Watching my sword fall to the ground, the men exchange glances. “Welcome,” the man opposite me says. He smiles and reveals even, white teeth. But the smile doesn’t quite reach his brown eyes. “My name’s Nolan. It’s good to meet you, Lucas.” Nolan then nods to Jonah. “Please, once all of you have left your weapons you’re more than welcome to stay here with us.”
“Thank you,” I say, though the flood of relief I expected doesn’t come. I guess the culmination of all that’s transpired since my village was stormed has made this moment bittersweet. I turn to our group. “You heard Nolan, as soon as all of our weapons are left behind, we can enter.”
Little in the way of resistance is heard. Only Reyna whispers to me as she drops her sword to the forest floor. “Are you sure about this?” she asks.
Her single, simple question tolls through my brain like a bell as I watch our unarmed group file in past the metal gate and into the human camp we’ve dreamed about for so long. Reyna is last to enter. I stop her, cupping her elbow with my hand. I look directly into her sky-blue eyes. “I’m not sure.” The words are whispered and caught on a gust of air, swept away and ushered into the walled human camp just as we are. The gate closes behind us. And while I’m happy—ecstatic—at the prospect of a safe, peaceful environment where humans work together as a community, a small part of me is terrified.
Chapter 15
Standing beyond the gate, I gape at the sight before me. My feet refuse to move. I’m stunned. Speechless and standing with my mouth partially open.
“Wow,” I hear Xan say.
“Would ya look at this,” Micah marvels.
I share in their wonder. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. A town, guarded by the wall, bordered by the stream and nestled in the middle of the forest, is right here before my eyes. And it’s inhabited by humans. Buildings made of rock follow a lane of glistening stone. Some rounded and some rectangular, each structure is meticulously maintained with windows and sturdy, log rooves. A far cry from the huts in which we resided with thatched rooves that leaked when it rained and walls of wound branches that did little to shield us from the elements either, these buildings are solid and well-built. As if each stone was designated a position then painstakingly placed. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life. Not even the arena, though ornate, was as neat and lovely as what I see now.
“Welcome to our village,” Nolan says. And as if on cue, men, women and children trickle from the buildings. The women and little girls, all fresh-faced and wearing dresses, fairly glow. Luminous, pale eyes—some green, some so light-blue they look like snow at dusk—are set against flawless ivory skin and surrounded by perfectly plaited golden hair that glimmers in the waning daylight. Their dresses are crisp white and unwrinkled and fall just to their knees, and small, slipper-like shoes adorn their feet. The men and boys are dressed in light-colored pants and collared shirts. All are immaculate, devoid of dirt, holes or creases. Fawn colored hair is neatly groomed and their faces are free of hair. They’re all impeccable in appearance. Stunning really. They watch us, whispering among themselves. I look over my shoulder and glance at Reyna. She meets my gaze and narrows her eyes, her lips pursed and tight. She seems angry at me, though I’m not sure why. Looking away, she returns her attention to those staring at us then looks down at her own clothes. Stained with blood and dirt despite the attempt to clean them in the stream, they’re tattered, with rips, holes and frayed edges. I suddenly become aware of my own appearance. Perhaps worse than Reyna’s, my clothes are speckled with small flecks of gore from the beast, as well as my own blood, ground-in dirt and sweat stains. My hair hasn’t been tended to in weeks. I’m disheveled. All of us are. I’ve thought little of my appearance until this moment. Survival has been the priority. For all of us. But now, as I stand and feel on display for a village of people who are spotless and polished to a high shine, I feel uncomfortably hot, nervous and self-conscious. I try to ignore my nervousness, but it won’t go away. It persists. Pulsing away beneath a calm veneer.
“I’m Todd,” a man steps forward and extends a hand to me. I extend mine and he pumps it in greeting. Smiling and revealing the whitest teeth I’ve ever seen and dimples on either cheek, his hand is softer than any man or woman’s I’ve ever touched, a fact that strikes me as odd. “You’ve already met Nolan at the gate.” He clips his chin toward Nolan who waves woodenly. “As I said, I’m Todd. I’m the foreman of the village.” He releases my hand and places both of his in the front pockets of his pants.
“The foreman?” I ask. “I’m not sure what that means.”
“Well,” he looks around at those with him and smiles. When his gaze lands on me again, a small twitch at the corner of one eye makes him look like he’s winked halfway. “It’s a kind of leader. Like the chief person.”
“So you’re in charge?” I want to be clear in my understanding of his role.
“I guess so. Yes,” he answers in a humble but strained tone. Hands still in his pockets, he smiles again. “You’re all welcome here. All humans are welcome here.”
Xan, who smiles so broadly he looks a bit deranged, tears his eyes from the women in the white dresses for a split second. “Thank you. We’re very happy to be here.” Not self-conscious in the least, he seems unaware how matted his long hair is. Once gathered at his nape by a band of leather, it’s an unruly mess, tangled and littered with leaves from the forest floor. “Hello, ladies,” he adds with a small wave.
I wince, thinking he’s done. And he is. But the embarrassment continues as Micah introduces himself. His eyes are focused on only the women when he speaks. “Hello, ladies. I’m Micah. Your name is?” he gestures, pointing a dirt-crusted finger at the woman nearest him.
The woman, radiant and with porcelain skin and eyes so bright, they shimmer like sunlight on water, remains impassive. Though she flinches, the movement is so slight it’s almost imperceptible. She offers a stiff smile, curling the edges of her rosebud lips politely.
Todd clears his throat. “There’ll be time for introductions later.” He smiles, a thin, brittle smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I see the twitch again. In his left eye. His demeanor has shifted. His pleasant tone has chilled. He almost seems as if he’s fighting to tamp down annoyance. One of the women Xan and Micah leer at could be his wife or the woman he loves. If that’s the case, I don’t blame Todd for becoming irritated.
Moving closer to Xan, I whisper loud enough for him, but no one else, to hear me. “Knock it off,” I warn.
He frowns at me then looks to the women pleadingly. I eye him the way my father used to eye Kohl when he was a boy and misbehaved. My father’s nostrils would flare slightly. His lips would collapse and form a line and both eyebrows would rise. I feel myself making that same expression. I half expect Xan or Micah to fold his arms across his chest and pout. Neither do exactly that, but they manage an adult version of it. Xan twists his mouth to one side and Micah stares at his feet.
“We have four extra rooms.” Todd’s voice garners my attention, as well as everyone else’s. “Three of you each will share a room. Is that okay?” he asks.
“Sure,” I answer for the group, confident it isn’t a problem. The thought of sleeping in a room, where I’m not being held against my will, should fill me with joy. But deep down in some hollowed place in my chest I feel heavy and cold, inexplicably unsettled.
“Excellent.” Todd claps his hands together. He glances up at Nolan.
“We’ll have tubs of water and clean clothes sent to your rooms,” Nolan adds. He signals to two women, who fairly jump at his motion. The women lower their heads dutifully and leave the group. I assume they leave to begin preparations for us.
Watching the women’s mannerisms, their almost skittish behavior, I interject. “Please, that’s not necessary. You don’t have to do that.”
“No, I insist,” Todd says with a bit more intensity than necessary. He must see in my face that his tone registered as forceful. His features rel
ax a bit and a smile returns. “We’re having dinner soon. It’ll be a good time to get to know one another. I’m sure you’ll want to clean up for that.” The odd eye-twitch makes an appearance again.
I nod not knowing how to respond. His reference to our cleanliness has intensified my feelings of self-consciousness. I shift my weight from one leg to the next, folding my arms across my chest in an attempt to hide the massive, rust-colored bloodstain on my shirt. I’ve never really cared much about what I look like. In all my life, it never mattered. Surviving has been all that’s mattered. Hunting, recognizing plants and roots that are safe to eat, working as a team and being honest and kind were the skills and values instilled in us. Looks have never factored in. I never considered them. Yet now, as I stand among these well-groomed, meticulously clean people, I find myself feeling ashamed of my appearance. As I look around, I’m not alone in feeling this. Reyna, Ara and Pike’s shoulders curl. Their posture is slumped. Kai moves awkwardly, a phenomenon I haven’t witnessed since meeting him. The bred humans, who’ve had far more luxuries than any of us, do the same. Only Xan and Micah, as far as I can tell, seem less bothered than the others. And even they seem a bit ill at ease now, whereas they didn’t just moments ago. I wonder whether Todd realizes the impact of his words or understands our circumstances. How could he not? He’s human, just as we are. He’s lived his life with a bull’s eye on his back, marked, hunted and endangered as a species, just as we have. Surely he understands. Yet as he scans our group and a look of what can only be described as mild disgust whispers across his features, I’m left believing otherwise. “If everyone’s ready to go, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Todd says with a stiff smile.
“I am,” I say. Nods of agreement move through my group.
Todd begins walking. The sun is setting, sending brilliant rays of red and orange across the sky. We follow and I study the village. I allow my eyes to rove, wandering over the structures that line the cobbled pathway. Windows are intricately carved from the rock and spaced evenly. They appear cozy and inviting, but somehow, even in the soft light of the setting sun, there’s rigidity to them, to the perfect symmetry of them. They almost seem devoid of warmth. Austere even. We pass tall posts that are interspersed between them. They resemble the kind we fashioned to light the dirt paths between huts in my village. I’d imagine that once lit, these would make the glistening stones we walk upon glow. The women and men clad in white set about their tasks, milling about. They smile at us affably enough. Still, none of what I see puts me at ease.
Through the winding, cobbled path, Todd leads us away from the structures to a structure that unhinges my jaw. Long and rectangular in shape, a building made of the same smooth material as the wall surrounding the camp, concrete perhaps, stands. I want to stop and marvel at it, to think or figure out how such a structure exists out in the middle of the forest, but am quickly ushered inside. Todd leads and Nolan picks up the rear. Everyone files through an opened door of thick, solid wood. The temperature in the building is far cooler than the air outside. The light is dim, but not unpleasantly so. A long hallway unfurls. Smooth floors shine. Walls are painted white on either side, interrupted only by doors. I slow, trying to get Reyna’s attention. When finally her ice-blue gaze locks on mine, I signal for her to hang back. “What is this place?” she asks straightaway.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” I ask, my head swiveling in all directions. The space is spotlessly clean to the point of being stark.
“No,” she answers. “The life I knew before I was captured in the arena looked nothing like this. The caves my people hid in…” her voice trails off. I’ve never heard her speak of her life before the Urthman camp. “No.” She looks around and gnaws her lower lip, another first from her I’ve never witnessed. “It looked nothing like this.” She looks at me. “This place just seems off. Doesn’t it?”
“It does,” I agree.
“I can’t put my finger on it. I should be happy. Everything seems perfect. On the surface. Everyone here is clean and fed and they have rooms and those fancy building right past the gate. They smile when they’re supposed to smile. It seems perfect. But something about it doesn’t sit right with me.” She articulates exactly how I feel. I don’t know whether I want to hug her or grab her and the others and run. Both seem like excellent ideas at the moment.
“I get it. I feel the same way,” I reply.
“Good, so it’s not just me?” Reyna tucks an errant lock of hair behind her ear.
“Definitely not. There’s something weird about this place. At first I thought it was me, that I’ve become too wary. That I’m suspicious of everything.” I shrug. “Like if something looks and seems too good to be true, it must be.”
“It usually is, isn’t it?” Reyna states more than asks.
“Usually yes.” I look around again, lowering my voice. “How could they have ever built this place? And why are there only about ten guys here and dozens of women? Did you notice that?”
“Oh I’m sure you noticed,” she replies in a sharp tone.
“Huh?” My head jerks back a bit in confusion. Her eyes are narrowed and her hands are on her hips. I don’t know why she looks so standoffish. I want to ask her but continue instead, replying, “How could I not notice that there are more women than men? It’s weird. It’s weird how they’re all dressed alike and are scrubbed so clean they look like they’ve never touched dirt, much less dug in it to build or plant, and have bizarre little tense smiles on their tense faces.” I take a breath. “Everything about this place is weird.”
Reyna relaxes visibly. A small smile lifts one corner of her mouth. “It is.” She wraps her arms around her midsection as if she’s cold. “And why aren’t there any elders? You forgot that.”
“Yes, why aren’t there?” I ask. She’s brought attention to yet another incongruous aspect of the place which gives rise to another. “And why are there so many children, but none are more than toddlers?”
Reyna pinches the bridge of her nose. Our group is not far away. They’re down the hall a bit and Todd is talking about what will be served for dinner. “Maybe we’re wrong here. Maybe having too many bad things happen to us has made us distrustful. That happens you know. Maybe the older folks are somewhere else. And maybe the older kids are with the rest of the men being taught stuff. I don’t know.” Confusion and frustration color her words.
“I’ll find out now,” I say then turn and head to the front of the group. “Todd,” I say.
Todd turns to me and his strained smile appears again. “Yes, Lucas?”
“Are there more people in this camp other than the ones who gathered out there?” I toss my thumb over my shoulder, gesturing to the courtyard that waits just beyond the gate.
“No,” Todd says. His eye twitches. “This is our little village. The people you saw, plus Nolan and I, are all that live here.” He looks to Nolan then back to me. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” I answer smoothly. I smile. “I was just wondering.”
I look around at the group. Kai, Xan, Micah and the men and women who escaped the cells look overjoyed. So does Aaron and all of the bred humans. Jonah looks relieved. Even Pike and Ara look excited. Reyna and I are the only two who question all of this. I fleetingly wonder whether she and I are just being paranoid.
“Is this paradise?” I overhear Xan ask Micah. “Did you see those girls?”
“I did. And I wanna do more than just see them,” Micah replies and gestures crudely, thrusting his hips. Thankfully, Todd appears oblivious this time. He resumes speaking to everyone.
“Cut it out,” I whisper to Xan and Micah sharply. “Do you want to get us kicked out?”
“Ha, I’d like to see one of those pretty little men try to kick us out,” Xan says.
“They can all try,” Micah huffs. “They look like girls. Bet they fight like ‘em too.”
“Some girls fight better than men,” Reyna leans in and hisses with fire in her eyes. “I�
��d be more than happy to show you if you’d like.”
Micah’s lips snap shut and Xan chuckles. “She’s definitely tougher than those pretty little men. And you,” he points to Reyna then Micah.
“Cut it out,” I say more forcefully.
Xan and Micah stop immediately. They can see and hear that I don’t find them amusing.
I tune in to Todd’s ramblings just in time to hear him say, “Okay, so these are your rooms.” He points to four separate doors, two on one side of the hall and two on the opposite side. “As I said before, we’re having clean clothes and a basin of water sent to each room so that you can clean yourselves and dress. I’ll send for you for dinner soon and we’ll have a feast to celebrate you, our new arrivals.”
The word “great” resonates through our group and echoes down the hallway. Eager, energized chatter breaks out. Above it, I hear Reyna’s voice. “Excuse me, Todd?”
“Yes?” Todd answers, his eyes locking on Reyna and dancing up her body, lingering there too long. Sparks of white-hot anger dart through me. “Wouldn’t you like to know where we escaped from, who we are or anything about us first?” Reyna asks.
Todd hesitates for several beats. He looks confused. “We’ll find out about all of you and you’ll find out all about us at dinner.”
Reyna nods pleasantly. “Okay,” she replies. A single word. No one gets it. No one senses her tone. But I do.
Satisfied, Todd says, “Good.” He nods to Nolan then gestures to the closest door. “Lucas, this is your room.”
Immediately, Pike and Ara join me. We step over the threshold and I’m rendered speechless again. Spacious and with two large, overstuffed beds, the room is cozy and welcoming, despite its size. The walls are a pale blue and the bed is covered by a cushioned, white swath of material with what looks like small stitches of pale-blue flowers. A lantern sits at the center of a box-like piece of wood, ornately carved and situated between the two beds.
The Black Forest Page 15