Hostage by Rachel Manija Brown & Sherwood Smith

Author:Rachel Manija Brown & Sherwood Smith [Brown, Rachel Manija]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: strong heroines, YA dystopia, diversity, adventure, gay friendly
ISBN: 9781611384710
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Published: 2015-01-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight. Las Anclas.

Kerry

As Kerry waited for her new guard, she reviewed everything Min Soo had taught her about ingratiating herself with people. If it got her out of Las Anclas alive, she’d apologize to her mother and admit that she had been right. This much was surely true: you couldn’t rely on techniques that only worked if you were already in power. You also had to know how to create power—the power of influence—from a powerless position.

Preston would surely find a guard who was even bigger and meaner than him. How should she handle it? Brave and stoic? Sorrowful? Weak and non-threatening? She loathed the idea of pretending to be weak, but if made the guard careless . . .

In came Brisa, hand in hand with a freckled blonde girl, pale as an overwashed sock. That was the girlfriend Kerry had heard so much about? Kerry had expected her to be prettier.

“Hi, Princess Kerry!” Brisa chirped. “Dr. Lee said Becky could examine your face. How’s it feeling today?”

Kerry put fake brightness into her voice. “Oh, it’s fine.”

Both girls looked gratifyingly indignant. Kerry was certain they were picturing Preston and his ham hands. Kerry had felt how swollen her face was, and she’d caught a flash of pity, then anger on Dr. Lee’s face when he’d examined her injuries the night before. Much as it hurt—she hadn’t been able to sleep on that side—it had to look even worse.

Becky spoke in such a soft voice Kerry barely heard her. “If you could come to the cell door, I’d like to apply some witch hazel.” She held up a bottle and a piece of linen.

Kerry stood still under Becky’s careful ministrations, as Brisa said, “Can we get you anything? Is the food all right?”

“The food is fine. I’m just bored. Well, to be honest, lonely.” Kerry watched in satisfaction as Becky looked sympathetic and Brisa gazed down guiltily. “Could you two stay and keep me company?”

Brisa said reluctantly, “We have to go to school. But we can come back in the evening.”

“Thank you,” Kerry said, trying to sound sad but brave.

“But you’ll be out soon,” Becky consoled her.

“Hey, that gives me an idea,” exclaimed Brisa. “Everybody wants to meet you. We could throw you a party!”

The deputy spoke up, startling all three. “Nobody is throwing the prisoner a party.”

Brisa scowled. Becky hung her head. Kerry said wistfully, “Thank you anyway. It was a sweet idea.”

The girls said a subdued goodbye and walked out. Before they reached the jail door, they were whispering.

Kerry turned away to hide her grin. Those girls had to be planning a secret party. Perfect. Assuming she could somehow get to it, Kerry would have all her potential allies gathered conveniently together for her inspection.

She lay on her cot, preparing for her second challenge of the day, the guard. But when the door opened again, the last person Kerry expected walked in: Ross’s grubby girlfriend, Mia.

The girl unclipped a pair of manacles from her belt. Her hands shook nervously, making them clank together.

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