stuck to my skin. I felt dirty. Like the sins of Mr. Branish was stuck to me, and no amount of washing could get rid of it.
Tallis wiped the blood off his cheek and smeared the red lipstick across his chin. Once in the transport, the quiet girl laid in my lap, and I stroked her hair the entire ride home.
“What will happen to her?” I asked Tallis as she snoozed. Her face lacked the burden of the world in her dreamy state.
“Now? We care for her. Make a home for her in our Camp. Give her back what little of her childhood we can,” Tallis replied. I nodded, feeling somewhat placated with his answer.
“What will happen to the rest of them?” I asked while thinking of the other men and women being auctioned off.
Tallis thought for a moment. His blue eyes looked bright against his bloody face.
“They’ll gain the vaccine but they’ll lose their humanity.”
Celebrating the victory of rescuing her was bittersweet. I wanted to revel in doing something good for once in my life. And yet? It didn’t feel like enough.
Chapter Ten
The little girl rescued refused to speak, even after we were safely away from Pure Pleasure. She looked at Tallis and me timidly as we arrived back in Dormas. She reluctantly freed my hand before going with Nikketa and Tallis back to camp. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn’t know how. Tallis assured me that the women in his camp would know how to handle it. This wasn’t the first distraught girl rescued and brought to their camp.
I crawled into bed just as first light broke and slept for a couple hours before a soft knock on the door startled me.
“Uh, Jules?” A timid Kemper whispered through the door, causing Becca to wake with a start. I felt sluggish and tired from my night. Before I could pull myself out of bed to answer the door, she was already unbuttoning her top and turning the handle. She leaned carelessly against the frame while wearing nothing but an unbuttoned white top and her underwear.
“Can I help you?” she asked in what, I assumed, was her sleepy, sultry voice. Instead, it sounded childish and forced.
“I-I’m here to see Jules,” Kemper choked out while averting his eyes. A healthy blush crossed his cheeks as he took a step backward.
Becca traced a finger down his arm, which made him shiver in discomfort. “Are you sure there's nothing I could do for you?”
I coughed to hide my giggles.
“I’m painfully positive, Becca," Kemper coughed out. "There is nothing you could ever do for me.” Kemper's stern tone surprised me. Becca grabbed her robe and waltzed off to the showers. Her sly smile still took up most of her face as if she hadn’t just completely been dismissed.
“Wow, Kemp, pretty ballsy. Think she got the hint?” I asked while stretching and rubbing my eyes.
“God, I hope so,” he murmured before letting himself into our room.
“Maverick called. Can you skip Garden duty and bring the Walker children to the new schoolhouse today? I’m headed there now.”
I grinned despite the exhaustion from the night before. “Absolutely!”
“Good,” Kemper began while walking away. Once he reached the door, he paused then turned back to face me. “Look, I know you don’t like Ashleigh, but she’s had a hard couple of days. Could you maybe…at least pretend to be nice to her?”
“You sure are wrapped around her finger.” I slipped off of my uncomfortable cot. “How about, I'll be cordial if you get me out of Garden duty for the rest of the week?”
Kemper’s face went rigid. His eyes squinted as if contemplating my offer. “Be nice and we will see,” he replied. I grabbed my shower caddy and laughed while heading to the showers.
I left the Walker Dorms with an extra bounce in my step, despite not getting any sleep the night before. There was something about not going to the Gardens that invigorated me.
However, my smile disappeared the moment I walked inside the Schoolhouse. I knew she would be there but I felt disappointment still. I had to watch as Ashleigh hopelessly flirted with not only Kemper, but Cyler too. Usually, I found no issues with the polyamorous lifestyle many adopted in Dormas, but lately, I felt various degrees of annoyance when I saw my brothers and their friends chasing Ashleigh around like a bunch of pathetic puppies. Everything about her was annoying.
They anticipated her needs. Preformed thoughtful gestures. Looked after her. Supported her dreams.