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She squeezed Eli’s hand by accident, but he misinterpreted the tension. “It’s all going to be fine. I promise.” He smiled at her in that innocent, boyish manner that she loved. She tried to ignore their matching metal bands that definitely said it would not be okay.
“What do you think work will be like?”
“I don’t know but, I think it could be worse. I overheard some of the other guys talking earlier. They have to clean out horse stalls. They have to pick up shit.” His face scrunched in disgust, and they both burst out with laughter. For a moment, things felt normal again.
Indeed, it could be worse.
Ali dreaded going back to her cell. She couldn’t stand to be alone with her thoughts again. As soon as she got back, she jumped into bed and closed her eyes, willing sleep to come. When she did fall asleep, it was anything but restful. Just like her thoughts earlier in the day, her mind bounced back and forth between past and future, nightmares and fantasies.
***
Chapter Nine
Nik was up and out of bed before the sun rose. Today was the first day working with the new prisoners. He had to get to the prison and escort his team to the greenhouses. Thankfully, he would just oversee their work. He’d never had a green thumb. He had once tried to grow some flowers around the exterior of his house and they had all died within a week. What an embarrassing moment that had been! After that, a sweet elderly neighbor offered to tend to his landscaping while taking care of her own. He returned the favor by bringing her meat and produce from town.
Sam waited for him at the prison, looking far too cheerful for this early in the morning. Nik was glad it was Sam he was working with and not Marcus. Marcus was such an ass. It was hard to be around him for long periods of time. Sam usually kept to himself and didn’t get in anyone’s business. Most of the time he just doodled in a notebook he always kept with him.
“I’ve already rounded everyone up that’s coming with us,” Sam said, standing in front of a group of six people. Nik’s pulse quickened when he realized Ali was one of them. And that guy, her friend, Eli. This would either be fun or a disaster. Maybe a little bit of both.
On their way out, they stopped by the office to grab some sweaters and hats, passing them out to the prisoners. It was a ten-minute walk to the greenhouses and winter was now in full force. Though it was warm in the greenhouses, it wouldn’t be on the walk there.
Ali took the sweater and hat from him, and he held on just a little too long. Long enough to draw her eyes to his and for her to tug at the extra layers before he loosened his grip. He tried not to smirk when her eyes blazed with annoyance. For some reason he was drawn to her.
Sam led the way while Nik covered the back. People often cowered from Nik, and he tried not to notice the way their group moved closer to Sam and edged away from him. He’d been told once or twice that he was intimidating, which was an excellent quality for a guard. It wasn’t on purpose. He just towered over most people and unless he made a conscious effort to smile all the time, his face turned sharp and vicious. He had no incentive to change this quality about himself. It was a good thing that people left him be.
Nik watched Ali and Eli closely, trying to make out their conversation from afar. He couldn’t explain why he was so interested in learning more about this woman. He just was. And that another man was so close to her only piqued his interest more. Maybe he was just competitive. What does Eli have to offer that I don’t? He’s not her boyfriend…but is he trying to be?
He had the urge to work his way between them. After all, he could do it. He was ranked relatively high in their guard and being respected in Rysburg meant he could get away with a lot. If he asked the right person, he could have Eli moved to work in the kitchen or with the cattle, anywhere but here, although he’d have to come up with a reason. A sinister thought crossed his mind. Wouldn’t it be more fun to tease and torment Ali while Eli watched? If this guy wanted her, wouldn’t it be more fun to take her from right under his nose?
A rare smile stretched across his cheeks.
Sam unlocked the door to the greenhouse. It was full of tomatoes, peppers, onions and many other vegetables and spices. The metal framing had somehow remained standing through the end times. The glass had been replaced through the years with whatever they could salvage from other villages. Now they had three large greenhouses that helped feed the couple thousand inhabitants of Rysburg. They also bred poultry and cattle. They used to have a larger fleet of horses, but a particularly harsh winter had taken out half of their herd a few winters ago. They were still recovering.
Nik knew they were lucky in Rysburg to have so many resources. Or rather, they made their own luck. It was a vicious world, and they did whatever they had to in order to stay on top. Protecting his people was his number one priority, and he wouldn’t apologize for the things they did to stay secure and thriving. Every time he started to feel guilty, he’d take a trip to the opening in town where kids often played ball. He’d watch them giggle and run without a care in the world and remind himself that this was what they fought for. For generations to grow up, protected from the cruel realities of the world outside their borders. He fought to protect their innocence.
He had to remind himself of that again as he peered at the prisoners.
Today their job was to plant corn. They had a rotating schedule of crops and switched to something else whenever one was harvested. It was nice to have variety, and he’d been told it was good for the soil.
Sam explained their duties for the day and showed them where the tools were, as well as the seeds.
Nik stepped forward to interrupt. “I think the potatoes could use some fertilizer. Don’t you agree, Sam?”
“Uh, sure.” Sam gave him a questioning look and scratched his short black hair. He turned his attention back to the prisoners.
Nik pointed at Eli. “You. Follow me.”
Nik took him a few rows over and plenty far away from Ali. “This row and the next will need to be fertilized. You can spread it with your hands. I’m afraid we’re all out of gloves.”
He had apologized, but he didn’t mean it in the slightest. There probably were gloves somewhere around the greenhouse, but he wouldn’t look for them. He thrust a bucket of horse manure into Eli’s hands.
Eli clenched his jaw but said nothing. He took hold of the bucket and turned to work.
That didn’t go as expected. Didn’t realize it would be so easy to get him to submit.
Nik returned to the empty row waiting to be planted with corn. The other prisoners were busy spreading seeds and covering them with fresh dirt. He patrolled the aisle, pretending to watch them, but he was only really interested in watching one.
When he made it closer to Ali, she flashed him a menacing glare. “Was that really necessary?”
