her type something into the computer, and I hear someone say, “How are you possibly going to fix this?” And I try to ignore the fact that I’d know that voice anywhere.
It might be a stretch, but I wonder if Renee Adams is some kind of computer hacker.
The bigger question, of course, is what kind of work she’s doing for the governor.
But I don’t get a chance to ask, because she was right. Someone was coming.
Now they’re here.
00:08:55:26
It’s Meridian, the governor herself, two of her bodyguards, and Deputy Director Ryan Struzinski.
I push the ballpoint pen into my restraints, but they’re wire, not rope, and a pen isn’t going to do anything. I slip it into my sleeve. It still might be the only weapon I’ll get my hands on.
Through heavy lids, I track Meridian and the governor’s movements. Based on the positioning—the bodyguards are flanking her, and evil Struz is trailing them—they’re the ones in charge.
They’re also arguing. “Take care of the girl, and I’ll handle Taylor,” the governor says.
“I can use her. She’s pretty enough—not anything special—but still. Someone will pay something for her. This one . . .” He kicks Barclay’s foot. “He’ll just be trouble.”
My throat constricts as I realize what exactly they’re arguing about.
What to do with us.
Specifically, whether they should kill us. If my options are death or slavery, I’m not sure which one I’d vote for.
They’re both unacceptable. I’m not ready to die—I promised my Struz that I would come home to my family. And I’m certainly not going to get shipped off to some other world where my free will would be stripped from me in whatever manner works best.
I try to move my hands a little in the restraints. The wire bites into my wrist, but I have a little leeway. I have small hands—if I can compress them, make them a little smaller, I might be able to slip one of them out.
“I can control him.” The governor laughs. “He’s just like Ryan, smart, ambitious, and hungry. We just have to find out what he wants.”
“You’ve done such a bang-up job so far,” Meridian says.
There’s a pause, and they must expect Struz’s evil twin to weigh in on the decision, because he says, “Don’t look at me.” His voice is low, gritty, and tired. “Just do whatever you’re going to do.”
Meridian laughs. It’s not maniacal evil laughter or anything, but it’s cold, like he’s laughing because he’s supposed to, not because he understands humor. I shiver and focus harder on the restraints. I’ll try to get my left hand out first—the wire will undoubtedly slice it open in a few places, but it’ll leave my right hand—the hand I need—unscathed.
“You play the innocent card so well,” Meridian says. “Especially for someone experimenting on kids.”
“I never said I was innocent,” the deputy director says, the resignation in his voice coming out like disgrace.
“Enough.” The governor crosses the room, toward Renee Adams and the computer. “Taylor wasn’t a problem until he met her. The girl is a bad influence. Just kill her and I’ll handle him.”
Silence.
I’m tempted to sit up and call bullshit. Tell her I was just a normal high-school junior with a bad attitude until Barclay showed up—that it was Barclay who came to my world and asked me for help. I don’t even want to be here in this stupid world with its ridiculous skyscrapers and people who spend their lives a hundred feet off the ground, like they’re better than everyone beneath them.
But I stay still, and I let my indignation wrap itself around me—let it steady my hands and still my body. I hold on to it so it keeps my fear at bay.
As bad as slavery would be, I’d still be alive.
The silence stretches out. None of the men in the room make any protests, as if the argument is over.
And why wouldn’t it be? Meridian might think it’s a waste to kill me, especially if he can get some money for me as a slave, but I haven’t proven to be all that weak and he’s probably already got enough money.
I shift my eyes to Barclay, wishing I could reach him and try to wake him somehow. But when I see the blue of his eyes through the bloody and swollen skin, I realize we’re in the same boat. He’s also been listening and faking being passed out.
I try to communicate with him. I try to tell him, It’s now or never with my eyes. My