“Only when you’re around.” Ozzie gave me a huge smile, seemingly more comfortable around me.
I thought I heard a soft chuckle from Rhett.
“Wow, that’s so romantic.” I mentally slapped myself for warming up to strangers I shouldn’t trust. But they made it so easy.
* * *
ISAN housed only females, but Rhett’s secret bunker seemed to be mostly males. Brooke would have loved it here. She always complained there wasn’t enough eye candy in ISAN.
Everyone ogled me as I followed Rhett to a table. Avoiding eye contact in the newly quiet room, I lowered into my seat. A tray sat in front of me—an apple and something oatmeal-like. But trying to elude attention didn’t last long. Rhett remained standing.
“Everyone, this is Ava, which you already know,” Rhett announced. “You know the history. Be nice and don’t bombard her with questions. Enjoy your breakfast.”
“Hi, Ava,” voices chorused, and normal chatter rose around me.
I didn’t say a word. Instead, I hunched lower in my seat, wishing I was invisible.
Rhett slid down next to me, picked the apple off his tray, and took a bite. A smudge of oatmeal lingered on his plate.
“What history?” I asked.
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“You always say that.” I grumbled and chomped down hard on my apple.
He took another bite and then lifted his eyelashes when Reyna sat on the other side of us.
“How did she sleep?” Reyna asked Rhett.
When Reyna took a sip of her drink, white liquid foamed around her lips. As she wiped her mouth, I wondered what she drank.
“Fine, I guess. I didn’t get any complaints.”
“Does she remember anything?”
Rhett tilted his head to Ozzie. “Einstein told her a few things. I think they’re friends now. Getting hit in the balls can make you do stupid things.”
Ozzie let out a soft growl. “You never told me not to tell her things.”
While they talked like I wasn’t there, I chewed my apple loudly in annoyance.
Reyna leaned in closer. “We can’t trust her, at least not yet. It’s too early.”
That did it! I banged my hand on the table harder than I meant and winced.
“Hello, I’m right here. Her and she are listening. Not to be trusted? I’m the one who got kidnapped. I didn’t ask to come here. Keep that in mind.” I tossed the apple core on the tray. It bounced off my tray and landed inside Rhett’s empty cup.
“Nice shot. Are you done eating?” Rhett asked.
Without answering, I got up halfway, but he pushed me down. “Eat.” He didn’t raise his voice, but it wasn’t a request. “You’re going to need the energy. We’re going hunting today.”
“How am I supposed to eat this mush? You didn’t give me any utensils to eat it with.” I sounded like a spoiled brat, but he made me angry.
Rhett poured the mush into my empty can. “We’re very low on supplies. Utensils are not of utmost importance to us. I’m sure Einstein already told you that.” He slid the cup. “We learn ways to eat with or without using our fingers. So drink up.”
If hunting—stealing— meant my ticket out of there and a way for me to find an escape, I was all for it. I grabbed the can and chugged it down, dulling my hunger.
“Here.” Rhett set another can in front of me.
“What’s this?” White liquid filled the can.
Rhett gave me a sideways glance. His lips perked into a sexy smirk, and then twitched his brow in a playful way. “Got milk?”
“Milk?” I wrapped my fingers around the can, as if I held something valuable. “How did you get milk? It’s been so long. I can’t remember when I last had milk.”
“It’s actually baby’s milk,” Ozzie said, as if he simply read the ingredient off the box.
Milk squirted out of my mouth like a fountain the second Ozzie spoke. They’d given me breast milk? My relentless coughing wouldn’t stop.
Rhett patting my back gave me no pleasure. I wanted to twist his arm and flip him over on the table, but nothing good would come of it except the satisfaction of hurting him. That sounded appealing, but I decided not to do it since I was surrounded by his people. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I wished for something to clean up my mess.
Rhett gave Ozzie an evil eye. “It’s not baby’s milk. It’s powdered milk.”
“It’s basically the same thing. I’ll bet it has the same formula. I won’t drink it.”
“It isn’t.” Reyna set down her can after taking another sip, but she grimaced.
“I’m the one with a brain around here, remember?” Ozzie smirked. “I know science, chemistry, and formulas. All you know how to do is—”
“Everything else.” Rhett rose to his feet. “Let’s go, Einstein. We have work to do before we go hunting.”
“Where are we going?” I picked up my tray and placed the plate and can in a large plastic bin how Rhett had done.
Ozzie gulped his last bit of mush and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “We have a little community here. It will blow your mind.”
Reyna swung around to plant her feet on the ground and held out her tray. “At least I don’t have to drink that awful protein drink and I don’t have to be shot up with Helix and forced to take lives.” She dumped the plate and wiped her hands on her pants. “Think about it.” Reyna strode out.
I followed behind Rhett. How did she know? How the freakin’ hell did she know? The truth was, I had been thinking about it.
A lot.
I took one step outside the dining area and would’ve fallen if Rhett hadn’t steadied me. The guys had swept the floor with an old-fashioned worn mop. It was rare to see a mop, let alone four of them in one place.
“Conserve water guys, please,” Rhett said.
The boys gave him a thumbs up and went about their business.
“You have mops? How did you get them?”
I kept my steps even with Rhett’s, Ozzie and Reyna lagged behind.
“They were already here. You’ll see many things that are no longer manufactured and items from the past.”
Reyna pushed a button on the side of the rocky structure. “I’m in charge of agriculture. You’re visiting my domain.”
I entered an old elevator. Thick wires dangled through the cracks above. I gasped when the elevator rattled and jerked before ascending. Rhett focused his eyes straight ahead at the metal door with his fists tight.
“You’ll get used to it,” Ozzie said. “It only broke down twice this week. Just don’t get trapped inside with Rhett.” He snickered softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Rhett twisted his neck, pushed back his shoulders, and let out a small grunt. His sound of annoyance made me want to know more. When the door opened, Rhett released a sigh and the tension in his shoulders eased. Then earthy and citrus scents spiraled through me.
“I see. Claustrophobic,” I murmured.
“Welcome to my favorite place.” Reyna burst out with her arms held up high and her head tilted back. Soaking in the dim sunlight filtering through the fiberglass ceiling, she sauntered on ahead with Ozzie.
Surrounding the outer layer of the ceiling were solar panels, except for where the crops grew under man-made lights that hung every few feet. Stepping out into a field of green, I marveled at the trees and various fruits I hadn’t had the pleasure to eat. The other half of the field held a planted vegetable garden—carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and cabbages.
“This is amazing.” I observed their teamwork. “I’m very impressed.”
Though I should be fuming with rage for being taken against my will, I allowed myself to step back and submerge in the curiosity of my new environment.
Don’t get attached. I belong to ISAN.
“Don’t be too impressed.” Rhett peered up to pick an orange from the tree.
Just then the sunlight kissed his hair, highlighting the tips to a shade lighte
r, and his amber irises glowed, reminding me of a sunrise bursting to a new day. He peeled the orange and handed me half.
“Thanks,” I said.
“My favorite.” He pinched his lips and drew his eyebrows to the center, as if in concentration.
If I hadn’t known better, I assumed he waited for me to say something. Did he hope I would remember oranges were his favorite fruit? When I didn’t say anything, his face relaxed.
Rhett bit into a piece. “We didn’t build this place. We’re only utilizing what was already here. It’s amazing how they planned the details of what they needed to survive.”
“They were brilliant.” I chewed and swallowed, savoring the orange. I hadn’t had one in so long. The sweet juice going down my throat felt like heaven. “Water is so expensive. How do you get water?”
“There’s a filter pump down in the basement. All the water goes through a pipe that leads to a special pumping system to purify the water.”
I parted my lips to put another piece in my mouth, when I stopped to think about the restroom. “Any chance of getting a toilet? Not that I plan to stay here, but squatting down to pee is not my cup of tea.”
“I’ll make a note of that.” Rhett pursed his lips together. His eyes glistened in the light again when he caught mine.
I glanced away when I realized I’d stared too long. Needing to focus on something else, I crossed my arms and shuffled my shoe in the dirt. Juice squirted onto my face and I squeezed my eyes shut. Before I could block Rhett, he reached out to me.
“Sorry.” His finger traced my cheek, wiping the juice off my nose and then my lips.
The intimate gesture unsettled me. I kept my eyes closed and enjoyed the warmth of the sun as chills waved through me in the wake of Rhett’s touch.
“Are we interrupting?”
I opened my eyes. Three men stood before us.
“No,” Rhett said.
The dip in his tone told me otherwise.
“We don’t know each other well, but I want to thank you.” The first guy extended a hand to me.
“I don’t know what I did, but you’re welcome.” Not knowing what he meant, yet wanting to be polite, I shook his hand with a smile.
“My name is Quinn.” He pointed to his friends. “This is Kai and Drew. We work here every day. Will you be training with us?”
“Training?”
“In case we have to go to war with I—”
“Everyone should know how to defend themselves,” Rhett said.
Was Quinn going to say ISAN? I would have to ask him when I got the chance.
“Anyway ... we watch old movies after dinner. Would you like to come?”
Before I answered, I glanced at Rhett, seeking permission because he was my jailer. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes narrowed. Was he jealous?
“That’s nice of you, but Ava will be busy.”
“Sure. You can hang out with us some other time when you’re free.” Quinn backed away with his friends. “You too, Rhett. We gotta go back to our station. Bye.”
“He’s cute.” I watched them run across the field.
Rhett hiked an eyebrow. “Who’s cute?”
He stood with his feet apart and arms crossed, reminding me of Mitch.
“Who I think is cute is none of your business.” I pierced my eyes into his.
He didn’t reply. Instead, he rested his hand on my back. “Let me show you something.”
Rhett and I took the elevator down and stopped at floor level X. The sound of soft moving water caught my attention. When I got off the elevator, cool mist drizzled and tickled my face.
Trekking down the pebbled path, I trailed my hand over the rocky surface to keep steady. Even the walls felt cool and dewy to the touch. The trail ended, and a stream prevented us from going farther.
“This is where we do our laundry.”
The water seemed to be about three feet deep. Rhett’s friends washed clothes and laid them on a boulder to dry. The boys hung some on the bridge netted with rope, connecting one side to the other.
“The old-fashioned way? Unbelievable.” I shook my head because I couldn’t believe my eyes. I almost laughed.
“The old-fashioned way.”
“Hi, Rhett. Hi, Ava.”
A few of the boys waved from across the bridge.
I waved back to be nice, but they said my name as if we were friends. It only added to the strangeness of everything I felt, happening over and over again. I clenched my teeth from the frustration of being unable to remember. Rhett certainly couldn’t have convinced everyone to pretend to know me. But even still, I didn’t want to believe he told me the truth.
Rhett shuffled small rocks out of the path. “I’m giving Ava a tour.”
“She can help us with the laundry if she wants,” one said, holding up a wet shirt.
“We can teach her,” the second guy with dark hair chimed in. “Then we can go for a swim.”
“Trying to get out of doing your job?” Rhett hopped onto a boulder.
“We’re always trying to get out of our duty, Rhett.” The third guy wrung the shirt he pulled out of the water. “We’re lazy. Don’t be surprised if we can’t get the stain out of your favorite shirt next time. We’re thinking if we do a crappy job, you might reassign us.”
Rhett let out a boisterous laugh. “Okay, guys. Let me see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Rhett,” they said in unison and continued what they were doing.
Rhett jumped off and rubbed the back of his neck. “Where was I? Oh, yeah. Once they get dried, it all goes to one room. We all share. There’s no mine or yours. It all gets recycled. However, they do keep in mind my favorite shirts. And some people fight for things that fit better. They’ll even trade for something in return, like taking a shift in vegetation or cooking.”
“That explains why the clothes feel so rough.” I thought about the softness of the clothes from ISAN. “What do you wash the clothes with? I didn’t see soap scum.”
“We don’t believe soap is a top priority.”
“You mean you can’t find any to steal.”
Rhett’s lips parted in a light chuckle. “I’ll never admit that.”
“It’s okay, I understand.” I shrugged, and took a few steps to hike back up, passing him. “You’ve gotta do what you gotta do. Whatever it takes, right?”
I halted and planted a hand on the rock jetting out from the wall. Why did those words haunt me as if they were a physical being, someone I should remember?
When Rhett didn’t respond and I heard no footsteps, I gazed over my shoulder. His eyes darted in my direction, but he didn’t acknowledge me.
“Did I say something to offend you?” I broke his daze. Not that I cared.
“No,” he said softly. “You just said, ‘whatever it takes.’” Rhett passed me, shaking his head. “We need to get going.”
“How did you get a glider?” Through the dark tinted window, I saw nothing but the ocean. “Wait. I’ll answer for you. It’s none of my concern.”
“If I could get paid for the number of questions you’ve asked, I’d be rich.” Reyna batted her eyelashes, half mocking and half teasing.
I caught her reflection through the tinted window and scowled. Bitch. I wanted to bite back, but I didn’t want to twist around in my seat. Sitting in the front was a disadvantage when it came to giving the evil eye.
“That’s enough, Reyna.”
Surprisingly, Rhett took my side.
“You don’t treat your best friend like shit no matter how angry you are at her.”
“Best friend?” Baffled, I frowned at the thought.
She didn’t show any sign of caring at all. And if this was all a setup, she sucked at acting. I had no memories of us sharing laughter, or stories, or even a sisterly bond. Rhett said we could lose memories, but not our emotions. Brooke was the only friend that felt like a sister to me. I missed her.
Why was ISAN taking so freakin’ long to find me
?
“Leave Ava alone,” Ozzie said.
I hid my smile. My attempt to manipulate Ozzie to be on my side seemed successful so far.
Reyna mumbled something under her breath.
Tense silence filled the space inside the glider. I stole a few glances at Rhett. His hands moved about the control panel, checking the pressure, checking the distance. The steering looked simple enough, but the knobs and flashing colored lights confused me.
I thought about knocking everyone out and flying the glider back to ISAN myself; however, I’d never flown one before, and I had no idea where ISAN was located, so I scratched my escape idea.
At times Rhett glanced my way, and occasionally, my eyes would meet his. Then he pretended to check the screen. In every glider I’d seen, once you input your destination, you could take a nap. So why the fidgeting?
Rhett parked the glider inside an abandoned building. I’d heard about abandoned cities, never knowing if they were real. I wondered if this was one. My stomach fluttered excitedly at the possibility.
“Where are we?” I climbed out of the glider.
The cool, dank building had me shivering.
A large chunk of the building had been torn off, and the asphalt streets had been lifted and tossed about in twisted sections. Weeds as tall as me grew throughout where once trees and bushes rooted. Debris—plaster, street lamps, street signs, glass, metal, tires, and car parts—scattered everywhere and seemed impossible to pass. No animal life inhabited it as far as I could tell. Even the air smelled stale and dead.
Rhett hesitantly handed me a Taser and then a jacket. “Just in case. Make sure not to point it at us.” He emphasized the word us. “We’re in the restricted area and might run into drifters or the council’s security. You should put the jacket on. It gets cold.”
“What are drifters?” I shoved the Taser in the back of my pants and put the jacket on, silently thanking him for it. In ISAN, I never had to wear one in the perfect temperature setting.
When Rhett swung a backpack over his shoulder, I locked my eyes on the hole in the side of his backpack. A bullet hole? I didn’t bother to ask.
“Drifters choose to be here.” Rhett adjusted his backpack strap and tapped about his waist for his weapons, ensuring they were secure. “They don’t want to have anything to do with the society. They prefer to live alongside Mother Nature.”