First World(63)

I was way too hot-blooded to assess anything before acting. I was ‘action first, consequences later’, thank you very much.

Lallielle’s gasp had me spinning back around, searching for the source of her concern.

“Sammy?” Brace whispered in disbelief.

What? My brother was here as well. I craned my neck trying to see into all of the cages. A tall, dark-haired man, who looked eerily like Lallielle, but without her green eyes, moved forward into the light. He was in the cell next to Lucy’s.

My eyes narrowed. He’d just laced his hand through the bars to squeeze Lucy’s. He was hovering over her protectively, glaring at the man jauntily making his way through the cells.

The whistling intruder was easy to see now. He was short, with a large stomach protruding over his dirty pants, and a filthy white shirt, buttons missing so that his fat rolls hung prominently on display.

“That’s a quality packaging that man has.” Brace’s silky hair tickled my ear as he leaned in close to murmur.

“Don’t be jealous,” I whispered back. “You’re bound to be that attractive one day.”

He groaned.

I ignored him to continue my observations of the man. He was around fifty years old, his face dominated by a beaky nose and small angry eyes. He was walking in our direction, pausing at each cell and throwing a brown paper bag through the bars.

The occupants snatched at the bags before scurrying back into their cells.

No one had noticed us standing there, but I was over waiting. We could take out this one little rat-man.

As if she had read my thoughts, Lallielle bolted into the light. Josian’s attempt to stop her was useless. He was close behind but she got to rat-man first.

She hit him hard. He was turning at the sound of her steps when she right-hooked him straight in the jaw. His eyes rolled up in his head before he crashed to the floor.

I’m going to be honest: I was impressed.

Josian laughed out loud. “Taught her that.” His tone was cocky.

“Mom! How are ...? Where did you come from?”

Samuel had their beautiful accent; his was just rougher ... husky, as if something had damaged his vocal cords. Lallielle headed toward him. I was distracted by Lucy.

“Abby. Oh, gods. I can’t believe you’re here.” The dead expression she’d been wearing wavered and suddenly she was crying, tears pouring down her face.

She pulled her hands free of Samuel and held them out. I ran into her arms, hitting the bars hard.

She winced as I pulled her close. I loosened my hold a little.

“Are you okay?” I asked her.

She smiled, with a fraction of her old joy. “I’ll be much better when you get me out of here.”

Lallielle was hugging Samuel through the bars to his cell. Brace and Josian were right behind, huge grins on their faces. Quarn was crouched over rat-man on the floor.

I searched the cell front to find the lock. There was nothing on the smooth bars.

“We have to get out of here. There seems to be a permanent delivery door between the warehouse and the compound.” I was thankful my voice didn’t express the cold trickles of fear inside.

“That is not possible.” Josian’s brow wrinkled in worry. “It can’t be done.”

“All the more reason to get out of here.” Brace’s words were clipped and short.

“Quarn, does rat-man have any keys or remote locking devices on him?”

I tried to turn, but Lucy clung to my hand.

Quarn smiled. “You named him rat-man?” He shook his head, screwing up his nose. “That’s appropriate, actually.”

Many of the occupants of the other cells had moved toward their bars.

“Abby?” I turned to see Chrissie and Chandra plus a few of the other girls together in one cell.

I smiled, but couldn’t help notice the vacancy in their stares, the motley nature of their skin and general air of neglect they were all rocking today.

“Hang tight, girls, I’ll get you out of here.”

“He doesn’t have keys; there is only one person who ever accessed these cells.” Lucy drew my attention. With her free hand she pointed toward the entrance. “Try that little box next to the door; I think that’s some type of control panel.”

Quarn moved away from the group to inspect the small black box which was attached to the wall.

“Sammy baby.” Lallielle held both of his hands. “This is Aribella, your sister.”

Lucy and Samuel both nodded.

Lucy answered. “After I explained the situation, Sam and I kind of figured that Abby must be his sister.”

Josian stood near Lallielle, staring at Lucy. His expression was ... odd. I reminded myself to ask him about that later.

A creaking noise was the first indication the cell doors were opening. Quarn shut the box again and nodded once: success.