Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,11
around my waist, holding me steady.
“Think you can make it down the hall?”
I nod again, not trusting my voice. My throat’s still raw from coughing.
He holds onto me for a few seconds more to be sure, then drops his arm. We leave the gymnasium, and he leads me down the hall. It feels strangely civilized to walk behind him, just following him, rather than having someone push me ahead blindly so they can keep me in their sights. I could turn and run right now – but honestly, where would I go? Every room here is locked down. I size him up, wondering how hard it’d be to overtake him. Impossible, I quickly decide. He’s at least a head taller than me – well over six feet, and his entire body is solid and lean with muscle.
My feet squish in my shoes, and I leave a dripping trail through the hall. I wonder where he’s taking me.
He scans into a door and holds it open for me. I walk in ahead of him. It’s some type of common room – there are couches and tables and people around my age hanging out. It seems so normal, and that makes it seem completely impossible.
“Welcome to the bunker.” Before I have the chance to ask him what the bunker is, he speaks again. “Hey, Sam.”
A girl playing cards in the corner of the room picks up her head and looks over at us. She sits up straighter when she notices Will. He tilts his head, motioning her over to us, and she gets up from the table, folding her cards in front of her.
Sam is several inches taller than me and much more solidly built. Golden hair falls like a curtain down her back, and her face is open and friendly.
“This is Eve. Will you get her something dry to wear and something to eat?”
“Is she with us now?” Sam asks, studying me in disbelief. It’s obvious I’m no guard.
“We’ll see.”
Sam nods and sticks her hand out to me. “Hey.”
I shake it weakly. “Hey,” I manage. My voice croaks, despite my best effort.
“You’re all wet,” she says.
“Yeah, Kane’s an idiot,” Will says, by way of explanation. “Call me when you’re through, and I’ll come back and get her.” He turns and leaves. The moment the door shuts behind him, the people around us begin talking and playing cards once again.
“So who are you?” Sam asks, looking me over. “And why has Will taken a special interest in you?” A smirk plays on her lips.
“I’m … nobody. One of O’Donovan’s side projects, that’s all.”
She nods once. “Okay, come on. I think we can find something that fits you.”
I follow Sam into a dormitory that’s connected to the bunker. It’s dim in here, with moonlight peeking into the room through the high up windows. All the beds are dressed in white sheets, just like in the hospital. Only here the beds don’t have shackles. I haven’t noticed before now, but the promise of dry clothes reminds me that I’m shivering. My teeth chatter while I wait for her to locate something for me to wear. “So what is this place?” I ask.
She rummages through a locker, pulling out stray articles and holding them up to inspect. “Several years ago, the officials decided Defects could be used for something more – their dirty work. We’re not Sleepers, after all.” She finally settles on a pair of cargo pants and a hooded sweatshirt and tosses them to me. I’m growing used to the lack of underpants here, and thank goodness – for once – that things up top don’t exactly require a bra.
I strip down and change quickly in front of her, long past caring about modesty. I leave my wet clothes in a heap beside her bed, along with the towel she let me use.
She turns to leave the room, then stops suddenly just before we reach the door. “Wait.” She goes back to her locker and comes back with a comb. She holds it up and smiles. I smile back, but it feels lopsided, like I’m out of practice. “Sit.” She points me towards the nearest bed, and I comply.
She begins at the ends of my hair and combs it out, working through the snarls and tangles until my hair is smooth and hangs straight down my back. Her kindness overwhelms me, but I stay quiet. Then I feel her fingers work to separate my hair into three equal sections and she begins braiding