3013: ASYLUM: A 3013 Novella (3013: The Series) by Kali Argent

Author:Kali Argent [Argent, Kali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS
Published: 2016-03-27T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Winding her way through the tables, Olivia ducked into the shadowy corner nearest the bar and plopped down in the chair across from the young woman in her sparkling green dress. “Hi there,” she greeted, leaning back in her seat and casually crossing her ankles under the table. “I’m Olivia Jacobson, Commander of X21. I want to ask you a couple of questions, if that’s okay.”

With her gaze fixed squarely on the black tabletop, the girl chewed her bottom lip and nodded. While she clearly came from wealth and prosperity, she wore the same dress Olivia had seen her in earlier that week, and concluding a quick study, she realized the scroll didn’t possess a wrist unit, either. She looked so scared, as if she expected Olivia to carry her through the space station and drop her onto the next ship headed to Earth.

Sympathetic, Olivia folded her hands together in her lap and softened her tone. “What’s your name?”

“Isla,” the girl whispered.

“Last name?”

Isla shook her head and continued to stare down at the table. “I…I’d rather not say.”

“Isla, look at me.” She waited patiently, keeping her posture relaxed and open. “It’s okay,” she assured her when Isla finally peeked up at her through impossibly long lashes. “You’re safe here.”

“Blevins. Isla Blevins.” She winced as though the admission had caused her physical pain.

“Okay, that’s good.” Olivia spoke slowly, quietly, and she kept her movements to a minimum as if trying to coax a frightened kitten out of its hiding place. “Honey, how old are you?”

Her bright red hair and icy blue eyes made her look so young, and the smattering of freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks added an air of innocence to her youthful appearance. If not for the inky darkness of the scroll tattoo at the corner of her eye, Olivia would have guessed Isla was still in the Academy.

“I, uh, I just turned twenty-two,” Isla answered, her voice meek and nearly inaudible.

“Where are your parents?” A pretty scroll dressed in an expensive gown surely had parents who wanted her home.

“My dads died when I was nine.” Her shoulders shook when she sniffled, and a single tear trickled down her pale cheek. “My mom passed recently.”

Olivia wasn’t prone to emotional outbursts, and she rarely cried, but listening to Isla speak, hearing the despair in her voice, she couldn’t stop the moisture that gathered in the corners of her eyes. Clearing her throat, she sat up a little straighter and linked her hands together on the tabletop.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you have any other family?”

“Not really. Just my stepdads.”

Olivia furrowed her brow and frowned. “Did they kick you out?” Another, more horrible thought occurred to her. “Did they hurt you?”

“No, they didn’t hurt me, but I couldn’t stay there.”

It was evasiveness at its finest, but Olivia didn’t push. She needed the woman to keep talking, and clearly force wasn’t the way to make that happen. “Just a couple more questions, okay?”

Isla nodded, but she seemed reluctant. “O–Okay.

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