To her horror, Lucy realized that she hadn't given much thought to what Mr. K's day-to-day life was like, with no one to talk to, no way to leave. "I don't think he'd deliberately keep us here. He's not like that."
Hunter responded sadly, "You don't know what people can become if put in the right—or wrong—circumstances. Desperation is a powerful incentive."
She did know what people could become, having experienced some pretty scary shit, but she refused to believe that of Mr. K. She focused instead on following the cliff as it curved ahead of them. It didn't lead to an exit of any kind, but it did put them on the edge of a small lake fed by a waterfall. Lucy had an overwhelming urge to jump in and get clean. Her body odor and greasy hair made her want to crawl out of her own skin, especially with Hunter so close.
"Check it out. Nature's shower. I need to get clean, will you stand watch?"
He waggled his eyebrow in excitement. "I'd love to stand and watch! Better yet, I could use a shower myself."
She swatted him in the chest. "You're not watching or joining. Now turn around and look elsewhere."
"You can't boss me around. You're not my boss. You're not even an agent."
"Maybe not, but I'm a lady. And thou shalt not gaze upon me. Also, I can kick your ass—and don't think I won't if I catch you peeking."
Hunter's snicker followed her as she made her way to the water. She reached to pull off her shirt, but turned first and waved her arm. "Shoo. Go occupy yourself some other way. Keep an eye out for killer ants or something."
"Fine."
He mumbled something about "women" and "tease" and "torture,"' but Lucy chose to ignore him as she undressed and slipped into the cool water. All of her muscles relaxed as she let herself float and soak. Her body drifted toward the waterfall, and she found a place to stand under the pouring water that washed the filth from her body.
But the water cleansed more than her body. Her mind latched onto the conversation she'd just had with Hunter, and she thought about her past choices and experiences: Sam impregnated and taken to the clinic while Lucy stood by, helpless to do anything; her mother, Ana, dying at the hands of Dr. Pana while Lucy once again did nothing; the force-fed drugs at Rent-A-Kid that kept her complacent and numb.
Adam escaping from his prison only to die moments later. The Seeker attacking Mary's mind during the first failed escape attempt at Rent-A-Kid.
Mr. Black beating Lucy so badly she nearly died.
Lucy shooting Robert, killing him.
All of her sins, her fears, her helplessness... the water pulled it from her like a baptism. Each new moment meant she could take a new path, a new way to live. She couldn't change what had happened, but she could decide how it shaped her present and future.
She ran her hands through her hair and over her body, cleaning herself as best she could and enjoying the lightness she felt with the release of so much guilt and fear. She didn't know if she could sustain this internal freedom, but she would try.
When her fingers began to prune, she realized Hunter might get worried. She could have scaled the rocks back to shore, but without shoes on, she chose to enjoy the swim instead. For the first time in a long time, she felt happy, but still very hungry.
Once her foot found the bottom, she yelled, "No peeking," and climbed out to retrieve her clothing. One sniff, and she wished she could wear anything else. Putting on dirty clothes seemed to defeat the purpose of a bath. Still, she couldn't walk around naked, so she pulled her shirt and pants over her damp body.
Something moved on the rock next to her—a lizard about the size of her arm, if she included its tail.
The creature looked at her, then scurried over the rocks and behind the waterfall, where it sat, scales shimmering like hidden jewels. She guessed that lizard, if cooked long enough, would probably just taste like chewy chicken.
With a salivating mouth, she zipped and buttoned up, then laced-up her shoes, grabbed her gun and knife, and stalked off after what could be dinner. No point calling Hunter. The lizard would be gone by then. This should just take a sec.
Water splashed off the rocks, spraying her with droplets and making footing slippery, but she continued until she stood behind the waterfall. A giant cavern loomed before her, carved into the sharp black rock of the cliff. The walls glinted, smooth and dangerous, like obsidian. The lizard slithered over part of a rock that jutted from the wall, then stopped and stared at her.
Adrenaline raced through Lucy as she pulled her knife out and eyed the reptile. From the corner of her eye, she spotted another lizard about the same size scurrying into a dark corner. Two would be good, especially with three of them to feed, but she focused on the one in front of her first. She could go after the other one later.