Slave (Book One) by Laura Frances

Author:Laura Frances [Frances, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

20

The plan is to gather the people into the old cafeteria sometime this evening. The hope is that a deeper understanding of where we came from will inspire bravery and a willingness to fight. As for myself, I am too consumed by my own imaginings to be good company. All the possibilities sit waiting, and now that I know they are there, it’s all I can think about.

I asked Solomon to let me tell Aspen. It didn’t seem like it would matter, since he’d be telling everyone today anyway. To my surprise, he said yes.

We’re sitting in an empty hallway, scraping food from cans that we pass back and forth between us. It’s hard for me to eat from these cans, after what happened to the woman. Even though it’s open and most of the contents are in my stomach, I’m still waiting for it to explode.

I’ve just finished telling Aspen what I learned when she stands abruptly.

She paces a few feet, spins around, and holds a hand up.

“So you’re telling me there’s an entire country—our country—out there, and they haven’t come to get us? For like…a hundred years?”

“I told you,” I say. “Workers have never been allowed to communicate outside the valley.”

“And no one outside the valley thought it was something that ought to be shared?” She crosses her arms and presses her lips in a firm line.

I shrug. “Maybe they didn’t know. Or maybe…I don’t know…maybe the Council threatens everyone.” I think about Edan’s sister, and my heart aches.

Aspen drops to the floor beside me. “I guess someone must have said something,” she mutters. “That’s why Solomon is here.”

Her forehead presses to her knees, arms around her legs. I feel like my mother in moments like these. I know what she would do for someone who is in need of comfort. I drop an arm over Aspen’s shoulders.

“That’s right,” I say, hoping I sound encouraging. “And he has a plan.”

Though I’m not sure what exactly that plan is. We’ve been in this factory for almost two weeks. So far, we’ve stolen medicine, been rained on by glass, and discovered exploding cans.

It’s comforting to share information with Aspen. I want her to feel like she can trust me, and keeping secrets, no matter how important, hinders that. It feels good knowing she knows.

The hall we sit in is quiet. I chose one farther into the factory so we could talk. We’ve only been sitting in silence for a minute when shouts begin echoing off the walls. Aspen and I jump to our feet. After sharing a glance, we take off running.

Everyone is in a frenzy when we reach the hall of sleeping rooms. Workers are shaking one another awake and gripping arms, running out the door. My stomach twists. I can’t imagine what the Council has done now, but I know it’s horrific. That’s how they operate.

Someone shouts Come on! and I find myself running after them. I look over my shoulder, and Aspen is running too, a few paces behind.

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