sister upstairs. No, Ivy has an edge to her, an instinct that wants to be tapped into. It’s vibrating off her like a neon sign.
Ivy is made for the RBMC, but is Eva?
I just don’t know.
“Ivy, your parents were killed in a car accident. Correct?”
She narrows her eyes on mine. “Si… why is that relevant?”
“This accident forced your sister’s need to take care of you. Her bond forged to you that day is almost unbreakable.”
“She says she’s the one taking care of me, and she was, mostly, but I had to take care of her, too. It wasn’t a one-way street. She thought I couldn’t hear her crying herself to sleep every night… I did. So, I made sure I got up for school and did what I needed to do to help Eva out. I saw how hard she was working to keep me in school, so I studied harder than I ever had before. I needed to get good grades, so I could learn as much as I could to get me into something which would end up paying well. It was my turn to help out. Eva gave up everything for us. So, I studied, basically became a nerd so she could get even one day off here and there for herself.”
“That’s why you’re so smart?” Void offers, surprising me.
“Yes, and thank you. I graduated from high school early, applied for the ELAM scholarship and got the grant. I have two years before I graduate, though being here is going to put a dampener on things when I don’t show up for class.”
“You go to a school of medicine?” I ask, just making sure I got the name down right.
“Well, yeah. I learn everything, but I like learning more about the process of how things work, the forensics, the mechanics of it all. I’m not really in it for the saving and mending of people, I want to go into research, producing and creating new drugs, all the behind-the-scenes important stuff.”
“The hero behind the scenes,” Void offers.
“I guess you could see it that way. I would rather create something magical than perform a miracle surgery, if that makes sense?”
I roll my shoulders. “Makes perfect sense. You’d rather stay in the dark and make a difference than be out in the light with the focus on you.”
Her eyes meet mine, and she slumps her body. “Yeah… yeah, you’ve hit the nail on the head.”
While Eva has taken up all the space in my mind, Ivy is connecting with me in a way no one has before. There are glimpses of me shining through in her. Though there’s no attraction between Ivy and myself, I’m intrigued by her. I want to spend more time with her, come to understand how her brain works, and see if she really is on the same wavelength as me. Maybe she will help me understand myself a little more.
“Void, you’ve earned yourself a break. I’ll take over for a little while. You go get some rest. Come back when you’re ready.”
Void widens his eyes like he’s shocked by my statement. He hesitates, his eyes shifting to Ivy as she snickers. “Go, Void. I’ll be fine.”
He’s protective of her. Already.
Interesting.
Void stands, moving to walk out. “Do you need anything, Ivy?”
“Maybe another one of those sandwiches.”
“The PB&J? Sure thing. I’ll have Trixie whip you one up, and I’ll bring it on down.”
“No need to rush. Take your time. Enjoy your freedom, Void, while you can.”
I grimace hearing the undertone in her words. She doesn’t like being locked up.
Void nods, heading for the stairs.
I turn back, planting my hands on the table. “So, it’s just the two of us.”
Her eyes shift past me to the brick walls out in the Bricking Room. “Mm-hmm, totally alone, gotcha.” She winks at me.
The little fucking bitch winks at me.
She’s clued in.
There’s more to the Bricking Room than a simple Brick Cell and a vast wall of red clay.
Ivy’s smart.
Bricks don’t casually moan for no good reason. She must be clued in to the multiple bodies inside the walls surrounding her cell.
“I wanted to talk to you ‘bout Eva.”
She sits taller, and she focuses on me completely. “How is she? Is she okay?”
I rub the tension in the back of my neck. “She’s frustrated.”
“She wants to leave?” Ivy tilts her head.
“Partly. More she wants me to find yo—”
“She still doesn’t know I’m here?” I shake my head. “She’s seriously going to slice off your cojones .”
Tensing my thighs together, I