Chapter 2
After dinner, Chrissie, a lanky fifteen-year-old with masses of thick brunette waves, cornered me in the hallway. Living up to her Goth persona, she was dressed entirely in black.
“Where were you today, Abby?”
We sat on the bottom ledge of the large wooden staircase, just down the hall from the dining room.
“Went for a jog outside the compound.”
It was unusual to spend time chatting with Chrissie, she hated small talk.
She fidgeted a little. “You were gone for a long time. What’s it like out there?”
I shrugged. “It’s fine most of the time, although I’ve had a few scary moments.”
A calculating look crossed her face. “Not this week, Olden’s here, but next time she’s away ... um ... can I come?”
My eyes widened.
No one ever wanted to go outside the gates. I couldn’t even get Lucy to run with me. Chrissie was too young to be allowed out on her own; we’d have to sneak.
“Uh, sure. If you really want to.” I wasn’t thrilled to have the responsibility of another person out there. But I was curious and I’d hate to think she’d brave the streets on her own.
Nodding, Chrissie jumped to her feet. “I would very much like to see what’s happening outside the gates. Let me know.”
I nodded as she walked off.
That was strange.
I made my way upstairs to get ready for bed. As an added bonus the delay resulted in an empty third-floor bathroom. The room held an array of toilets, sinks and shower stalls, and with twenty girls currently residing it was rarely unoccupied. I took my time brushing my teeth and washing my face. We have strict water rations here, two-minute showers and drop-pit toilets.
Finally clean, I straightened to meet my own green eyes reflected back at me.
As a child I’d been painfully shy, hating any attention. Their unique color – almost the jewel tones of emerald green – and large oval shape assured I received plenty of stares. But now I no longer cared about blending in. I was just grateful I didn’t have the freckles usually accompanying red hair and fair skin.
Although my hair was another anomaly. It fell in curls, not quite ringlets except those shorter tendrils framing my face, to my mid back and it wasn’t a standard golden red; instead it was a deep blood red with undertones of black. It was unusual enough that the girls speculated I’d somehow managed to procure hair dye. An item that’s been non-existent for many years.
I gave my expression one last grimace, my full, unnaturally red lips thinning, before I turned to leave the room.
I made my way down the hall to the room I shared with Lucy. She was sprawled across my bed, wearing her favorite purple flannel pyjamas. A thick novel lay open in front of her. Her attention never wavered as I stretched out next to her. It took a few minutes before she flicked a page and spoke.
“Are you actually gracing me with your presence, Abigail? To what do I owe such an honour?”
I smirked. “Honestly, Luce, I just felt a need to give something back. You know, to those lesser.”
She raised an eyebrow, flicking across to the next page. “You are going the right way to end up on my list, Abigail.”
My smirk fell; Lucy’s list was not a place you wanted to be. The last person who got on her bad side ended up with their hair glued to a school desk.
“Sorry, Luce, I was staring at myself in the training mirrors and my butt looked huge. I had no choice; I had to get out for a run.”
Shaking her head, she sighed. “As if your tall lanky butt would ever look big. Try being five foot, Abbs. I look at a picture of a donut and it attaches to my thighs.”
I laughed. Lucy was curvy in all the right places, without an ounce of fat anywhere else.
“Did you have to mention donuts?” My mouth watered. I was eight the last time we had their sugary goodness. But there was no way to forget.
We’d had canned beans and an unidentified rodent stew for dinner. And we had learned to never expect junk or fresh food; they’re the rarest of all.
Reaching, I attempted my nightly routine of taming my curls into a braid. Lucy took pity on me, helping out when it was too painful. After she finished, I relaxed back into my pillows.
“So what happened today? I’m assuming you didn’t plan on being out until the middle of the night, worrying your blood sister to death.” Lucy could lay on the guilt with the best of them.
“You were in self defence. You know how boring I find the basic classes. I can’t even believe we still have to attend them.”
“They seem to think we’ll forget everything if we don’t attend absolutely every class.” Lucy shook her head. “And don’t diverge from the topic. What happened?”