The Stars in Their Eyes by Kristy Gardner

Author:Kristy Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781648981920
Publisher: City Owl Press

The lights dimmed that night at the usual time, and the residents of The Resistance retreated to their rooms. Or in Calay's case, her cage. The door clanged shut as the guard secured the lock and walked away, barely giving her a cursory glance goodnight. The echo of his boots faded down the hall.

She waited until she was sure she was alone.

Then, from behind the mirror, she retrieved the things she'd taken from the cafeteria the night before.

The lock wasn't particularly sophisticated—a classic spring style. Early after The Change, she'd learned how to jimmy locks just like this. It proved useful when searching homes and buildings for supplies or food. This one was a bit more complicated than she was used to, but not too dissimilar. She could work with it.

Calay bent the prongs of the fork down except one and began clipping the latch. It was stiff. The fork slipped several times, puncturing and scraping her knuckles in the process.

“Come on...”

She tried again, carefully sliding the prong between the spring and the wall.

It clicked and popped open.

Just like that.

It took Calay a few moments to realize she'd done it. Like, actually done it. In disbelief, she gasped. No way. She set the fork down and took hold of the bars. Slowly, she slid the door open a few inches. Yes way! So much for gated security. She was free.

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching from down the hallway put a pin in her great escape. Her breath caught in her throat and a trickle of sweat dripped down her back.

“Shit,” she whispered.

Calay placed a sugar packet between the spring and the locking mechanism to keep the door from re-latching, and slid the door shut. She tucked the fork into the waistband of her pants. And then sat on the bed and waited.

A guard came into view.

She crossed her fingers he wouldn't check the bars. The door would come right open, the sugar packet would land on the concrete floor. It would be clear evidence of what she'd done. She had no idea what they would do to her then. She just needed a little luck. A little saving grace. She needed him to walk on by.

He paused just long enough for his eyes to linger on every place she wished she'd hid under the covers. Guy may have been the only one to touch her, but she felt all their eyes on her, all the time.

Then, he was gone. The sound of his boots echoed as he retreated further away, each step a reminder that this was her chance. Her moment.

It’s time. Now or never. Do or do not. Do or die.

She got up, rushed the door, and slid it open. She didn’t want to alert anyone that she was on the move so, she left her boots tucked behind the bed before springing barefoot into the hallway. Learning from her captors, Calay was as quiet as a gun silencer. Her feet bare against the concrete, she made her way down the corridors, up the stairs, and right out the door.

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