“Don’t you dare overdo it. And let me change the bandages tonight.”
He gave me a salute, and I thrust a vitamin at him. “I’m serious. It’ll be much more fun killing aliens if you have two strong arms, won’t it?”
His face sort of morphed into understanding, like I had finally struck a chord. “Hooah, Doc.”
“She’s got you there,” Rylen said. He stayed by my side as Tex left to get back to work and I hugged the other three and gave them their vitamin doses. They all appeared equally fatigued. I wished we could go outside for some fresh air and sunshine, but we couldn’t risk giving away our location. Also, this place didn’t have a gym, so everyone had to make do with cramped workouts in the dining hall. Half of the group did it in the morning before breakfast, the other half at night after dinner. We pushed all of the tables aside, and did a series of stretching followed by squats, pushups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks. It was a half-assed workout compared to what we’d all gotten used to, but there wasn’t enough food to warrant more.
As I finished, and Devon was talking to Rylen, I sidled next to Shavontae and asked, “Have you heard of the closet?”
She craned back her neck to lift an eyebrow at me. “Heard of it? Did you not hear me sneak out the room at three AM?”
My eyes widened, and I whispered, “I thought you were going to the bathroom!”
“Nope. Three o’clock is rendezvous time. It ain’t the Ritz, and it smells like bleach, but you won’t hear me complaining.” She turned to graze Devon’s wide shoulders with her eyes, and he caught her, returning her stare with a look that made me need to fan myself. Even Rylen caught the exchange and had to chuckle as the two of them walked away, hip to hip. And finally, now that it was nearing lunch, my line was gone.
“What were you two talking about?” he asked.
I’d known this boy since I was six. In fact, there was nobody on Earth now who knew us better than we knew each other, so it was stupid that I was too embarrassed to tell him about the closet. I’d craved him constantly since our one and only time together. It hadn’t been nearly enough. I wanted so much more, especially after thinking I’d lost him during the evacuation.
Oh, my God, I needed to stop thinking about it.
But it was kind of hard when he was looming next to me, giving off heat waves that sang to my libido. Every time he looked at me I felt like he was silently saying, “Hey, wanna go to the closet?”
Yeah, I needed to cool off. I cleared my throat and grabbed the box of vitamins, turning and bending down to lock it in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet. But when I bent, my ass totally rubbed against Rylen’s outer thigh, making him hiss low under his breath. I felt the heat of his hand like fire land on my hip to keep me from backing into him any further.
“Careful where you’re swinging that thing, Pepper.” His voice shot straight to my core like lightening.
I slammed the door and locked it, shoving the key in my pocket and facing him. Neither of us was smiling, and the sudden tension was delicious.
“Or what?” I asked.
His eyes flashed with sexy, animalistic warning, making me tremble.
“Keep it up and you’ll find out.” He leaned forward and kissed me, sucking in my bottom lip and letting it go with a graze of his teeth. The look he gave me before walking away was enough to make me come right there if I weren’t technically in public . . . and if First Sergeant wasn’t coming our way right that second.
Damn.
I clenched my thighs, feeling all kinds of wrong as Rylen nodded at First Sergeant in passing, and I forced a smile.
“Hey, Top,” I said.
“How’s it going, Tate?”
“Okay,” I told him. “Pretty basic so far. Everyone’s a little stir crazy, and that can wreak havoc. You know, the mental and physical are all sort of connected. These guys are lonely and bored and really need to see the sun and stretch their legs.” And get laid.
He nodded, frowning. “We’re working on it. Let me know if you have any issues, though.”
“Yes, sir.” He looked ready to turn and leave me again, but he stopped and put a hand on he table. “How are you? I know it can’t be easy, leaving behind your brother and friend.”
I dropped my eyes, feeling guilty every time my mind waned from that feeling of mourning, but I had to be honest.
“I don’t think they’re dead, Top.”
He eyed me, then nodded slowly. “Those two and Linette are our only people missing. Something tells me they’re together, and if they are, those three would make a fine team.”
I wasn’t so sure of that. Tater was hotheaded. Linette and Remy were total opposites. But stranger things had happened.
“I hope so,” I said.
Top patted my shoulder, and I accepted the fatherly moment, soaking it in as we walked together to a lunch of packaged MREs. Meals Ready to Eat—military rations. Yum.
Remy
I hadn’t had a chance to talk with Linette or Tater yet. I only saw Tater in passing, and we were worked to the bone each day. I had originally scoffed at the early bedtime, but now I realized it was a necessity. I made eye contact with Linette last night when we got to our bunk, but she gave a small shake of her head. Not yet.
Nobody talked much in Primo Town, and it was starting to wear on me. I was a social person. The lack of interaction made me feel weird and twitchy. There was an air of fear surrounding the people. Nobody seemed to be alien fanatics, which made me hopeful that they were like us, just playing nice. From what little small talk I’d tried to make, I’d found out that all of the women were widows now. And all of the children were orphans. The Baelese had successfully broken down the most basic, essential human relationship: family.
As I served lunch to the children, I couldn’t help but talk to them. Ten-year-olds should not look so sad and weary. I placed a slice of toast on the plate of a thin blond with a messy bob cut.
“What’s your name, sweetie?” I whispered.
She jumped a little and looked at me with surprise. The children in line after her watched our interaction with big eyes.
“Macy.”
“Hi, Macy. I’m Remy.”
The girl looked around at where the guards stood, too far away to hear, before saying, “H-hi.”
I smiled and nodded for her to move on. Then I introduced myself to every child in the line. Each seemed eager to get to me and share their names. To see their hunger for attention made me surge with anger toward the Baelese. These kids needed to be working less and having time to play and learn. When were our classes supposed to start?
After everyone was finished, and I was helping with dishes, one of the women who looked about ten years older than me, whispered as she scrubbed a pot.
“There’s no use trying to get close to the kids. You won’t be allowed.”
I tensed and shoved a frying pan too hard into the cupboard. “I can’t help it. I won’t make it obvious. Plus, I’m going to be their teacher.”
Her head swung to me in surprise, then quickly away again. “They’re going to take classes?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure when.”
A small smile graced her lips as she finished scrubbing and began to rinse.
“Remy Haines?” The loud female voice in the doorway startled us all. I turned to see Vahni’s perfect face, hair, and creased slacks with a silk blouse.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Come with me.”
Was I in trouble for talking to the kids? My heart raced as I followed her out of the dining hall and into the back seat of a Jeep. An armed guard sat behind me, watching me. I closed my eyes and let the air blow back my hair as we drove to the palace. Once we parked I started to feel nervous again. I followed Vahni inside in silence with the guard close behind me.
I was led to a double set of ornate doors at the end of a hall, where Vahni turned and surveyed me with distaste. I looked ragged compared to her. My jeans were splattered with spaghetti sauce f
rom last night, and my T-shirt was wet from doing dishes. And don’t get me started on my frizzy blond hair. I attempted to smooth it back.
“You will begin your teaching duties today.”
Oh! Warm happiness filled me. I wondered what I was doing at the palace, though. Some sort of training?
“The children are right inside. Today you will meet them and review the materials. Classes will begin tomorrow.” They brought the kids here? That was nice. Surprising, but nice. I was sure the children were excited about a change of scenery.
I followed her inside with nervous jitters, and what I saw made me stop midstep, my mind reeling with confusion.
At least fifty children, all brown haired, ranging from toddlers to tweens, each with jerky movements. Oh. My. Lord. The small bit of food I’d eaten rose into my throat and I felt dizzy. I’d known that the Baelese were reproducing, of course they were, but to see it . . . to see these future killers freaked me out more than anything had in a long time. I felt ashamed at being repulsed by their young. And oh my gosh, was I expected to teach them? I put a hand over my mouth.
“Is there a problem?” Vahni asked, annoyed. I realized she’d been moving forward and I had stopped.
“N-no,” I forced myself. “So many . . .” Get it together, Remy.
“Fifty three at this location. And do not worry about the number. You will be given a schedule. Reading will be taught to the younger group in the mornings. Math and science to the older ones in the afternoons.”
I opened my mouth and closed it again.
“As you see, we have many soldiers.” She pointed around at the Baelese men who oversaw the children now. “But we cannot spare any of them to teach at this time. You do not need to be concerned with behavioral issues from the children. That is not a problem for our kind.” She said it with absolute venom, and I had to school my face not to reveal the disgust and anger I felt. I forced a nod.
The children were all playing. Sort of. Some were building meticulous structures with wooden blocks and Legos. Others worked on more difficult building sets with smaller parts, and beginner circuit boards. The creating they did was all mathematical. Planned. Not just for fun. Not from their imaginations. There was no laughter. No smiling. For a room full of children, it was too quiet.
I wanted to cry.
My body felt stiff as I followed Vahni to an L-shaped lacquered desk with every office supply imaginable displayed neatly. Teaching books and materials were lined on a shelf behind the desk. My heart began to thump at the sight of the books, because I’d never taught reading. I was only halfway through my teaching certification classes. I honestly had no idea what I was doing, and I told Vahni as much.
She pulled the teacher’s edition of the reading book off the shelf and pushed it into my hands. “You have this afternoon and evening to acquaint yourself.”
Gee. Seven hours to learn how to teach. No problem.
Vahni explained her expectations, and I listened, trying really hard to concentrate. When she was finished, she asked, “Any questions?”
I swallowed and took a breath. “What about the human children? Will I be teaching them as well?”
Her face tightened. “Of course not.”
Again, sour, seething disgust trickled through me like acid.
Of course not.
The evilness of Vahni and her race overwhelmed me all over again as an image of the future for humanity swam into my mind. No education. No family units. Just . . . servants.
“Line up, children!” she called out.
Like robots, without a moment of hesitation, every single child stopped what they were doing and lined up from youngest to oldest, I was guessing by their sizes. Even the toddlers and preschoolers made their way, albeit a tiny bit slower than the others. But I refused to let myself be impressed by these obedient creatures. This was not normal. Give me a toddler so wrapped up in playing that they had to be dragged away by an adult. That was normal. Annoying, maybe, but natural.
Vahni led me to the front of the line. “Children, this is your teacher, Ms. Haines. You will say hello.”
“Hello, Ms. Haines,” they said. Shivers popped up on my arms. They sounded like human kids. Small, cute voices.
“Hello,” I said, forcing a smile, which nobody returned. They all just stared at me.
“We will go down the line and each of you will tell Ms. Haines your name.”
I walked down the line, looking each child in the eye as they said their strange names. Bashile. Loden. Midrik. It would take me a while to learn them. When we got to the end of the line, Vahni said, “You may return to your activities. School will begin in the morning.”
At that moment, the double doors opened, and my heart jumped at the sight of Senator Navis striding in, wearing his signature pressed gray slacks and crisp button-up shirt. The top button was undone, and the sleeves were rolled to his elbows. His dark waves lay neatly back. He could have been on the cover of GQ Magazine, for real.
Vahni pursed her lips at the sight of them, and her expression only got tighter as the children yelled, “Bahntan!” and raced over to surround him. I was momentarily stunned that they could raise their voices and move that fast. The Senator laughed and picked up a toddler boy, setting him on his hip. The boy looked at him worshipfully. The other children stared up, as well, as if he might impart some sort of wisdom on them. The entire sight made my insides shake with dread, and I had to clasp my hands together.
“What does that mean?” I whispered. “Bahntan?”
With her disapproving gaze never leaving the Senator, she answered. “Bahntan is our most sacred word. It means leader.”
The dizziness I’d felt earlier smacked me again, and the physical reaction of nausea rolled through me. The Senator was their leader. But . . . how? I couldn’t fathom it. This man, I felt like I knew him, but that was the furthest thing from the truth. Looking at him now, his smile was so bizarre compared to all of the rest of their straight faces. He looked so human.
“He was the key to our success,” Vahni murmured. “Our survival. He has sacrificed much to become like one of you.”
I was staring at him when he looked over and caught my eye. His laughter fell away and he set the toddler down. I dropped my eyes and clasped my hands in front of myself. I felt so betrayed. The urge to cry was heavy behind my eyes, and I scolded myself, frantically trying to get my emotions in check.
“Ms. Haines, good to see you again.”
I lifted my head and gave a shaky smile, but when our eyes connected, the air shot from my lungs. God above, he was so handsome. And he was gazing at me, his head slightly cocked to the side. How could he be one of them? How could he have done this to me? To everyone?
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I tried my best not to stammer. “Yes, sir, hello.”
“And you’re to be the teacher?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Please,” he said gently. “Call me—”
“She will call you Bahntan,” Vahni cut in, eyeing him. He eyed her back with a press of his lips before looking at me again.
With his eyes still on me, he said, “You are excused, Vahni.”
Her mouth flopped open like a fish, and even I was surprised. For a second I thought she would override him, but instead she raised her knee and marched away. My eyes flitted back to the Senator, and a swirl of strange emotions filled me. His face, his presence, gave me comfort, though in my mind I knew it shouldn’t. I had to look away.
“You’ll have to excuse her rigidness,” he said. “That is the way of our people. Everything is black and white, but they are . . . efficient.”
Judging by the way they’d killed most of the people on our planet, if their goal was absolute cruelty, I’d say efficient was the right word.
“What do you think of the children?” He glanced toward the tiny worker bees with absolute affection, and again I marveled at how different he was.
“They’re so good,?
?? I blurted.
This made him chuckle. “That they are. It is not in the nature of the people of Bael to rebel or go off course.” And then, as he stared out, he said almost to himself, “Though there is something remarkable to be said about wild children who scream and run and laugh when they play. Human young are beautiful when they get carried away by the moment.”
“Yes,” I breathed. He looked at me, and for that split-second we were united in something that once was, but now was lost. It took my breath away, and I had to break our gaze, staring down as I caught my breath.
This man. This alien. He was not like me. I didn’t know what game he was playing, but he was dangerous, and I couldn’t let myself get caught up in his duplicity.
“I overwhelm you,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
And he could read me. Fantastic. I swallowed and swung my head up, plastering on a nervous smile.
“Like I told you, I always admired your work. For years . . .” I shook my head. “It’s just surreal to stand in your presence.”
One side of his lips tipped up. “You flatter me.” But he didn’t look proud or egotistical. He looked humbled. Even sad.
No. There was no way he felt those emotions. He was Baelese. He was incapable. I looked over at the children again.
“Am I supposed to teach them about humans?”
“No,” he said. “Interacting with you will be lesson enough. They are studying English through you, since it will be the universal language for humans, and they will someday oversee Primo Town and workers around the world. They are well-versed in our language and ways.”
The sound of curt high-heels on tile made us both turn toward Vahni.
“Gather your things, Ms. Haines. You will now return to Primo Town.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The Senator tipped his chin down to me. “Best of luck tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir,” I told him.
I was going to need more than luck. Despite the Senator’s false friendliness, which I couldn’t understand, something told me that if I wasn’t successful at teaching these Baelese children quickly, I would be discarded without a passing thought.