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I lounge in my room, listening in to the others’ conversations. I catch a few names, but I won’t be staying here long enough to be friends with any of them, and part of me doesn’t really want to get too close because I know what is happening here, what is happening to them, and I can’t save them yet.
I close my eyes and pretend to be napping, supposedly exhausted from Hale dragging me here from the streets after I ran away from another foster home. They talk freely around me, not the least bit worried since they think I’m another teenager.
They think I am one of them with my beaten-up bag and dirty clothes, and once, I could have been. If not for Layla… In fact, I wonder if the home child services placed us in before we went to Aunt Lucy’s was like this too. I find myself frowning as I try to remember, but then one of the conversations catches my attention, and I zone in.
“She’s in the hospital. I guess whoever had her last night got too carried away.” I stiffen at that, wondering if they mean what I think they mean. My hands clench into fists as I listen to their hushed whispers in the bunk over.
“They always do, especially that new one. He’s…” She trails off, her voice laced with fear.
“Evil,” another girl finishes.
Motherfucker.
This is personal now. Whoever hurt these girls, whoever scared them so badly that their voices tremble in recollection, needs to pay, and I know just the killer to make it happen. I crack open my eyes and yawn as I sit up, and they stop talking, eyeing me worriedly.
One even stares at me with pity, as if knowing what is in store for me.
There are twelve old metal bunks in here, all occupied with trunks at the bottom and metal lockers along the back wall. The floor is an old, scarred wood that creaks as I swing my legs up and put my booted feet on it. There’s one arched window at the end of the row of beds, but it’s dirty and not letting in much light. I noticed the door had a lock on the outside, but other than that, that’s all there is.
“When do we eat around here?” I grumble as I stretch.
They share a look before the more talkative one, a girl with mousy brown hair but hard eyes, replies, “In an hour, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s nasty.” She cringes, the ring in her lip moving with the movement. The blonde girl who looks like a pixie next to her nods before averting her eyes. The third, a pink-haired rocker girl with dead eyes, watches me, and I arch an eyebrow, making her look away.
“Cool, then I’m gonna go explore.” I root through my bag and pull out the fake pack of smokes and lighter, and with a grin, I bounce from the room, ignoring their hushed, hurried whispers. Once I’m out in the creaking corridor, I pull the earpiece from the pack and shove it in, pulling my hair over it and putting the pack in my pocket.
“Are you secretly hoping I’ll go to the showers next so you can jerk off while you watch me?” I murmur to Gray, and there’s a relieved sort of breath through the mic.
“Focus, don’t let them see you talking out loud,” he mutters, but there is a reluctant thread of amusement in his tone.
“Yes, boss.” I salute a camera as I head to the winding, wooden grand staircase.
There are more dorms down here for the men and younger kids, but there's also a staircase that leads up, and I haven't seen anyone climb it yet, which makes me wonder where it leads. Not wanting to be caught on my first day, I flounce around downstairs, wandering through the industrial-sized kitchen, laundry room, and lounge with one shitty TV and five ratty mismatched sofas and some chairs. That’s all there is, other than a downstairs office, which is locked. There is a certain kind of comfort that comes in knowing that Gray is tracking my every move as I case the joint.
“I couldn’t get in there last time. It would have raised too much suspicion, but that’s where whoever runs this place works.”
“And where the information we probably need is,” I murmur, pretending to look at a notice board.
“Don’t,” he snaps.
“Don’t what?” I grin.
“Don’t do what you are thinking about doing.” He groans.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” I turn when I hear voices, watching a big girl barrel toward me. Her eyes are locked on another girl who looks like she’s been crying as she drags her by the hair.
Bingo.
Slipping my hand into my pocket, I extract one of the bugs Hale gave me from the packet and fist it in one hand while I step into her path. She slides to a stop, letting the young girl go as she focuses on me.
“Move, newbie. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me on your first day.”
“Maybe I do, and maybe you should pick on someone your own size.” I ignore the crowd gathering and grin at her as she narrows her eyes.
“Zoey, stop now,” Gray orders, but I ignore him.
“Unless you’re afraid?” I taunt her, needing this to be done quickly before he pulls me out of here for not listening to him like he warned.
With a yell, she throws herself at me, her movements uncoordinated but powerful. I sidestep her clumsy attempt and swing my arm up, hitting her. She tumbles to the ground, shock coating her face, just as two guards rush in, hauling us apart.
