warmth as she ran her fingers across them. Carter was simple, nice, smart, and handsome. Mia had kissed a boy of her own free will, or at least returned a kiss. All her fears of Grant and of Andrew’s going into service melted away. The feeling was glorious.

  Chapter 52

  All the men you meet during service have the same goals and outlook as you; it is important you all work as one.

  —The Boy’s Guide to Service

  Have you worked as a carpenter before?” Rod asked as Andrew helped him put up a wall to the gazebo they were building.

  “No. Farmwork, fields, that sort of thing.”

  Andrew was enjoying his time with Rod. He seemed interested in Andrew’s responses.

  Andrew pulled out a screw and fastened the wall to the post. He thought this was a terrible structure, but Rod told him they didn’t always design. This was a just-build job.

  “Let’s take a break, rest till Carter gets back,” Rod said. He wiped sweat from his forehead.

  The heat was excruciating; Andrew didn’t understand how he would be able to wait days in between showers. There was nowhere to escape the sun. Besides the constant sweat, his shoulders and chest were becoming splotched red with sunburn. Rod noticed too and tossed him some sunscreen and water.

  “So when is your enlistment date?”

  “A few weeks.”

  “Got a certain date?”

  “August fourth.”

  “Are you going to go?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re a brave man, fighting for your country. I respect that.”

  “Thank you.”

  Andrew was surprised to hear admiration on this topic from Rod.

  “I looked Mia up online last night. There’s no mention of you anywhere, or even a teen abductor,” Rod said. “Now, she made it out like people are after her, smart, dangerous people; how is it they don’t know about you?”

  “I’m sure they do.”

  “What do you think will happen when you enlist?”

  “They don’t know my call number or service day. They can’t put a flag on me.”

  “How do you know they don’t know that?”

  Andrew was growing frustrated and impatient with the questions, but Rod had a way of phrasing them that made him want to answer. Andrew thought long and hard before he did.

  “If they knew them they would have made them public, and I gave Mr. Morrissey fake ones, so they can’t trace them.”

  “I don’t know how well-read you are on Grant Marsden, but the guy’s a billionaire. He’s won several awards and was a decorated soldier. Personally I think he’s just a war profiteer. Everything that man does is plotted and planned. If you want my opinion, he doesn’t want to catch you, not yet at least. I don’t know if it’s to make some example out of you or some sick game.”

  “He’s dead.”

  “That’s what you said. But isn’t there a chance he already has something in place?”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “I know it’s dangerous out in the world for unserved American men, but some countries don’t care. I’m not telling you what to do one way or the
other, but you’re pretty deep in this and I would hate to see you walk into a trap.”

  Andrew listened to Rod’s advice. He thought the man expected him to freak out or snap. But Andrew wasn’t fazed. He had known this all along. He thought back to the day Mia threatened him. He’d made this decision right then and there. It was just now that he was coming to terms with it. He turned, looked at Rod, and nodded his head. Rod slapped him gently on the back and nodded as well.

  “I’m sure your decision will make that girl happy,” Rod said.

  Mia was not a topic Andrew wanted to discuss. He didn’t know how to talk to her or how to treat her like a person. He kept replaying the night in Saint Louis over and over in his head. The horrible things he’d said to her and the way he’d treated her were haunting him. He kept asking himself why he’d acted that way, but he had no answer. She didn’t know him. The horror he was capable of. He’d convinced himself she was better off without him and he had no chance. So when she put herself out there—beautiful, innocent, and trusting—it scared him.

  “Wooooo-hooooo!” Carter said.

  He walked toward the men, spinning his drill in the air. Andrew couldn’t understand how someone like Rod could have a son like him. One was intelligent and down-to-earth, while the other was a showboat. He wished Carter would just stay home every day; the time without him was pleasant.

  Chapter 53

  Some husbands choose to gift their wives with rings. These honor the ways of our ancestors but also mark the first jeweled present bestowed upon the bride. Even without a ring, it is expected that a husband will adorn his wife with dazzling finery.

  —The Registry Guide for Girls

  As the day went on Mia grew disinterested with the computer, finding only American propaganda and no information on what had spawned the Registry. All she could learn about the Great War was that it had taken place in the Middle East—which, it took Mia a while to realize, was not an area of her homeland—and that America had saved the day. It didn’t even say for whom or who was defeated. She was about to give up when an idea struck her. She went to the search bar and typed in “Sam’s Spot.”

  She clicked on the website and was surprised by the layout. It was columns of different things to buy. Each category looked like it had a million listings. It really was dumb luck that Rod had found them. She clicked on the “Pets” section. There were lots of dogs, birds, cats, cages, and supplies for sale. They all looked authentic to her. Mia wondered if people from other countries could post.

  After staring at the home screen for several moments she clicked on the “Vacations” tab. Under that section she felt lucky to see an “International” button. Lots of listings came up. She skimmed through the topics before clicking on a posting. She came upon a Mexico listing and opened it.

  First-class resort in Puerto Vallarta. Perfect for honeymooners or postservice getaway. NO UNSERVED MEN.

  Pictures of a fancy resort decorated the rest of the page. The place looked beautiful but wasn’t what Mia had in mind. She clicked back out to the listings. She scrolled farther down the page and checked several ads. They all seemed the same. She was about to give up when one caught her eye: “The Guatemalan Way.” This ad seemed different from the others. There was only one picture. Mia swore it was one she had seen in an earlier ad.

  Have you ever wanted to get away? Feeling the pressure? Let it fade away The Guatemalan Way.

  It was small. Mia scrolled all the way down. There was no more information. She clicked the “Contact this seller” option. A small box popped up and the cursor blinked. Mia wasn’t sure if this was a good idea. She didn’t know how she would receive a response, as there wasn’t even a space to write a return address. She also didn’t want to fall into a trap and lead someone right to Rod and Carter.

  TGW. The Guatemalan Way. The Great War.

  She decided that was enough of a connection for her.

  Hi,

  I would like to learn more about The Guatemalan Way. Why was it created? Because of all the dead-tired people back home? Currently in the process of traveling. Thinking about adding The Guatemalan Way as a stop.

  As soon as she hit “Send” she regretted her decision. The last thing she wanted was to bring trouble down on her new friends. She closed the Web page and slammed the laptop shut.

  The rest of the day went by slowly. She flipped through some of the books, but the earliest one was thirty years old and she didn’t think the information would be accurate enough. Carter’s kiss made it difficult for her to concentrate on reading anyhow.

  Sorting through the wardrobe seemed like the next-best idea. The clothes fit her for the most part and were only a little long. There were several dresses; most of them were flowing and went way past her feet. They were from another generation. She’d never minded the boys’ clothes, but she was starting to relish dressing like a girl again. Eventually she decided on a sleeveless, long navy blue linen dress with multicolored embroidered flowers on the top. She would have loved to hem it, but a small ruffle with red trim went along the bottom, and she figured these clothes had sentimental value.

  She pulled out a hairbrush, a fake red flower, and some makeup and went to the bathroom. Her hair was so short it was hard to do much with it, but she brushed back what she could and tried to add some volume, giving the illusion of more hair. Then she pinned the red flower behind her ear. She had lost interest in makeup over the last few months, but she figured she would play around with it to kill time. She spent the next hour applying and removing different shades. Mia thought she looked best with black mascara on her top lashes and pale pink lip gloss.

  While she was examining herself in the mirror the unmistakable sound of the door opening made Mia jump with excitement. Her efforts at wasting time had paid off and now her friends were home. Andrew came barreling down the stairs. He didn’t have a shirt on and his skin looked patchy and red. Sweat glistened in his hair. Mia flushed when she found herself staring.

  She smiled, hoping he would comment on her getup, but instead he muttered something unintelligible and popped open his room. Mia’s heart hurt with another reminder of his lack of feelings. She didn’t dwell on this long and redirected her thoughts toward Carter.

  Footsteps started down the stairs; Mia was sure it was him and tried to relax, not wanting to seem too posed or needy. She looked away from the steps and toward the ceiling.

  “What are you looking at?” Andrew asked. He walked behind her. He had a stack of clothing, ready to take his shower.

  Mia scrambled to think of a response but no words made their way out of her mouth.

  “All the curtains are closed; nobody should be by. Why don’t you come upstairs for dinner?” The voice, from the stairs, belonged to Rod.

  Mia hid her disappointment and was thrilled to have an excuse to avoid Andrew’s question.

  “You look different. Like a woman now,” Rod said.

  Mia held out the sides of her dress, giving a full view. “Thank you for lending me the clothes.”

  “Better to lend them to you than Carter,” Rod said.

  “I’ve never seen embroidery like this before. How old are these?”

  “About eighteen years old.”

  “They look older. Not the quality, just the design.”

  “Carter’s mom made them; she was an old soul. Living in a later decade never suited her.”

  “What happened to her?” Mia asked. She couldn’t wait to hear the response. She believed she already knew the answer. She looked forward to hearing the love story. But Rod did not have the same reaction; his lips turned into a frown.

  “Why don’t you just come up for dinner? You too, Andrew, when you’re ready.”

  “Won’t take long,” Andrew said as he entered the bathroom.

  It had never occurred to her that Rod would get upset. She wondered how far the version in her head was from the truth.

  Chapter 54

  There is no gray area when it comes to war
. All others are wrong and we are always right. It is futile to face us in any battle. Your active participation fuels the futility and anguish our enemies feel.

  —The Boy’s Guide to Service

  The city lights blocked all the stars from the night sky. Grant stood on his hotel room’s balcony. He found looking at the blank horizon soothing. The noise from the traffic below added to his relaxed state. He was happier in a city but knew this feeling would be short-lived. He could hear Rex and Agent Ross coming up behind him. He was sure it was to tell him the hunt was back on.

  “Gentlemen.” Grant turned and raised his arms. “What do you have for me this evening?”

  Agent Ross remained in his black suit, while Rex continued to maintain the look of a soldier. Grant understood that they wore these uniforms to force others to give them power. Grant, on the other hand, didn’t care about someone giving him power; he took it. Today he’d opted for pink-and-blue plaid shorts and a salmon polo with loafers. Rex was accustomed to his boss’s style, and Agent Ross was getting used to it, too.

  “The surveillance video showed them on the number fourteen to Yuma, Southwest Area,” Rex said.

  “We already know that. Cut to the new stuff.” Grant rubbed his hands together.

  “The train makes about fifteen stops between Saint Louis and Yuma,” Rex said.

  “About fifteen or fifteen?” Grant was getting annoyed. Rex knew he liked straight facts.

  “There are seventeen stops, sir,” Ross said, trying to contain his grin.

  “Nice work, Agent Ross.” Grant thought it was always important to create some animosity among his colleagues. “Drop the ‘sir’ thing. Call me Grant.”

  Grant enjoyed the twitch coming to Rex’s eyes. Even though they were about the same age, both of these men wanted Grant’s approval. Grant was more than happy to dangle it in front of them and use it to his advantage.