Escape from Harrizel (18 page)

Raj opens her mouth to answer but closes it
immediately, as if realizing it’s a trick question. She waits a
moment, her eyes darting about, calculating. “I remember us,” she
starts, “we were outside… but then in here. And talking.”

“Can you remember about what?” I ask.

Her face reddens, “…That I was a Kiss. And
I’d be working for Rox,” she glances at him, then back at Sampson,
hoping for the right answer, “and then…” We all wait, Raj holding
us in suspense, “…I can’t remember.”

Sampson nods. “I see.”

“But I remember us out there,” she chirps
quickly, “I
do
.”

“Who’s Hinson?” Griffin’s meek voice finally
breaks through.

We all glance at each other but no one wants
to answer. No one wants to reveal the horror. Finally, Reid clears
his throat. He sits next to me, leaning forward with his elbows on
his knees. “She was your girlfriend. You were together as long as
I’ve been here,” he stops, lowering his head. “You really loved
her.”

Griffin nods without meeting anyone’s eyes,
his own moistening over like before. He runs the back of his hand
across his nose and swallows so loudly, it echoes in the silence.
“And you guys…” he finally says after a moment, “you guys didn’t
take the pill? None of you?”

We all shake our heads, except for Raj, who
seems to fully understand what’s happening now.

“How’d you know not to take it?”Griffin
probes further.

“We’ve…” Sampson addresses this question,
“…been under suspicion for a while now that some things may not be
as they seem.”

“Does anyone else know?”

“This is all new to us too,” Clark chimes
in, “we’re just a step closer than you, is all.”

Griffin nods, looking back to Sampson with
assumed hope, “And an antidote? Is there any possibility?”

“
Perhaps
. Each cause has an effect.
It’s just a matter of sorting out a new cause and desired effect.
I’d imagine it would be quite simple if I had the necessary tools
and equipment.”

“Were you a scientist in a past life?” Raj
jokes but we all find this possibility too obvious. Maybe Sampson
wasn’t a scientist in a past life. Maybe he’s one now, in this
life. “Do you really think you could find an antidote?”

“Not today,” he shakes his head, “or even
tomorrow. I have no more pull than you all and as it stands, we are
slaves to their will. It’d take some time and patience.”

“I could wait,” Griffin says.

“Well, we can make it one of our goals.
Remedying this ‘memory charm.’ But until its reverse is discovered,
don’t take any more pills, no matter what they say. No matter how
they persuade you… who knows what you’ll wake up remembering.”

“I don’t understand though,” Raj states,
looking from Sampson to Reid, “why erase a person from our memory?
What did Hinson
do
?”

“The real question,” Reid counters, pulling
at his chin as he falls back to the wall, “is why erase her
now
? They’ve never had to do it before.”

“Yeah,” Clark adds, “it’s not like they do
anything about it with the Snatchings. Dofinikes have been taking
people or hiring the Kings to do it forever, and
no one
says
a word.”

“Is it random?” I ask.

“What?”

“Who they take.”

Reid shrugs, sitting forward again with his
elbows on his knees, “If it’s still the same, the Kings get the
names from Tetlak. They’re the ones who pick the humans. And then
the Kings get the Scouts and Clients to set the whole thing
up.”

“So it’s not personal to the Kings?”

“No,” Clark and Reid both shake their heads,
surprised I’d come to this conclusion. “No,” Reid explains, finally
looking at me. “It’s whoever the Dofinikes want. Like ordering off
a menu. The Kings are the servers and everyone else runs the
restaurant for them.”

“And what about the others,” I risk a glance
at Raj, “like the Clients? The ones who are no longer
valuable?”

“Added bonus,” Clark shrugs.

“Or they get rid of them,” Reid jumps up
from the bench, running his hands through his hair. “Well, there’s
not much more we can do about any of it tonight so Pratt, Raj,” he
motions to them, “if you could take Fallon back. Griffin, if you
don’t mind staying.”

All three nod, Pratt jumping up as both
girls round to either side of me. Reid’s already deep in
conversation with Griffin, Sampson and Clark. Vix sharpens a knife
at her bench, listening. A light pull from Pratt and the scene
disappears from view.

After dropping off Raj, Pratt escorts me to
my bunker even though I offer to walk her to hers several times.
Just seems silly to be escorted by someone less than half your age.
Still, I give one last attempt as we reach my door.

“Can’t,” she shrugs, “Boss’s order.”

“Seriously?” I arch a brow. “Boss?”

She laughs. “You have
no
idea.”

“You’ve got to explain,” I lean against the
arch, crossing my arms. “Is his name Reid or Rox?”

“It’s Reid.”

“So what’s with the nickname?”

“It’s not a nickname. It’s a title,” she
shrugs. “Like a sign of respect.”

“Okay…” I quickly recount what was told to
me that first night. “Well, Raj said ‘Rox’ was over the Rogues. In
fact, I think she used the term ‘Kingpin.’ So…” I exhale, ready to
know the truth. “Is he a Rogue or not?”

Holding her breath, she exhales after an
intense minute. Finally she nods. “He says he retired but… he’ll
always be a Rogue.”

“Why did he retire?”

“It’s really best if he tells you,” she
backs up.

“Come on…” I’m walking toward her, “tell
me.”

“Can’t. He’ll kill me.”

Accepting this as her final word on the
matter, I bite my lip. She’s right. He already told me he was
Rox—what else do I need to know? It’s his business. Plus, it’s
unfair to demand more from Pratt, especially when I’m sure she’s
been asked not to say much. I waive a goodnight and start selecting
the symbols to unlock my door when her voice startles me.

“Just so you know,” she’s still unsure if
divulging this information is smart, “you’re the only one he
supplies for free.”

“What?”

“And you’re also the only one he lets use
his real name.”

“
You
call him Reid,” I cross my arms
again. “And Sampson and the others.”

“But none of the Rogues, Scouts or Clients.
No one
calls him Reid. It’s just the four of us,” Pratt
shakes her head with a curious glance over me, “now five. Just…”
she retreats as shadows fall over her face. “Thought you should
know.”

***

How is everyone able to take it?

If I really wanted to, I could do it.
Escape. Flee the Castle and live out in the jungle, if it meant I’d
be free from this. But Reid’s words come rushing back and with
them, the bitter truth of what that would mean. Desertion.
Abandoning everyone who wants to do the same. Who
needs
to,
but is too terrified. I can’t leave them. I
won’t
, not to be
snatched or dragged back or whatever being here means. But I need
to get out of here too, even at night, if only to clear my
mind.

I have to talk to Reid.

Down the line, a girl sneezes. Most keep
their heads lowered but a sparse few like me risk a glance. And
that’s when I see him.

Not the
him
I was hoping for, but
someone just as useful. Same dark hair and long nose, it’s the kid
who is always trailing after Reid and he’s only six or seven bodies
down. I make my way over and pause behind him. The girl to his left
doesn’t notice right away, but after a second, glances at me.

Shock.

Bewilderment.

Like I’m the last person she expected to
see. Her eyes fly to him, willing him to look up. He doesn’t, so I
motion her to move along and she’s quick to obey. Resuming her
place, I dig in her stead. After a minute, the boy goes rigid, his
arms dropping to his side. But I keep digging, scooping spoonfuls
of gibb into the bucket and he does the same. A long minute
passes.

“You work for Rox.”

He barely nods, as if changing his mind a
second into the gesture.

“Got a name?”

A long pause. “Irie.”

“Look…” I languidly toss my Senz into the
gibb, “…not sure how this is done… but can I talk to him? Or at
least… let him know I’m looking for him?”

“Wait here.” He turns and heads through the
trench.

He disappears into the distance and I lose
myself in mindless digging. This is good. He’ll be gone for a few
minutes and it’ll give me time to figure out how to ask Reid about
gathering food. I’ve asked Pratt plenty of times and she always
comes back with the same answer. But maybe going to the source will
provide different results.

Maybe.

“Hey…” Reid’s voice breaks my focus as he
thrusts his Senz into the wall, “what’s going on?”

“I’m coming with you.”

He pauses. “Where?”

“To gather food at night.”

He flings his Senz into the wall again,
making a halfhearted attempt. He’s considering it.
Definitely
considering it but still, he makes no
response.

“It makes sense that I—”

“Good afternoon,” Ergiloff’s voice projects
from above. Reid cautions a finger over his lips, looking toward
the Castle like everyone else. “Would the following persons please
report to the labs
immediately
…”

Ergiloff calls out a list of seven names,
six females and one male.

One girl, a few bodies down, removes her
Senz as the third name is called and drops them in her bucket. Her
hair swishes behind her in a long, straight ponytail as she makes
her way for the ladder. The swing of her hair reminds me of Pratt
and before I realize what I’m doing, I’m running after her. In and
out of people, I dodge over buckets until I’ve rounded in front.
Quickly, I search for anything I can use.

“You want me to hold onto your clip?” I
gesture to the metallic butterfly pinned in her locks. “They don’t
allow hair pieces in the labs.”

“I’m sorry?”

“When I arrived, I was taken to the labs. I
had a hair clip similar to yours, but they took it away. Haven’t
gotten it back yet,” I clear my throat, “just saying I could hold
onto it for you so you won’t have to toss it. I can give it back to
you at Leisure Time.”

“Oh,” her eyes relax, “thanks.” She snaps
the metal, handing me the clip before heading up the ladder and out
of the trench.

I turn the piece over, examining the color
and quality of it. The special markings, little indentions, nicks
and scratches. This is a piece of her history, her life before
coming to Harrizel. I meander back to my spot, running my
fingertips over the aged metal. I snap the clip into my hair and I
resume digging. Reid stares at me with a questionable frown.

“I want to be able to give
her
boyfriend something.”

“She doesn’t have a boyfriend. It’s
yours.”

“It’s
hers
. Proof of her,” I swing my
Senz into the gibbed wall. “Proof that she exists.” He accepts this
and keeps going. “This the first time they’ve called lists?”

“First time with the pills, first time with
the lists…” he exhales and after a long minute, glances to me. “You
can come with us.”

“Tonight?”

“Tomorrow or the next night. Tonight I… I
have some stuff to take care of.”

I nod, biting my lip. “So, when were you
going to tell me you were Rox?”

“Still bothered by that?” he grins.

“I’m not bothered… just… curious.”

“Well what are you curious about?” he
thrusts his Senz into the wall.

“What does it mean? Are you in charge of…
everything
?”

He laughs. “No—
that’d
be sweet. Just
the Rogues… their Scouts… their Clients…”

“That’s all?”

“If you really want more details, I’ll swing
by your room later,” he tosses me a glance. “After Leisure
Time.”

Heat blooms inside. “You know where it
is?”

“Of course,” he scoffs, surprised I’d even
ask. “We’ll talk about gathering too. Cool?”

Remaining focused on the gibb, I nod. Out of
the corner of my eye I see him mirror the gesture before he backs
into a retreat. He’s gone without a reply and suddenly, I’m curious
as to what the night will bring.

***

Leisure Time.

As Jeb finishes Reminders about the
excessive use of the Water Pole and the hushed conversations in the
trench lines that must stop
immediately
, people fall into
that familiar timing. When they start grinding on one another,
releasing themselves carnally—or feigning it to avoid conversations
with the Guide and scientist, which seems more likely after a day
of Rebuilding.

I’m skimming the Maze, biding my time until
it’s safe to go back upstairs. But as I take another step, I pause,
my internal siren going off, warning me of a nearby danger. And I
see him—a pair of black eyes sitting like an anchor in a sea of
passing fish.

He’s around fifty feet away and starts
toward me with slow strides, his crooked mouth hooking high into
that jawboned face. On his neck, a red flame disappears into the
shiny blonde folds behind his ear. He’s alone, but moves quickly,
and I’m not sure what the right plan is. Retreat? Or stay here with
the others? Pratt said a lot of the Snatchings occur during Leisure
Time… but wouldn’t they happen in the Maze?

He’s coming for me and I need to act fast.
Stay or leave?

Stay or leave?

He’ll be at me—whoever he is—in seconds with
the rate he’s going. I need to do something now. But what? Loose
myself in the crowd? He could follow me right through it. And he’s
just about here.

Shit
.

Reid locks his arm on the adjacent wall,
blocking me with his back. Nipping his thumb, he tosses the
incoming stranger a look, one that makes him stop short.