"No." I cut him off before he could continue.
"No, what?" His brow furrowed.
"We're not cutting my hair."
"Listen, I love it too, but we have to be practical." He ran his hands through my hair.
"I promised my mom I wouldn't cut it, and I'm sticking to that promise."
He nodded. "Then what's your suggestion?"
"Do you have a hat I could borrow?"
"Yes. Okay, so that covers appearance. The hope is that no one even sees you until we get to Central. You're going to sit in the back and cover up under something if we see anyone on the road."
"Then what?"
"Oh no. You're the one who wants to break into Central. I will get us there, and then it's your turn to figure things out. My guess is it won't be easy to walk in."
"Except for me. I'm a young woman, they'd take me in."
"No. Absolutely not." He shook his head. "Who knows if you can ever break out? There has to be another way."
"We need help."
"Ethan." He said the name and then looked away.
"What about him?"
"He might be able to help."
"You think we should find him?"
"It will be easier to find him than to break into Central." He spoke quietly. He wasn't thrilled about getting Ethan involved. Neither was I.
"That's true. But it's not going to be easy."
"He'd do anything for you. We just have to get in to see him."
"Do you know anything about the Sray club?" From the letters Thomas read to me that's where he lived now.
"Not much, but they aren't supposed to be as bad as the Reine."
"I'd hope Ethan would never join something like that."
Bolton's face fell. "Me too."
We spent the rest of the day packing up supplies. As much as I hated weapons, I proved to Bolton I could load and use a shotgun. If using a gun was the only way I could make it to Quinn, I'd be prepared.
We packed the truck and left about a half-hour after sundown. We rode in silence. I couldn't see much in the pitch black night, but every so often a set of glowing eyes pulled my attention. The animal population was thriving. With fewer humans they had more places to roam. We were the only ones at risk of going extinct now.
I fought to keep my eyes open. I couldn't afford to fall asleep. I knew I could trust Bolton, but I had no idea what we might run into.
"You can rest," he said gently as if reading my thoughts.
"No. I'm fine."
"You're not. I can tell."
"You're tired too," I pointed out.
His eyelids were heavy. "Yeah, but I have to drive."
"Do you want me to do it instead?" I gestured at the wheel.
"Do you know how?" he asked with a smile.
"I can drive a tractor."
"Of course you can." He laughed. "I'm fine driving. Thankfully we're going to have just enough gas."
"Have you ever been to the city?"
"Yes, once. It's big, dirty, and dangerous." He rested his hand on the seat next to me again.
"Is that your way of trying to scare me?"
"Why would I want to scare you?"
"I don't know." I could think of one good reason. He didn't want me running away.
"It's dangerous for everyone, but you're going to be even more at risk."
"Because I'm a girl."
"Yeah, and you're young." He turned onto another road. "Central is snatching up everyone young now. Even the big clubs are getting desperate."
"We're all desperate." We were. Every last one of us.
"What's that?" I squinted to get a better look at the lights up ahead on the road.
"I don't know." Bolton gripped the wheel. "But get in the back. Find something to cover you up."
My years of hiding on the farm paid off. I crawled into the back and found an old tarp. I lay flat on the floor and pulled it over me.
Bolton slowed the truck, and I took in a deep breath.
"State your business." A booming voice called in through the window.
"Bringing this truck into the city for sale," Bolton's voice remained calm.
The sound of footsteps had me panicked. "No one is buying trucks in the city. The gas prices don't warrant it."
"Oh?" Bolton feigned innocence. "I heard there were some buyers still."