“What are you doing?” he asked, stepping back from her until his legs bumped against his bed. She moved closer, cornering him.
“I think you know.” Mariella wrapped her hands behind his neck and kissed him along the cheek. “Play along, they’re watching,” she whispered. Her fingers drifted down along his muscular stomach, brushing the front of his orange prisoner jumpsuit.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Pretend to cooperate,” Mariella whispered. “It’s our best chance to find a way out.”
“I won’t even think about working with them until I’m with Jenny again.” Seth looked up at the black dome in the ceiling. “Tell them that.”
“Cooperating is the smart choice,” Mariella told him, not bothering to whisper now. “If you don’t work with them, you’ll never get out of here.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Seth said. “Tell them I have to see Jenny, or I’ll make sure everyone suffers. Especially Ward.”
Mariella pulled back from him, looking angry.
“You’re making the wrong choice,” she told him.
“How can you be so sure you’re making the right one?” Seth asked.
“Just remember I tried to help you.” Mariella glanced at the black camera dome as she left. “I did my part. I can’t be responsible for what happens to you if you don’t listen to me.”
“I’ll remember,” Seth said. “I’ll remember you turned on us the first chance you got.”
She had a hurt look in her eyes as she knocked on the door for the guards to let her out.
“You don’t understand anything, Seth,” she said.
“I understand enough,” he replied. When she was out the door, he let out the breath he’d been holding.
He was glad Mariella had left so quickly, because her visit had stirred up too much of what had happened in the past and the confused feelings he still had for her. Mariella would be remembering those things, too, if she’d recovered her past-life memories like Seth.
* * *
Niklaus knocked as he pushed open the door to Sebastian’s room. The young S.S. officer with the cold gray eyes looked without comment on the issue of Amazing Stories that Sebastian was re-reading for the tenth time. No more American pulp fiction could be brought to the base, under the irritating new guidelines that allowed only “fine German culture,” such as films of Adolf Hitler addressing huge crowds, which Sebastian hadn’t learned enough German to understand. Sebastian could so far only understand some common, simple words and phrases.
“Pack your bag,” Niklaus said in German. “You’re moving rooms.”
“Why?”
“Orders,” Niklaus replied. “Move now.”
“Where am I going?” Sebastian asked, standing up.
“Other room.”
“That’s very helpful, thank you.” Sebastian packed his clothes and meager belongings into the suitcase he’d bought with Barrett’s money in Charleston. It matched Juliana’s, because she’d picked them out.
Niklaus took him past the double doors to the female dormitory hall, then unlocked a third pair of double doors. Sebastian had never seen them open before.
“What’s in there?” Sebastian asked.
“Other room,” Niklaus said again.
The mysterious third hallway had fewer rooms, just three doors on each side. Niklaus took him into the first door, into a room much larger than Sebastian’s previous dorm room. It was also carpeted, furnished with a fireplace, a dining table, a sofa and ottoman, and hung with paintings. Candles burned in sconces along the wall, and soft chamber music played on a phonograph. It was, Sebastian, could not deny, a much nicer room.
The bed was queen-sized and hung with curtains. Mia and Alise sat on the bed, holding hands and smiling at him.
“Sebastian!” Alise hopped to her feet, and Mia followed, still grasping her hand. “Do you like it? I decorated it myself.”
“It’s nice,” Sebastian said. “Why am I here?”
“Because you’ve been so good,” Alise said. “Everyone is pleased with what you’ve shown them in the lab. I know I’m impressed! They say you have real power in your hands.” She giggled, looking him over.
“I’m glad they’re glad,” Sebastian said. “But I still don’t understand.”
“Then let me explain.” Alise held onto Mia with one hand, and with the other, she took Sebastian’s hand. “You see, when you’re good, you get rewarded. You’ve both been very good, going along with all these pesky tests without complaining. So you both deserve a little fun.”