The Gender Game 5 (The Gender Fall)(76)

26





Violet





I checked my watch again for what felt like the millionth time. It had been thirty minutes since our last transmission, and I was edgy with anticipation. Even now, a million imaginary scenarios were flitting through my head, running from bad to worse to positively gruesome. And without word, some sign everyone was all right, I was powerless to stop those vicious thoughts.

I could, however, ignore them for brief moments, if I put my mind to it. Frowning at the dirty dishes one of the refugees had brought in, I quickly added a few of the large pots to the big metal tub in the kitchen, the hot water I had poured into it still steaming. The water was still too hot to plunge my single working hand into—which was probably for the best, as a lot of the pots had caked-over remains in the bottom. Sighing, I checked my watch again.

I gave up any pretense of doing a chore and clicked my headset back on. “Any update, Amber?”

“No, not since you asked me three minutes ago,” came her dry reply.

“Well, I was waiting for dirty dishes,” I replied almost defensively.

“I seriously cannot believe you are doing the dishes right now,” she retorted.

“Okay, first of all, if you’ve been avoiding this chore since we got here, then I’m so bringing it up at the next meeting. And secondly, I need something to keep me busy. I’m freaking out a little over here.”

Amber laughed, a loud, sharp bark, and I scowled at her—not that she could see. “I’m sorry, Vi,” she said. “I actually know how you feel. Remember when I was shot?”

I did remember, although it felt like a lifetime ago. “How did you cope with it?” I asked, picking up a rag and wiping down the kitchen table.

“Well, I think it is a different situation than what you’re going through,” she replied. “Frankly, we had way less stress during those days, and not every single mission felt like our lives were on the line.”

My hand froze mid-motion; I felt a physical jolt pass through my body at what she was saying. Not that she was wrong. Everything we had been through the last couple of weeks—months—had constantly felt like it was a matter of life or death. It was just something we never talked about. And now that I was on the outside, perfectly safe and sound, everything felt… off. It was like there was something held in suspense, waiting to fall, but I had no idea when or even where it would be.

“Violet?”

“I’m here,” I said, shaking my head to clear it. Now was not the time for an existential crisis. “Sorry. Just let me know when you’ve got something, okay?”

“Will do. Unless you radio back first.”

I rolled my eyes and resumed wiping down the table. Once it was done, I wandered back over to my bucket in the sink and checked the water. It was still too hot to actually wash anything, so I tossed the rag over one of the drying lines near the fireplace and grabbed the broom, needing to channel my nervous energy into something.

Despite how slowly I had to sweep to keep my ribs from twinging, my cleaning task was actually helping a bit, so when Amber’s voice filled my ear a few minutes later, I nearly dropped the broom, staggering back in surprise.

“Violet! They’re back. I—” She stopped talking so suddenly I tapped my earbud a few times, thinking the equipment had failed.

But then her voice came back, this time with a steely tone that made the hair on the back of my neck prickle in alarm. “Violet, we need to cut transmission. Turn off everything that sends a signal. Viggo’s orders.”

“Wait, what? Why?” I waited, clutching the broom handle tightly in my hand. “Amber? Viggo?” There was no answer, just the slight crackle of static in my headphones.

I tried again to contact them, but no one responded. The seconds ticked by, becoming minutes, but there was nothing in my ears, nothing except this rising feeling that I had to do something… I was in charge now.

I slipped the headset off my head. First, I had to decide whether Amber’s request for silence was a problem or not. On the one hand, I trusted my team—if they needed radio silence, then there was a good reason. On the other hand, I had to consider the possibility they were under duress. Maybe they had been ambushed?

If there weren’t any problems, then they’d be back in half an hour. But if there were…

Viggo, Owen, and Ms. Dale wouldn’t break easily under torture. I knew this with certainty. Thomas would resist for a while, but not as long. He wasn’t a loyalist, and if they figured out they could use Owen against him…

Dr. Arlan was a wild card. I didn’t know him that well, and I couldn’t bank on him not giving up our location. There were dozens of people in the camp, including my cousin, his wife, and their children.