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“We don’t have that many options here, since we don’t usually get people staying at the outpost. The suite is reserved for VIPs.” He waved toward a door and continued walking.
“Where does everyone else live?” The place was fairly quiet, and it seemed we were alone in the building.
“Most of us live in Nowhere. Some people like to keep places in NowhereandTopside. Once you transition, you’ll be able to last there longer, if that’s what you’re into.” His tone implied that he found it odd.
“So I won’t get that pain after I transition?” Did I just have to wait it out here for a little while and then I could get my life back? I could handle a few days, a few weeks, even a month if it meant I wouldn’t have to be here forever.
“Not exactly. After you transition…there’s other issues to deal with, but that can be explained later.” He stopped in front of another door. “You can stay here. It’s not great, but it’s at least a bit more private, since you’re going to be part of the crew.”
Herewas a broom closet with a cot tucked into the corner. The wall that didn’t have the cot was lined with mops, buckets, and shelves filled with cleaning supplies.
“It’s convenient enough. Looking at your aptitude results, if they’re accurate, this is probably what you’ll end up doing anyway.”
“But once I transition, it’ll get better. The pain will stop? You know, in case I want to go to Nowhere?”
No way was I going to Nowhere. I was getting back home if it killed me.
“Yes, but you don’t want to go to Nowhere until you’ve definitely transitioned. You think Topside was bad? I’ve heard horror stories of people going to Nowhere before they were ready.” He shrugged. “I haven’t actually seen it, but I’ve heard the few times it happened, it was horrible.”
I could make it a month if I could get back home. There were a lot of things I could handle if it meant getting out of here.
“Do I get paid for doing this?” As lousy as it seemed, anything was better than nothing. I’d still have bills piling up by the minute, interest accruing, and— Shit. I still hadn’t called the landlord.
“I’m sure the cleaning crew gets paid something, but I don’t know what. You’ll have to ask Kaden when he comes back.” He glanced around the little room, sniffing as he backed out. “You good? Because I’ve got some things to handle.”
I nodded, and he shut the door without a glance back. I dropped my bag near the cot, looking around my new surroundings. The smell of bleach and cleaning supplies were so strong that my lungs burned and my stomach turned. At least it fixed the hunger issue.
Couple of days, maybe weeks, and I’d get out of here. Whatever Gram had done, she couldn’t have meant for this. If everything she’d said was true, as it was appearing to be, I’d talk to her again. I’d hear her voice. She wasn’t gone for good, and then I’d find out what this was all about.
Chapter Seven
Two children were staring down at me as I opened my eyes where I was still on the cot. They didn’t look older than seven or eight. The girl had her blond hair up in a messy bun. The boy was wearing a baseball cap.
“You new here?” The girl sounded like an eighty-year-old who’d lived a hard life. It was how I’d imagined my mother would sound as she got older,ifshe made it to eighty.
“Yes,” I said, sitting up as the two of them looked me over, seeming a little jaded for kids their age.
“Are you part of the crew?” The boy had the same weird thing going on with his voice. Maybe they were sick?
“Yes.” Dice had said as much when he gave me this room.
“We’ve never had a human on the crew before, but I guess you’ll do. Start with the bathrooms,” the girl said.
“You’rethe cleaning crew?” I asked as they walked farther into the utility room.
They both nodded as they gathered up bottles, brooms, and mops.
“You should be in school. You’rekids.”
“Hey, watch who you boss around. We’re probably older than you,” the blonde said.
“What are you talking about? You can’t be older than eight.”
“Try eighty,” the girl said, and then turned to her companion. “These newbies are so annoying. Takes at least a decade before I can stand to speak to them.”
The boy huffed and rolled his eyes, and then squirmed past me. They dragged over a bucket of supplies and left it in front of me.
“Start with the bathroom down the hall,” the girl said.
