by Mara, Devi
"What's interesting?" she asked quietly.
He jerked his head to look at her. The foreign words blasted through her mind, rough and with an edge of irritation. She cried out at the sudden pain. When she looked up at him, the sound faded quickly.
"That is interesting."
Sarah started to open her mouth, when the door to the corridor opened.
"Sarah?" Luke's voice made her swing her gaze to Farran.
His head jerked toward the hall. She thought she heard a growl under the sound of Luke's footsteps.
"Handler Mackenzie?" Luke called, when she did not answer. His pace quickened and she saw Farran's back tense.
"I'm here," she answered, jumping down from the bench.
Farran did not look at her as she passed him, but she felt his anger like a burn against her skin. She stopped just outside the cell and forced a smile.
"I was worried I had missed you," Luke said, returning her smile. He pointedly avoided looking behind her.
Sarah felt Farran standing in the doorway of his cell. She knew without turning, his arms were crossed and he was scowling.
"What did you need, Luke?" She tensed at Farran’s low growl, but kept her gaze focused on the other handler.
"If you don't have plans-"
"Professional wisdom to impart? Or, maybe a warning? Tell me, human, how is your limp these days?"
Sarah's eyes widened at the viciousness of Farran's tone. Luke's gaze darkened and he glanced over her left shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Luke," Sarah blurted. She cringed at Farran's growl, but took a step toward the other handler. She peeked over her shoulder to see Farran's black gaze narrowed on Luke.
"No need to apologize," Luke said after a tense moment. He looked back at her and smiled tightly. "What else would a rabid dog act like than a rabid dog?"
Sarah felt the tiny hairs stand up on the back of her neck. Almost as if she could read his mind, she knew Farran was about to launch himself at the smaller man. In a burst of movement, she slammed her hand against the panel next to his cell. The security screens clamped down a split second after the Dem moved.
"Well done."
Sarah continued to stare at where Farran had disappeared behind the blackness. Luke's amusement made her clench her jaw, but she nodded.
"So, are you?"
Sarah looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
"Busy for dinner," Luke clarified.
"Oh..." Sarah bit her lip and glanced at the dark cell. "I guess not."
"Great. I know the perfect place." He turned away and started toward the door.
Sarah frowned.
...
"I've never seen you in civilian clothes. It's always just standard issue grays," Luke joked, looking across the table at her.
Sarah smiled and draped her coat over the back of the chair.
"I always wear my spare suit from home, so I don't have to change before my shift."
"And take one of the others home for the next day." Luke nodded. "Very clever. May I?"
Sarah blinked in surprise when he grasped her chair and pulled it away from the table. A tingle of pleasure went through her at the uncommon gesture. She nodded quickly and sat.
"Thank you." She watched him circle around the table to hang his coat on the chair across from hers.
"My pleasure. I hope that wasn't too old-fashioned of me."
She shook her head. "No. It was fine. I've just never had anyone do that for me before," she admitted, smoothing the napkin in front of her.
"I can hardly believe that."
Sarah looked up at the warm tone, unsure at the heat that filled her cheeks. She dropped her head. "That's nice of you to say. Thank you for dinner, also."
"You're welcome. Though, I admit it isn't completely selfless on my part. I've been meaning to talk to you."
Sarah blinked at him.
"About the elections and Farran," he supplied.
She nodded. "There seemed to be some history between the two of you..."
"I guess you could put it like that. My first day in The Corridor, he broke my left leg in three places and fractured six ribs," Luke explained in a flat tone.
Sarah gasped. "I'm so sorry! I had no idea." She chewed her bottom lip.
"How could you? It was a long time ago." He shook his head. "I only told you because I want you to remember what you’re dealing with." He let out a loud sigh. "I know it is sometimes easy to think of the Dems as people, but they aren't."
Sarah jerked her gaze away from the tabletop to look at him.
"I know you missed most of training, and your circumstances are complicated, but that is a point that is really hammered home. They aren't from here, so they don't act like us and they don't think like us."
Sarah twitched when his hand found hers on the table. He clasped her fingers gently.
"I know it's easy to assign human emotions to them, because they look like us. I sometimes think that just makes it worse. You don't expect them to act like monsters."
Sarah swallowed hard, but met his intent gaze.
"And they are monsters, Sarah. Remember that." At her nod, he released her hand and sat back in his chair. "Are you ready to order?"
She licked her dry lips and nodded. She watched him signal the waiter, silently musing on his words. It made sense. The Dems were like predators, always watching and calculating. She could tell Luke believed what he said, but it felt wrong somehow. Incomplete.
As Luke ordered for them, she stared down at the neatly rolled napkin in front of her. Her fingers skimmed over the soft linen and pristine silverware.
"Has it been a while since you went out for dinner?" Luke asked suddenly.
She looked up to see him watching her. She shook her head and returned her gaze to the table.
"I stop at the cafe on the square a few nights a week."
"They have good burgers," he offered.
She smiled and nodded, as the waiter returned with their drinks. She stared at the crimson liquid in her wine glass until after he left.
"I wasn't sure if you were a wine drinker..." Luke coughed and cleared his throat, reaching for his drink.
"I've never had it."
"Oh. Well, it's pretty good. I chose something sweeter than I would usually have with dinner." He waved toward her glass.
She reached for it, then paused. Fiddling with the stem of the crystal, she bit her bottom lip. "I was wondering it you had heard anything about the people running against Keane."
Luke watched her lift the glass to her lips and take a sip, before he answered.
"I know of three others who are aiming for the mayor seat, but most of them don't have the stomach for it."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"You have to deal with the rest of the world," he explained, taking a large sip of his wine. "A lot of people who like to pretend we don't exist." He sighed.
"Out of sight, out of mind," Sarah murmured.
Luke nodded. "Yes. Exactly. Running The Corridor is necessary, but they would prefer not to get their hands dirty."
"That's why we only get local news channels..."
"And why we only have landlines. And why we only got internet five years ago. And why our hospital is behind on technology. The world acts like we all have an infectious disease." At Sarah's flinch, he paused.
She smiled slightly at his apologetic look and shook her head. "It's fine. I've heard far worse from my parents." She sipped her wine, feeling his gaze on her. She glanced up. "So, can Keane fix any of that?"
He snorted. "Honestly, I have no idea. His stance is something of a mystery. He obviously-" Luke broke off as the waiter approached with their food.
After the plates were laid out and the wine glasses refilled, the waiter gave them a tight smile and walked away. Sarah watched him go. She scanned the other tables.
Every table contained a couple, many of whom were holding hands or leaning towards each other and engaged in intimate conversation. She
frowned and glanced at Luke from the corner of her eye.
"He obviously has a deep-seated hatred for the Dem race," Luke finished, looking up from his plate.
"Doesn't everyone?" she asked softly.
He tipped his head. "Well, I think it's more of a passive dislike combined with distaste."
Sarah hummed in agreement. "So, what is this?"
"Flounder." He smiled widely at the surprised look she gave him.
"I've never had anything from outside our borders," she said in awe.
He laughed. "Well, we haven't always been land-locked. When I was really young, there was a company that shipped to the grocery store. Now, this is the only place that can get a contract." He filled his fork and took a large bite.
Sarah followed his example. The sweet tang of the sauce mingled with the salty fish on her tongue. She chewed thoroughly, running her tongue over her teeth long after she swallowed the bite.
"From your face, I assume you like it."
Sarah smiled sheepishly.
"No. I'm glad you like it. Work can be stressful. It's good to get a way and live a little."
Sarah returned his smile. "Yes. The Corridor wasn't exactly part of my life plan."
Luke paused mid-sip. He set his glass back down and licked his lips. "Right. I had meant to ask you about that."
Sarah sipped her wine and nodded for him to go ahead.
"I only know what I've been told by my superiors," he explained.
Sarah nodded.
"And it's my understanding, your twin brother was the one training for The Corridor."
Sarah set the glass down, before the liquid sloshed out onto the table.
"But he was in a house fire?"
"Yes."
"And now he is in a coma."
"Persistent coma. The doctors say it's from the smoke." She cleared her throat, glancing around.
"I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable," he said quietly.
"No, it's fine." Sarah waved off his apology. She looked down at the table, the food left on her plate a watery blur.
"I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't think," he continued. His fingertips touched the back of her hand and she twitched.
"I think I'm just tired. Would you mind if I..." She gestured toward the door vaguely.
"Of course not. No. I'm just sorry I-" He shook his head. "I didn't think..."
"It's fine. Thank you for dinner. It was really good." She stood hurriedly, pulling her coat toward her.
"I just wish the conversation had been better."
Sarah looked up at his self-depreciating tone. He gave her a wry grin.
"Good night."
He nodded. "Same to you, Sarah."
She strode toward the door, avoiding the eyes of the other patrons. Heat spread across her face. It built up until it burned the back of her eyes and squeezed her throat. The attendant at the door nodded politely, but she could feel his eyes staring at her curiously.
The door swung open to the outside and the strangled feeling eased.
She paused on the front sidewalk, breathing deeply. The icy, night air stung her face, freezing the warm tear track on her cheek. She closed her eyes and sighed. The steady crunch of tires on the snow mixed with the sound of voices approaching the front of the restaurant.
She opened her eyes. The fog of her breath still hung in the air when the car passed. She turned away from the couple, as they passed her to reach the door. The gust of warm air from inside made her shiver.
She walked toward the street, unable to think past getting to her house. The rest was blur. Her boots sank into the brown snow in the gutter and she trudged to the edge of the tracks left by traffic. She waited for a gap between the slow moving vehicles.
"Sarah!"
She turned at the sound of Luke's voice. He waved at her from the edge of the street. His eyes moved to the traffic and then back to her.
"Do you want a ride home? I promise not to talk," he added with a small smile.
Sarah huffed in amusement. She nodded and retraced her steps to the sidewalk. Luke grasped her hand to help her onto the curb. She smiled her thanks.
"Alright. Well, I'm parked just at the end of the block." He started down the sidewalk.
Sarah frowned at his back. His hand stayed clasped around hers. It warmed her frozen fingers, but she twitched to tuck her hands into her pockets.
"Here we are." He gestured to a metallic gray, late model sedan.
Sarah's eyes widened. He turned to look at her and smiled at her reaction. "I know a guy, who knows a guy," he explained.
He pushed a button on his keychain and the car clicked. He opened the passenger door and stood back to allow her to pass him. Sarah's eyes widened in surprise, but she stepped into the car and let him close the door. The interior carried a fresh scent, almost as if the car had never been driven. She looked around.
Thin plastic mats covered the carpeting in the floorboards. A bright panel above the leather-wrapped gear shift showed a vague map of the city. She leaned forward to examine it, as the driver's side door popped open. She quickly sat back.
Luke slid into the seat and glanced at her. "What do you think?"
Sarah scanned the interior of the car again, her eyes drawn to the bright screen.
"It's GPS, but since maps of the city are rare outside of our borders, it only has the main street." He smiled.
"Then, why..."
He laughed at her unfinished question. "It also controls the stereo system and regular maintenance. Among other things."
"Oh." Sarah felt her face heat at his wide smile.
He seemed to take pity on her, and turned away to start the car.
"There's no key." Her eyes widened when the engine growled to life at the push of a button.
"Not for this model." He slanted her an amused look and slid the car into drive.
Sarah twisted her fingers together in her lap, looking out the front window when the car began to slid into traffic. Her toes curled inside her boots and she gripped the strap of her seatbelt.
"Don't worry, I'm a very good driver," Luke assured her, glancing in her direction once he moved into the flow of traffic.
Sarah swallowed hard. "I'm just used to walking. It's safer."
"That's a new one," Luke laughed. His eyes sparkled when he met her gaze.
She looked away to watch the shops pass by.
"You live on the north side, right?"
Sarah nodded. "Clark Street. A few blocks past the north edge of the square."
"Oh." His gaze flicked to her, then quickly away.
The traffic moved slowly, moving at a glacial pace, around the tighter corners of the town square. The amount of cars tapered off north of the square. Large, brick homes south of the square gave way to clapboard houses. The expansive lawns and paved driveways became a thin strip of space between the houses and on-street parking.
Luke's eyes swept the houses they passed. Sarah studied the side of his face, trying to make out his expression. He appeared almost pained. As if he felt her gaze, he turned his head to look at her.
"It's just up here on the right. The blue one," she said quietly.
He nodded and pulled next to the curb.
Sarah reached for the door handle, but his hand snaked out to touch her arm. She flinched, but did not pull away. She stared out the window at her house, unable to look at him.
"You forgot your seatbelt," he finally said.
She heard a soft click, then the pressure around her wrist released. She swallowed hard and nodded. "Thank you."
He let her go.
...
The sound of the door broke the silence, as the morning shift came on. The humans hurried into Corridor One, their boots loud as they hustled past his cell to reach those further down.
"That's not what I heard," a man's voice called from just out of sight.
"Yeah, well then your source is shit."
"Bullshit! Keane ain't interested in that."
Farran's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward to see two rough-looking morning handlers standing on either side of the door. They appeared focused on their argument, oblivious to the chained Dems being lead toward them.
"Not sure how many vouchers she'd give away, if you know what I mean. That ass is lily-white virgin, if I've ever seen it."
The man standing to the right of the door snorted. "You ain't never seen it!"
"The hell you say? I been with one before!"
The argument strayed away from the girl in question, digressing into a numbers contest. Farran shook his head in disgust. He looked down at a sharp sting in his hands. His palms pressed against the security shield hard enough to send pulses of warning pain into his skin. He snatched them back, balling his hands into fists. A cold chill ran down his spine and he looked up.
Tradis paused outside his cell. The human behind him ordered him to walk on, but the much larger Dem continued to stare at Farran. Farran ignored the obvious question and gave him a terse nod of acknowledgement. He watched his second walk away, trailed by the human, until he vanished from view.
"I ain't doing it," a familiar voice yelled.
"Well, it's your turn. I got that snarling bastard last time we worked this corridor."
Farran turned his head to look through the security shield at the same two handlers. He studied them, as they bickered.
"You liar! He damn near ripped my head off last time we was here. I remember cause I got this here scar."
Farran's lips curved into a dark smile as the shorter man jerked down the collar of his suit to reveal a fading scar.
"Yeah? Well, do you remember this shit?" His companion flipped greasy bangs off his face to show a rough patch in the skin of his forehead.
"It don't matter. Fair is fair." He thrust a basic restraint chain into the visibly shaking hands of the other handler.
Farran sneered, as the blood visibly drained from the man's face. His eyes followed the man's progress across the front of his cell. His smile widened when the security shield dropped.
"Together?" the human squeaked to his companion.
"Like hell."
