Page 49 of Scar Tissue

When we enter the stage, a slight applause welcomes us in, but instead of feeling warm, it’s like the temperature has dropped ten degrees. The woman with the clipboard is standing stage center as the lighting in the room changes, dimming. Not great for scoping out exits, but as long as I can keep my cool it should be okay. “I’m thrilled to welcome you all here tonight. You have the privilege to meet some of the most promising candidates in our care. While we like to focus on the majority of our youth throughBeyond Boundaries,we also like to bring them in personally to show you what we’reaccomplishing with them. Thanks to your generosity, they now have the opportunity to thrive.”

I clap along with the crowd then, even as I fight my disgust. Harrison leans in then, his tone low. “This is only for optics. Nobody here actually cares what she’s saying. All they care about is seeing who’s new.”

Deplorable. Heinous. Inhumane.

The woman continues, “We like to place each child with a vetted individual, who is committed to their mentorship and development. You’ll meet some of them tonight, in fact. Just remember, your discretion is mandatory due to the high profile work we’re committed to.”

As if any of the people here would share what is actually going on under the covers. I don’t even know why they’re trying, unless they’re concerned about infiltration. Which means I need to be even more careful. I note several of the armed guards adjusting their weapons and scan the room. Are they trying to keep people out or keep those inside in check?

“Without further ado, let us welcome our first child.” A boy walks out then—he can’t be older than twelve, maybe thirteen. He’s dressed plainly but at least looks clean and unharmed. From the outside, at least. His eyes are staring at the crowd but his posture is rigid, uncomfortable. Something that says he doesn’t want to be here. “This is Jack. Jack is an orphan who lost his parents a year ago and has been jumping from foster home to foster home until our beloved mayor pulled him from the trenches and decided to give him a second chance at life.

Jack is twelve years old and is a very talented piano player who hopes to brighten his future with his talents.”

Claps sound off across the room as people applaud the very staged introduction and Harrison elbows me in my side when he notices I’m not doing the same. “What did I say earlier?” he mutters under his breath. “You are making me look bad…Our esteemed guests have to believe you’re as invested in this as I am. If the girl by myside doesn’t portray interest, how could we expect them to want to get close to me and offer up their sponsorship?”

Wincing, I rub my side. “Sorry, I guess I got caught up in his story is all. It’s so sad. How did he lose his parents?”

Harrison hesitates for a moment, not much, but enough to tell me he wasn’t expecting to be asked that. Which tells me his next response has to be a lie. “They overdosed. Fentanyl, I believe.”

“And how did you come across him in the foster home? Is that part of your sponsorship?” He grits his teeth and I can tell I’m pushing a line I need to be very careful not to cross.

“It is, we visit all places of refuge for at risk youth, whether that be those in the foster system, a broken home, the streets, and so on.”

I nod before continuing, the next child, this time a girl, being introduced on stage. I have to get as much information out of him as I can. “How do you choose who to sponsor? I mean, there are so many children who need help, I can’t imagine how difficult that must be.”

He narrows his eyes at me, contemplating his response as the lady with the clipboard speaks about the little girl. “It isn’t easy by any means. Often, we must compare each child’s circumstances and previous hardships. It isn’t that we neglect any of their situations, but as the world would have it, some do have it worse than others. That, and their age plays a role, or if they have other family. There are plenty of children out there that share Jack’s story, but seeing as he is younger than many, without any family to speak for him, we chose to give him a chance based on the fact he doesn’t have other role models.”

He runs his hand over my lower back and I fight back my snarl. “I see. With the sponsorships do they continue living where they live, or do they get placed with the individual who chooses them? Sort of like a foster situation, themselves?”

His hand stops above my ass and I can feel where his fingers clench, as though he tires of answering my questions. “Somethinglike that, yes. Now if you’d pay attention. You’ll miss the best part of the evening.”

Taking that as my cue, I redirect my attention back to the stage where they now have four children standing. Two girls and two boys. The woman is finishing up her speech on the last child when Harrison leans down to speak in my ear. “This is what you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it?”

I blanch, going still. “W-what?” I stutter. He can’t know, can he?

He tangles his fist in my hair. “This is what you’ve been waiting for, am I correct in that assumption…Thea?”

I go to speak, to think of any response or excuse that could satisfy him, but he cuts me off. “You didn’t think I wouldn’t find out?” His grip tightens in my hair and I whimper. “That I wouldn’t run a background check on all of my volunteers? I told you I’m a high profile individual, and there is no way I just let anyone in on my business dealings.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

FUCK.

The gravity of the situation hits me and I can only hope my resuce is on the way before I go missing like Dylan did. And if he ran a background check on me will he know I’m Miles’ sister? Will he even connect the dots or is he so self-involved that it’s but a whisper in the wind for him?

“So tell me, why did you lie?

Instead of answering his question, I ask him one of my own. “Why did you still let me in if you knew I wasn’t telling the truth?”

His laugh is nothing short of menacing as he pulls my head back until I’m looking up at him. “Because your tenacity caught my curiosity. I wanted to see just how far you would go and how good of a liar you were. I’ll admit, if I hadn’t run a search on you, it would’ve been believable. Too bad for you, I’m thorough.”

The spotlight shifts on stage, illuminating the children as though they’re possessions…which isn’t too far off at this point, and the crowd applauses, a few people whistling and shouting their clear joy. “You truly thought you could play spy? Sneak your way into my events, into me, with your pretty little words and fake naivety, and I wouldn’t notice?”

Panic starts to set in as I search for words, a way out of this. “I didn’t?—“

He pulls so hard on my hair that my eyes water. “Don’t insult me, Thea. You may have been clever enough to fool everyone else, myself included temporarily, but you aren’t nearly clever enough to hide your panic. The shaking in your hands. Now we just have to decide what to do with you. You’re slightly too old for this crowd, so perhaps I could find another use for you.”