“Maroz has a bad reputation, but so does everyone here,” Kendall said.
“I don’t like you spending time with a Safe Lander,” Jemma said. “How well do you know this piano player?”
“That’s what dates are for, Jemma.” Mia nudged Shaylinn and whispered, “And your sister’s the one who watches all those movies.” She looked back to the group. “He’s taking me to a musical show—I forgot the name—and he said I’d love it.”
“What about Mason?” Jemma asked.
Mia ate another grape. “I could care less about Mason.”
Jemma gasped, but Mia just rolled her eyes.
“How can you go anywhere?” Naomi said. “We’re only allowed to leave the harem for doctor appointments. And then only with Ewan or some other enforcer glued to our sides.”
“Ewan and Rand are friends,” Mia said. “Ewan’s going to take me to meet him.”
“Then we all should leave!” Jemma said, suddenly excited. “If Ewan isn’t guarding the door, we could get Kendall past the wall and into the outer lands before she goes into labor and—”
“Like that would even work, Jemma,” Mia said. “All this is going to be is a date—Rand and my date. If you went, you’d get Ewan in trouble, and then Rand would be mad at me.”
“Mad at you?” Jemma said. “They’re going to take Kendall’s baby, Mia. We’ve got to help her.”
“I don’t have to do anything.” Mia stood up, grabbed her plate, and walked to her bedroom.
Silence descended over the table.
Jemma jumped up from the table and ran from the suite, headed toward Mia’s mom’s room.
Shaylinn watched the front door swing closed, torn. Jemma was right. They should do all they could to escape. But Shaylinn wanted to give her InstaWraps and SkinnySticks time to work, and she was really looking forward to the cab-array.
Mia’s mom forbade Mia to go out with Rand, so Mia dragged Shaylinn into her room where on Mia’s insistence they tried on their new clothes, parading one outfit after another out into the living room for Jemma, Naomi, and Kendall to see. Shaylinn kept the InstaWraps on and was able to hide them under every outfit. Mia did Shaylinn’s makeup and curled Shaylinn’s hair into bobbing ringlets. When Shay looked in the mirror, she felt … attractive.
She desperately missed Penelope and Nell and hoped they were doing okay in the boarding school. But Shaylinn was actually having fun—with Mia. Maybe they’d become friends.
“That’s the one,” Mia said when Shaylinn had put on a short black strapless dress that flipped out in a full skirt. “Put this over your arm.” She hung a thick purse across Shaylinn’s body, then Mia made her put on a thick, floor-length bathrobe over the dress. “Say nothing.”
Mia likewise put a bathrobe over her hot pink halter dress. She pulled Shaylinn into the living room. “We’re going to get a snack from the kitchen. Anyone want anything?”
“We have snacks in our kitchen,” Naomi said.
“I don’t want those. Since my date was ruined”—she glared hard at Jemma —”I want something special.”
“I was just looking out for you, Mia,” Jemma said. “You seem to forget we’re prisoners here. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Mia set her hand on her hip. “Do you want something or not? It’s a simple question.”
“No, thank you,” Naomi said.
“Fine.” Mia pulled Shaylinn toward the door. “We’ll be back.”
They walked down the stairs in their bare feet, crossed the harem sitting room, and entered the dark kitchen. One light above the stove and a green emergency exit sign barely lit the room. The chef was gone for the night.
Mia threw off her bathrobe and straightened her skirt. “Give me the purse,” she said.
Shaylinn took off her robe and handed the bag to Mia, who dumped the contents. Two pair of shoes clattered onto the floor.
Mia stepped into the gold heels. “Put on the black ones, and hurry!”
“We’re still going?” Shaylinn asked.
“What do you think? Come on.”
Mia dragged Shaylinn through the emergency exit and into a cold stairwell. A man stood in the darkness, and Shaylinn screamed.
Mia clapped her hand over Shaylinn’s mouth. “It’s just Ewan. Walls, girl!”
When had Mia started saying walls?
“There are no cameras this way,” Ewan said.
He led them down the stairs. Shaylinn couldn’t move very fast in the high heels and trotted after Mia and Ewan, down, down, down.
“Come on!” Mia whispered.
“I’m trying!”
The stairs let out into a large warehouse. Ewan led them through it and out a door where a car was waiting. Mia climbed into the back, Shaylinn got in beside her and sat in the middle, then Ewan jumped in and slammed the door shut.
“The Venetian Room,” Ewan told the driver, then leaned back and put his arm over the back of the seat, behind Shaylinn’s head. He leaned close to Shaylinn, and his hair tickled her face. “Hey, shimmer. You look pretty,” he whispered.
Her eyes flew wide. “I do?”
He let his arm fall around Shaylinn and pulled her against his side. She stiffened and shot Mia a worried glance.
Mia raised her eyebrows as if to say, “Go along with it.”
Shaylinn didn’t really want to go along with it, though. She didn’t know Ewan enough to be so close, and she didn’t like the way his poufy red hair kept itching the side of her face.
“Expect greatness tonight, femmes,” Ewan said. “This show does something for the soul.”
Well, that sounded nice, at least.
It didn’t take long to reach the Venetian Room. Outside, the building was nothing more than a narrow white storefront with a flashing marquee, but once inside, the place looked like an Old concrete warehouse. It was dark, and red and blue lights rotated in bands across the walls and the high ceiling. The music was loud and thrummed through Shaylinn’s body straight to her heart. The floor was filled with little round tables, and they all looked full.
Shaylinn followed Ewan and Mia to a table in the very front, where a handsome young man with slick yellow hair was waiting. He kissed Mia on both cheeks and they spoke, and though the music was too loud for Shaylinn to hear what they said, Mia giggled and touched the man’s arm, then pointed at Shaylinn. The man smiled and, before Shaylinn knew what was happening, he was kissing both her cheeks as well. He smelled good, and she enjoyed the way the scent lingered even after he moved away.
He and Mia sat beside each other at the front of the table. Shaylinn sat in back beside Ewan. He scooted his chair close as if he might put his arm around her again. She leaned on the table in the opposite direction so he couldn’t reach her.
A waitress came and took drink orders. Shaylinn didn’t know what to order, so she shook her head. Then the show began.
The music seemed to wash over her, the notes alternatively fading and coming in strong as the band played. The lights danced and swayed and changed colors, all perfectly timed with the music. Then suddenly, everyone was looking up.
A man hung from the ceiling, wearing only black underwear. And a woman! She wore a white bra and flimsy white skirt. The man swung from a metal bar by the backs of his knees, then the tops of his feet, his arms and legs bulging with muscles. The woman tangled herself in yards of shiny red fabric, twisting and splitting and dropping right over the tables but never falling.
The music changed, and dancers ran out onto the stage, wild and stomping. Women wore black bras and fishnet stockings. Some had mustaches and some had clown noses. Men tumbled across the stage in their underwear, twisting their bodies and rolling together as if they were one person. More performers danced from ropes and strips of fabric, metal rings and squares, sometimes in pairs. Lightning flashed and flashed, white and red. The music thumped.
Shaylinn couldn’t blink.
It seemed to go on forever, yet when it ended, Shaylinn felt like it had barely
begun. It had been mesmerizing … and it made her feel wild and giddy inside.
The silence brought by the end of the show was somewhat odd. Shaylinn focused on those around her and was shocked to see Mia and Rand kissing more than each other’s cheeks. Their faces seemed glued together. Shaylinn stared until she realized she was staring, then she looked away only to find Ewan watching her with a hungry look in his eyes. She jumped and pulled her curls towards the front of her face so he couldn’t see her.
She was suddenly cold and wanted to go back. She leaned across the table and poked her friend. “Mia,” she said. “Mia!”
Mia and Rand’s lips broke apart, and they both turned to look at Shaylinn.
“I’m ready to go,” she said.
Mia scowled. “I’m not.”
Shaylinn stood. “Well, I am, Mia. Let’s go. Now!” Shaylinn couldn’t explain the confusion she felt. She only knew she needed to leave. And she wasn’t going to let Mia bully her into staying.
Mia’s eyes sprang wide, and with that Shaylinn felt strong. “I’m sorry,” Mia told Rand. “My friend isn’t feeling well.”
“Tap me when you get home?” he asked.
“Of course.”
Shaylinn suffered through one more Mia and Rand face-sucking episode before she managed to drag Mia away. Ewan followed her like Mason’s dog sometimes had, and Shaylinn kept Mia between them as a buffer, even once they entered the car. She didn’t like the look in his eyes.
They drove back in silence.
Ewan escorted them into the harem building through the regular entrance. They passed through the revolving door, walked across the orange and blue lobby, went up the elevator to five, and walked down the red and black carpet to the golden door engraved with the creepy cat-bird-woman. There they stopped. Shaylinn pressed her fist against the door. Nothing happened.
“Why didn’t it open?” she asked Ewan.
“It only opens for staff,” he said. “But touching it rings the bell, so someone will come.”
“Well, thank you for bringing us back,” Shaylinn said.
“You promised me a kiss,” Ewan said to Mia.
Eww. Shaylinn looked from Mia to Ewan and back to Mia.
Mia clicked her tongue and prodded Shaylinn’s arm. “Go on, Shaylinn.”
“Me?” Shaylinn backed against the door. “I didn’t promise to kiss anyone.”
Mia sighed. “The only reason Ewan agreed to take us out tonight was because you’d give him a good-night kiss. Do it so we can go inside.”
Shaylinn glared at Mia. “You had no right to promise that!”
Mia grabbed Shaylinn’s arm and squeezed. “You already ruined my night,” she said through gritted teeth. “Stop embarrassing me.”
Shaylinn pulled away. “You’re embarrassing yourself, Mia. Letting that Rand man kiss you in public like that. You don’t know hardly anything about him.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “That’s why I’m getting to know him.”
“The music was too loud for talking, so I doubt you learned anything except how well he kisses. You’re going to get hurt. My mama says a girl should protect her heart.”
“Like you with Omar?”
Shaylinn’s chest smoldered. “You don’t know anything about me.”
Mia smirked. “I know you’re always staring at Omar.”
“I am not!”
“Shut up,” Ewan yelled.
Shaylinn jumped and turned to face him.
“I’ll take my payment now.” He grabbed Shaylinn’s arms, pushed her against the wall, and forced his mouth onto hers.
He smelled stale and bitter at the same time, and he pressed so hard that Shaylinn’s own teeth cut into her lip. She turned her head to the side and screamed as loud and long as she could.
Ewan let go and glared at her. “What’s the matter with you?”
Shaylinn pulled off one of her shoes and threw it at Ewan’s head. “You’re a terrible—”
“Ow!” Ewan cowered under his arms.
“—rude, horrible, disgusting —!” She yanked off the other shoe and hit him with it.
“Stop it, you crazy femme!” He tried and failed to dodge her blows.
“Shaylinn, stop.” Mia grabbed Shaylinn’s arm and pulled her back. “Matron’s here.”
Sure enough, Matron stood in the doorway, looking at Shaylinn like she was a disobedient child.
CHAPTER
18
The clink of iron woke Levi. Before he could gather his wits, his hands were bound behind him and he was dragged to his feet. From down the hall, he could hear rustling and a few grunts.
“Get off me, you dung-wielding rot face!”
Apparently Jordan was being moved as well.
The enforcers took them to a cell on the third floor, which had a huge TV screen on the wall opposite the entrance. A steel bench in the middle of the room faced the screen. They sat Levi and Jordan on the bench, side by side, and attached their restraints to metal loops on the back. A quick yank of the chain confirmed the bench was bolted to the floor.
A third enforcer ducked through the doorway. He had dark, frizzy hair, parted down the middle, which tangled with his bushy mustache and beard. His eyes were a freakish yellow. Even weirder, two coils of gold metal pointed out from each nostril like feelers on an insect. Medals and bars and fancy patches—including one that said Otley —covered his uniform. The number eight glowed on his cheek.
“Still like to get your cooperation voluntarily,” Otley said to Jordan.
“You’re not getting anything from us, you grizzly pukepile of a man.” Jordan turned to Levi. “He’s the maggot who killed your father, Levi. I saw him do it.”
Levi turned his head slowly until he met Otley’s gaze. He attempted to stand, but his restraints were so short that his body jerked back to his seat. He set his jaw, fighting to hold back his anger, then closed his eyes and tried to breathe calmly like Jemma had taught him. Recite his verse: Refrain from anger, and turn from wrath. His breaths came short and hard, but with them some clarity surfaced. He was the village elder. He had to help his people.
“Something you want to say to me, rat?” Otley asked.
Levi opened his eyes. Took a deep breath. Refrain from anger, and turn from wrath. “Not … yet.”
Otley walked to the back of the room. “Wyndo: power. Play, pause.” The TV powered on, black at first, but slowly colored to reveal Jemma from the shoulders up, wearing a red dress and sitting in a kitchen, frozen and slightly fuzzy. On pause.
“Jemma,” Levi whispered.
“What are you doing with my sister?” Jordan yelled.
Otley’s cheeks balled up in a smirk. “Wyndo: play.”
Levi’s chest heaved, his anger growing again, but the screen moved, and Jemma spoke.
“I’m sorry I got myself into this. You were right. Levi. About everything. I miss you. The food is good, though.” She chuckled as if making a lame joke. “Please do what they say. I’m afraid of what will happen if you don’t. I love you.”
“Wyndo: pause,” Otley said.
The screen stopped on Jemma’s face, misty eyes wide, lips frowning slightly.
Levi could hardly breathe. “You threatened her?”
“Someone else would like a word. Wyndo: play.”
The screen went black a moment before showing Naomi in the same kitchen. The angle of the recording, her tight blue dress, or the way she held her hands over her huge belly made her look like she might explode.
“No!” Jordan stood, arching his body backward and pulling at his bonds. His face reddened, veins popped out on his neck.
“Jordan? Baby? I’m so sorry this has happened.”
Jordan wilted at Naomi’s voice and fell back to his seat. “No, baby, no.”
“They’re treating me well. But I don’t want to be here anymore. Some of them scare me. I’m scared for our baby.” Naomi started crying.
Jordan moaned, and it slowly morphed into another scream of ra
ge.
“Wyndo: stop,” Otley said. The TV went black.
“Put her back!” Jordan yelled. “Please!”
“Naomi is correct,” Otley said. “We’re currently treating them all very well. But that ends if you continue to cause problems. You both must become Safe Lands nationals, obey our laws, or your women will be killed.” Otley looked to Jordan. “We’ll wait until your baby is born before killing her, of course. This is nonnegotiable. You have a few minutes to decide.”
With that, Otley and the enforcers left the room.
“We have to do what they say.” Jordan’s voice was small.
Levi felt like his brain was going to explode. Refrain from anger. Refrain from anger.
“Levi! Say something,” Jordan said.
“I’m thinking!” What Jemma had said didn’t make sense. “What was I right about? And why would she apologize? This wasn’t her fault.”
“You think they faked those movies?”
“I don’t know. But being stuck in this prison isn’t getting us anywhere.” Levi leaned close to Jordan. “So let’s play along, like Mason. And we make a plan to get out of this place. Good?”
Jordan sniffled. “Mad good.”
Levi and Jordan were taken for a medical examination, after which enforcers escorted them to the Donation Center. Which, from Levi’s perspective, was wishful thinking on Otley’s end. Jordan lost control again, broke a door, and ended up restrained, but for some reason the enforcers released him when they reached the Registration Department. They had their pictures taken, chose last names—Levi Justin and Jordan Harvey, after their fathers—and were instructed to sit at glass desks and task test.
“What’s a task test for?” Levi asked Dallin, who worked in Registration.
“And why’s your hair look like a bumblebee’s butt?” Jordan asked.
“Task testing determines what task you will perform in the Safe Lands,” Dallin said. “And I’m updating my hairstyle tomorrow—the yellow and black is so yesterday. I should really get HairTags.”
Tapping one letter at a time, Levi entered his name into the glass computer. Dallin walked back to his desk.
“Hey,” Levi whispered, “just don’t forget how much we both like to clean things.”
Captives Page 20
