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Avra stays in bed all day. I give her a pilfered pencil and piece of paper. She writes a note to Scott while I'm at morning classes.
I ask Mentor Bridget, "Do you mentors have a leader you follow, someone who makes the rules outside the complex?"
She says, "There isn't much left outside the complexes, but those of us who remain follow the leadership of Alexander Pristyne." That is all I can get from her. I'll have to try again later.
When I check on Avra before 12:00 victuals, I put the folded note she wrote for Scott in my pocket so I'll be ready to slip it through the grate when the opportunity arises.
"Are you feeling any better, Avra?"
She doesn't look like she'll be awake for long. "Yeah, a little."
"Keep resting. I'll take care of you." I kiss Avra on the forehead before I leave her.
I strategically place myself in the best viewing spot at the dining tables for 12:00 victuals. I want to know how the trays end up on the tables. Shasta sits by me, which I appreciate since Avra isn't leaving her bed today. I'm glad that Shasta accepted my apology about the shoot-out, and I think we're actual friends now. She watches me curiously, but doesn't ask me any questions.
A kitchen worker, dressed in a purple jumpsuit, comes through the door with a big, tall push cart full of aluminum food trays. The door clicks shut behind her. It must automatically lock. I'll have to test that theory later. She places a tray in front of every chair at the tables. She still has six slightly pinkish colored trays on her push cart. She just sits back and waits as people come in. Liza fluffs her red hair as she walks up to the food worker. The food worker takes one of the six pinkish trays off the cart and hands it to her.
I beckon Liza to join me at my table. She smiles and sits down next to me. She starts babbling about a boy I don't know. We pull the metal tops off our trays and start eating. Without being obvious, I examine Liza's tray. What is different about her tray than mine? I really can't tell. I stab a cube of chicken from her tray with my fork and pop it into my mouth. Mentor Maxine is immediately by my side.
"Don't eat Liza's food, Elira."
"Oh, sorry. She can have a bite of mine." I plop a chunk of chicken from my tray into Liza's tray.
Liza glares at me, stands up, and moves to another table. Shasta finishes her last bite and leaves too. Uh, awkward.
Mentor Maxine looks at me cautiously as she lowers her voice. "It's not a matter of portion control, Elira. Liza is being... medicated for a condition she has. You don't want to ingest her medicine. The medicated trays just started today, and more girls will probably start getting them."
My eyebrows knit themselves together. "The medicine is mixed into her food?"
Mentor Maxine speaks in a whisper, "Yes. The complex management thinks you girls will purposely not take your medicine if we hand it out as pills to swallow, so it is mixed into the food. This is classified information, so don't tell anyone. I just don't want you to get... hurt."
"Liza seems pretty healthy. What is the medicine for?"
"I can't tell you. Watch the six girls who received special trays today. What do they have in common?" Mentor Maxine walks away quickly before I can ask another question.
During exploration time, and much to Jefrey's dismay, I finally finish my drawings of the sign language alphabet. I'm pretty sure that the mysterious woman with the black curly hair and pale skin signed C and K to me over a week ago. I can't quite remember the other letters, an O? Or a J or a Y perhaps? Oh well, I'll figure it out if she shows up tonight. I don't care if it takes all night for the guard to leave. I will stay up to get any answers the woman can offer. I just hope the guard at my window hasn't scared her off forever.
There is about five minutes left of exploration time. Jefrey, Garth, and Rocky are standing by the grate. I wonder where Bryon is—oh, I see him sitting at a desk working on the extra credit problems. That's kind of weird that he is working on the problems by himself. Oh, well. I walk slowly to the three boys in the corner. The news I have to share isn't good. It's depressing, really. The boys stare intently at me, trying to decipher my somber mood. Their mood has been darker too, since the loss of Andric. I don't look into the twins' eyes for very long, because I don't want my heart to start racing.
Whack. A girl with black spikey hair plows into me. I hit the glass wall with a thud. I barely stay on my feet. A loud girl fight breaks out near the corner. One girl with blonde curly hair is pulling the black spikey-haired girl's hair and that girl slaps her attacker's arms. She eventually gets in the right position to connect a slap to her face. They break apart for a second and now there are two groups of girls facing each other down, screaming at each other. It sounds like it's over the curly blonde girl trying to kiss a boy through the glass. Ew. I don't really care; I just hope they keep all eyes in the room on them instead of me.
I kneel down by the grate cover and twist it up. The sound barrier pops out with a tug. I slide the note from Avra through a slot on the boys' side. Jefrey sinks down to his knees and sticks a note halfway through a slot. I take it. The other two boys are blocking the view of what he is doing. Another note pokes through, and then another. I take them all.
"Jefrey?"
"Yes? I'm here."
Sigh. He is right on the other side of that thin piece of metal. "The note I gave you is for Scott from Avra. I didn't have time to write, but I have lots to tell you guys."
"Oh, I was hoping the note was for me. You look sad. Are you still sad about Andric?"
"Yes and no. There's too much to bring up now, but they just started medicating some of the girls' victuals. The medicated trays are pinkish."
Rocky's voice is quiet, but I can hear it from above. He must be eaves dropping. "Oh no. Bryon ate a tray that was blueish today."
Jefrey leans his forehead against the metal plate. "I wondered why he was acting different this afternoon."
"Help me figure out what the people they are medicating have in common. I have to go. Bye, Jefrey."
"Bye, Elira."
I try not to let the tingles I feel slow me down as I put the plexiglass back in place. I slide the cold air return cover back to where it should be as Mentor Maxine storms over to break up the fight.
The loud shriek sound goes off. It's time for 5:00 victuals. I wave at the boys as I hurry to the dining area before anyone notices how much time I spent with them. I sit in the same seat that allows me to see who is eating from which trays.
I really don't know much about the first girl who gets a pink tray. She's a year older than me and I've never talked to her. The second girl to get one is Liza. I know her, of course. The third girl is Liza's friend, Jade. The fourth is the older girl with the curly blonde hair that caused the fight today, and the fifth and final tray is given to the black spikey-haired girl. I thought Mentor Maxine said there were six, hmmm.
Chapter 18
I rush to my room after I'm done eating to read my notes. Avra is sitting up in her bed eating out of a pink tray. Ahh!
"Avra! You can't eat that! The pink trays are medicated!"
"Uh, what am I supposed to eat? You know the rules, if you refuse your tray, you starve."
"I know that, but this is not good. What are we going to do? The complex is trying to do something to us. I'm not sure what yet, but something!"
"Why would you say that? The complex keeps us safe from the toxins!"
I sit down on her bed and lower my voice. "Avra, I know this may sound crazy, but I need you to trust me. I heard the mentors talking about you this morning. You looked bad, like you wouldn't get better, ever, bad."
"Okay, so?"
"Mentor Roberta wants to send you to the ‘death doctor' because she doesn't think you're strong enough for a job. She said that's all we're here for, free labor!"
Avra frowns at
me. "I've been to both complex doctors tons of times, there is no death doctor."
"Well, obviously you haven't been to him, because no one comes back from there!"
"Get off my bed, Elira!" My usually sweet friend pushes me off her bed. Thump. She glares at me as I raise myself off the floor. "My head hurts, and I need to lie down." Avra turns away from me as she lays her head on the pillow.
I dust myself off with determination. "The final doctor is the death doctor, Avra." I want to scream and shake her. This is my best friend; why won't she believe me?
Avra's voice is muffled by her pillow. "I think you were half-asleep when you supposedly heard all this. It doesn't make sense!"
Okay, we are getting nowhere. I'll try again later. "Take a nap, Avra. Dream of Scott and then you'll be ready to have this conversation with me."
"Why would I dream of Scott? That's stupid. I'd rather dream of chocolate cake, yawn. Good night."
Oh... It finally clicks. All the girls who were given pink trays today are boy crazy. I can't believe Avra, who spent all morning writing a love letter to Scott, doesn't want to dream about him. What kind of medicine did they give her? Whatever it is, it's working. I wonder if the boys have any new information in their letters. I plop down on my bed. I pull out the letter addressed to me from Garth. I hope it contains something I want to hear. I look around to see if anyone is watching me. The coast is clear. With trembling hands, I open it up.
Dear Elira,
I can't believe how much you have helped us. Breaking into the cold air return was pure genius. I had a feeling we could communicate through it. Andric tried several different things that stripped the screw heads on our side. I don't know why none of us ever tried using a spoon as a screwdriver. It could be a game changer if we are careful and use it right. The complex has gotten away with its secrets because we've all been completely happy to obey the rules and not communicate with each other about things that matter.
It helped me to talk to you about Andric the other day. It's been hard pretending like I'm not screaming inside every time someone talks about him. I want to communicate with you, Elira. If I had enough paper, I would write to you every day. Honestly, I can't get the sound of your voice out of my head, no matter what I do. Talk or write to me every chance you get. I want to know everything about you. I've missed looking into your eyes lately. It seems like you're learning sign language. We have a red button guy on our side who can't hear. I know a little bit of sign language. If you're learning it, then I will improve mine, so we can communicate through the glass better.
With Andric gone, Rocky has been scheming and dreaming like crazy. He has some pretty intense theories about what is really going on in the complex. He is my best friend and I think that at least some of his ideas are right. You see the fakeness going on around here. I can tell that you aren't satisfied with this little boxed-in life we have. You wouldn't have broken into the grate if you were. It is dangerous to do what we're doing. Make sure you flush all our letters down the toilet. If any of them are found, we could be charged as dissidents, like Andric. I will be at the cold air return tomorrow night at 8:00. Meet me there, please.
I will try to pilfer paper every chance I get. If you see the big bald mentor who wears a green jumpsuit on our side, don't do anything to compromise yourself. He is watching us. He would be glad to charge any of us as dissidents.
Until next time,
Garth
Wow. My hands caress the crinkly letter written on cast-off homework paper. It represents some harsh realities that I haven't considered, but it also represents a boy who can't get my voice out of his head! I don't think I can flush this letter down the toilet...
I see Garth's face in my mind. He misses looking into my eyes, even though one of them is ugly, purple, and scarred. I smell the paper, hoping to catch any scent from Garth. I can smell the tiniest whiff of something. It's the opposite of the fruity and flowery scents I've smelled on my mentors. I think it's the scent of manliness. I fold the letter back up and stuff it under my mattress. I open the letter from Rocky next.
Elira,
Thank you for the information you've gleaned from your mentors and especially the news of a woman outside the complex. I have seen two different people through the windows of the complex. I'm pretty sure that this mysterious woman is one of them. I noticed that neither of the people I've seen out there appear sick. They seem to be healthy and not struggling to survive at all. Last year when we had a window, the woman tried to communicate with us even though she was chased off by the guards every time.
I have a theory. I know this may not be easy to believe, but I think we are living one big, giant lie. I don't think the outside world is toxic. We now know that the mentors leave the complex to their own apartments when their shifts are over. I don't think they put on thick, impenetrable guard suits when they leave. I think they just walk out the door with skin showing and they probably laugh, because they've tricked us all into believing the big lie for one more day.
I'm tired of the lie, Elira. I want to get out of here. I have one memory of my life before the complex. My parents tried to keep me. I remember my mother crying and screaming when they took me away. I think my parents are still alive out there. In fact, I know they are. I feel it in my bones. Will you help me figure out a way to escape this complex? I have tried everything I can think of over here. I need some new ideas.
I keep getting the feeling that the answer lies on your side of the glass. You are smart and have already proven yourself very useful. Will you keep helping me?
Don't tell anyone about this plan. Destroy all evidence of our letters.
Keep your eyes open,
Rocky
Whoa. Lies, lies, lies! I've known there are lies circling around this place, but, no toxins? Either the mentors are lying to me, or Rocky is. I read the letter from Rocky one more time and memorize all the important information, then crumble it into a ball. I shakily rush to the bathroom, lock myself in a stall and flush the letter down the toilet. I sit on the toilet fully clothed, and put my head in my hands. I knew there was something amiss about this place, but can the lie we're living be THAT big? Do I have parents out there, fully healthy, wishing they could get me out of this thick-walled complex? How do I find out? Flush.
Great, someone is in here. Where is Mentor Maxine when I need her? I stand up and flush the toilet one more time. My hands fumble as I try to unlock the stall. Get a grip on yourself, Elira. Don't let anyone know you are a dissident. At the row of sinks, I see Liza washing her hands in a blank, detached way.
I force a smile on my face as my raccoon eye stares back at me in the mirror. "Hey, Liza. Thanks for asking that cute boy of yours to get Garth last night in the school room."
Liza looks at me like she's disgusted by my words. "I don't have a cute boy. Boys are not cute. Excuse me, I have to go organize my drawers." She slams the door as she leaves the bathroom.
Water splashes onto the floor as my hands start to shake again. The mirror in front of me reveals a ghost with pale white skin and a purple eye. That was not the Liza of yesterday. I knew it. The medicated victuals in the pink trays are for all the boy-crazy girls. The medicine makes them stop liking boys.
Why would they want that? I remember the ‘How Babies are Made' pamphlets and the girl fight I witnessed earlier. That sparks something Mentor Roberta said to Mentor Maxine when Avra wasn't breathing well. The whole point of the complex is to have damaged, unpaid workers. Slapping and hair-pulling isn't the best way to get a job done, is it?
I rush back into my stall. I'm going to be sick. My stomach holds nothing back. The gurgle of the porcelain toilet mocks me as I leave my stall.
I pinch my cheeks to put some color into my white face when Mentor Bridget storms in. She dumps a bunch of old school papers into the garbage can before she trots to a stall. I smile half
-heartedly at her as she passes me. Ooh, paper, I need that. I turn the sink on full blast as I pilfer the top half of the papers out of the garbage can and shove them down the front of my jumpsuit. I turn off the water and rush to my room.
No one but sleeping Avra is in here, thank goodness. I stuff all but one of the papers under my mattress and write down everything I have pieced together about the complex. Mentor Maxine is right. It is helpful to get other points of view about what you're studying. What are the chances that I can get into the school room grate twice in one day?
Mentor Maxine comes rushing by, supporting a green-faced girl with one arm. "Elira, I need a huge favor. Tessa just threw up in the school room, is there any way you could clean it up for me? I don't dare leave Tessa's side."
Hmm, I hope it's nerves and not the flu that kept me in the bathroom earlier. On the bright side, this is exactly what I need. "Yeah, I will. I will find you when I'm done."
"Thank you, Elira."
As I enter the school room, squeals of laughter bombard my ears. Two girls are sharing the telephone to talk to a boy on the other side of the glass. Their cleaning rags are all but forgotten on the floor. Another girl is pressing a letter to the glass. I'm surprised to see that it's Rocky who reads it from the other side. He winks at me. I lift the edge of my letter out of my pocket, so he can see it. He nods. The girl thinks it's approval for her, but I know it's affirmation for me. The sour-smelling mess that has almost cleared the room is next to the garbage can, which is near the corner I need to get to.
Sterile gloves slap against my wrists as I pull them on, the other cleaning supplies I need are easily found in the janitor closet. It doesn't take long to clean the barf up. The girls by the window keep plugging their noses and frowning at me. Get over yourselves. I am improving the smell. I double bag the garbage and tie a big knot on the bundle. I will take it out shortly. If I place the garbage can and the bag in a line, they block the view of what I am doing, mostly.
The Complex Life (The Complex Trilogy Book 1) Page 9