Evalene's Number by Bethany Atazadeh

Author:Bethany Atazadeh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dystopian
Publisher: Starman Press via Indie Author Project
Published: 2019-10-27T16:00:00+00:00

22

Running into Talc

THE GUITAR DROPPED ONTO the floor with a loud crash of hollow wood and clashing notes as the strings vibrated from hitting the ground. Evalene stood, heart pounding. They stood between her and the only way out of the room. She tried to gauge how soon Olive would be back, but it was impossible to say, if she got caught up talking to someone or side tracked by dinner.

Evalene straightened her spine and lifted her chin, forcing herself to stare directly into the big man’s eyes. He thought she was a high Number, and she was determined to keep it that way. She knew his type. If he found out she was a lower Number, he’d still be a bully, but he’d be far less likely to take it easy, since no one cared what happened to a 29. If she stood tall and proud like Ruby, they would back off and leave her alone. Wouldn’t they?

“Excuse me.” She took a few steps towards them. “I’ll be on my way.”

But they didn’t budge. “Schorl,” Talc said over his shoulder, cracking his knuckles, “guard the door.”

The long-haired man nodded, stepping outside and pulling the door closed behind him. It clicked shut. “There’s no lock,” the smaller man said, but Talc waved him off, stepping towards Evalene.

“I know a brat just like you back home,” he told her, advancing. She backed up until her legs ran into the sofa behind her. “She thought she was better than me too. Had the Regs give me a couple beatings over nothin’ and now I’m thinkin’ why don’t we get a little payback?” This last part he said over his shoulder to the smaller man.

Evalene took advantage of his momentary distraction to move around behind the couch into the next circle of chairs and sofas. Now if he wanted to come after her, he had to chase her around. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way that she could make both men chase her, instead of just Talc. If she could get them both to come to this side, then her path to the door would open and she could make a run for it.

But as Talc turned back with a sneer, she remembered the third man on the other side of the door. She backed up further, glancing around the room for some sort of weapon to defend herself against his huge hands, but the only objects close at hand were the couches and chairs with their soft cushions and pillows. Desperate, she continued to back up, moving towards a picture that hung on the wall.

The men were enjoying their position of power, not in a hurry, and as Talc rounded the corner of the couch with a sinister grin, Evalene reached up to yank the frame off the wall. She would throw it at him, in hopes that it would hit or trip him, so that she could round the couch and try to get past the others.

But the picture was anchored to the wall.

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