by M. J. Reed
I looked up at him, suddenly aware of how much taller than me he was. I really like his smile. “Oh? What were you expecting?” I asked, giving him a playful shove with my shoulder.
He looked almost embarrassed. “I guess, because of who your dad is, I assumed you would be a lot less fun.”
I burst out laughing again. “Well, it’s not every day that I sneak around at night with a guy I just met,” I answered, rolling my eyes.
“Well,” Wyatt answered with a mock bow. “I’m sorry to have besmirched your honor.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, and his eyes twinkled mischievously.
“It’s bold of you to assume I have honor,” I replied with a wink.
I had meant the comment to be flirty, and funny, but instead, it reminded me of my strained relationship with my father. He would be livid if he knew I was out in the middle of the night. My euphoric happiness faded in the short silence that passed between us.
“You alright?” Wyatt asked, picking up on my distress.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I answered, trying to resume my jovial mood. “I was just thinking about my dad. We don’t get along very well.” I sighed in exasperation. “I’m probably not quite the daughter he wishes he had.” As soon I said it I realized that I had overshared. I don’t want to make things awkward with this guy! We’ve been having so much fun together!
I expected Wyatt to change the subject or look uncomfortable, but instead his brows furrowed into a look of genuine empathy. “That’s a shame.” He said, without judgment. “Having a family who accepts you for who you are is important.”
I smiled, and relaxed. It’s nice to be around someone who understands me. We let silence hang between us, walking comfortably, side by side, each lost in our own thoughts.
I tried to focus on watching out for security, but I kept glancing over at Wyatt. I don’t know why, but I feel safe around him. Like I could tell him anything. Without thinking, I reached out and gently took hold of his hand. As soon as I did it, I knew that the gesture was too familiar, too intimate. What is wrong with me? I have a boyfriend! I quickly released his hand.
“It’s just been difficult,” I explained, hoping to distract him from my awkward attempted handhold. “My dad is the only family I have, but I feel like I’m always disappointing him. I can’t tell him what I really think without him getting upset. It’s hard to feel close to someone when you can’t be honest with them.”
“For what it’s worth, I think your dad’s crazy if he’s disappointed in you.” He said quietly.
The look he gave me made the hair on my arms stand on end. “Thanks,” I replied with a polite nod. Inside I was ecstatic. Wyatt had turned my rotten mood upside down with just a few words. I felt light, giddy, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free to be myself around someone.
Despite all the noise we made, Wyatt and I made it back from Olivia’s house without incident. Sneaking around with him was fun, and it made me feel better, but it was a reckless thing to do. Wyatt and I could have gotten in real trouble if we were caught. I thought, trying to ground myself in reality. I rounded the corner into the kitchen and checked the time. It’s later than I thought it was. I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow.
“We should get your wound cleaned and get some rest,” I said, reaching for the medical supplies Dr. Ward had left for me. “Sorry I dragged you along for that. I know we could have gotten in trouble for being out after curfew. You especially. I just really needed to blow off some steam.”
“Are you kidding? That was great!” He pulled his shirt off over his head. “ I’m glad I got to hang out with you and your friend.”
I grinned. It had been nice having Wyatt along. Being around him felt easy, natural. Lonn wouldn’t have come with me to something like that. I wasn’t sure why the thought popped into my head, but I felt immediately guilty for having it.
“So, did you used to do stuff like this with your friends on the surface?” I asked, playfully. I accompanied my teasing with what I had intended to be a gentle shove, but as soon as my palm pressed against Wyatt’s arm my hand flooded with heat. My eyes flicked from his face to his exposed torso. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to touch more of him. Why can’t I stop flirting with this guy?
“I used to have someone I was close to, but they aren’t around anymore.” He said, interrupting my fantasy. “And I had other friends,” He added. “But they weren’t the kind of friends I could talk to. They were more... superficial.” A shadow crossed Wyatt’s face. “There wasn’t much loyalty in the gang I was in. If someone thought they could get something from you, they would stab you in the back in a second.”
“That’s terrible.” I removed the bandage covering Wyatt’s stitches. I allowed my eyes to trail across his body again, but now that I was dressing his wound I had a plausible excuse for the inspection. I let myself follow the lines of his lean muscles until I reached the area where his pants bunched over his groin. I felt a tingle growing between my legs. I’ve got to get ahold of myself.
“Why did you join them if they’re like that?” I asked, partially because I needed to distract myself from ogling Wyatt, but mostly because the more I talked with him, the more curious I became.
“Well, I joined with my brother when we were both pretty young, and for a long time, the gang kept us safe. There’s safety in numbers, and in being feared.” He looked ashamed. “I was never quite comfortable with some of the things we did, especially as I got older, but I didn’t decide to leave until around a year ago,” Wyatt met my eyes with such intensity that I felt my knees go weak. “That’s when my brother was killed.”
My eyebrows flew upwards in surprise. “What happened?” I asked reflexively, realizing as soon as the words left my lips that it might be rude to ask something so personal.
Wyatt looked sad, but not offended. “My brother, Lucas, and I went on a raid with a few other people in our gang. It went better than any of us could have hoped. We found an abandoned farmhouse loaded with salvage. We didn’t have to fight anyone, we just loaded ourselves up with as much stuff as we could carry and headed back.” I sat with rapt attention as Wyatt continued. “Whatever gets recovered on a raid is supposed to be shared with the gang, and distributed amongst the group from a communal treasury, but I pocketed a few things for myself. They were just little things, and we had recovered so much that I didn’t think anyone would mind, but someone noticed that some food was missing from our haul and reported it. When they searched my bag-” He frowned, and trailed off. “Lucas took the blame, and they killed him for it. I knew then that I needed to get away from the Unseen Company.” Wyatt ran a hand along his stitches. “I only barely escaped alive.”
I know that Wyatt just told me that he was a thief, but I can’t picture him as a criminal. He doesn’t seem like the kind of person who could do something like that. I thought, having trouble squaring the man in front of me, who made me feel safe, with the dangerous person he must have been before I met him.
“So, it really is horrible on the surface?” I asked quietly, unable to contain my curiosity. I’ve always wondered what it’s like up there, but I had no idea it was that bad.
“No.” He answered. His expression softened. “I mean, life is hard on the surface, dangerous even, but there are good things about it.” He grinned at me. “There’s no curfew for a start.”
“I like that,” I admitted with a smile. I started cleaning Wyatt’s stitches. We were so close that when I laid a hand on his chest, I could feel his heartbeat. “What else?”
“Well, you can see the sky, and go where you want. You can choose how you want to make a living, and-” Wyatt paused, seeming uncertain if he should continue. “And you’re free to marry whoever you want.”
I groaned at the reminder.
“You’re not excited about working in hydroponics with your dad either, are you?” He asked.
“It’s an alright job,” I said, re-wrapping his wound. “I don’t mind t
he work. I just hate the idea of doing just one thing my whole life.”
Wyatt nodded his understanding. “And you wanted to be matched up with your boyfriend instead of that Jarno guy?”
“I don’t know.” What am I saying? Of course, I wanted to be matched up with Lonn! Why did I even say that? “I think so. I’m pretty sure.” I said, trying to course correct.
I haven’t even seen Lonn since the Matching Ceremony. I don’t even know how he’s doing. I wonder if he’s worried about me?
“Anyway, your cut is all cleaned up. I should go to bed.” I said, getting up hastily.
“Hey.” He gently grabbed my hand as I stood. “Thanks.” He said, giving my hand a squeeze.
A part of me didn’t want him to let go, but I pulled away anyway. “Good night!” I called, bolting up the stairs to my room.
It was hard to sleep. I stayed up late thinking about how much fun I had with Wyatt. I also thought about how much I miss Lonn, and how being around Wyatt muddied that feeling a little. The guilt I felt for my thoughts about Wyatt weighed on me, suffocating me. I tossed and turned for hours. Eventually, I was able to push any doubts I might have had about Lonn and me aside, and fall asleep.
Chapter 13
Last night was the first night I’ve slept well since Jenny broke up with me, but she was still the first thing I thought about when I woke up. I’ve been trying to focus on watching Wyatt, instead of on my own problems, but I can’t pretend that I’m not distracted.
Today, a group of us have been showing Wyatt around Departure. The first part of the tour was enjoyable. Corvan gave us a tour of the engineering department, and then he and Miles stood back and chatted while Cora and Wyatt repaired one of the old generators in the materials recycling area.
It gave Wyatt a chance to show off his skills as a mechanic, and even though she didn’t seem to know much about fixing things, Cora seemed happy to have something to do. Corvan and Miles seemed content to watch the repairs from a distance and to make idle speculations about Wyatt’s future. As for me, I was grateful that I was able to do something low-key after the stressful week I’ve had.
As the day wore on, the tour became progressively less enjoyable. Corvan left to attend to his mechanics and engineers, taking his affable nature with him. He was replaced by Jarno Greer, who seemed less interested in showing Wyatt around than he was with ingratiating himself to his future father-in-law. Cora was noticeably upset with the new addition to our party, and spoke little after Jarno’s arrival, holding her tongue through gritted teeth.
Dr. Ward joined us after lunch, but he was far from sociable. He looks so out of it. I’m just glad he’s being quiet and not making a spectacle of himself. Paul has been a complete mess lately, and I worry that he’s going to get himself into trouble. Fortunately, with all the excitement surrounding the Matching Ceremony, and the news of an outsider arriving in Departure, I seem to be the only person paying attention to him.
Despite the awkwardness between Cora and Jarno, the tour of the hydroponics area was impressive. Miles gave us an overview of how his staff uses a modified yeast strain to synthesize hemoglobin for the production of a meat substitute. I think Cora is the only one who understood the entire process, but Miles described the procedure with such enthusiasm that his explanation was still entertaining.
Mr. Halax seems to care a lot about his work. It’s endearing. I just wish he cared that much about his daughter. With each chuckle that passed between Jarno and her father, Cora’s scowl deepened. Even if Mr. Halax likes his future son-in-law, he could at least be considerate of how Cora feels about Jarno.
“Mrs. Charr, are you alright?” Miles had pulled his attention away from his guests to look at me.
I realized that must have let my mind wander a little too far. Now, everyone in our group had turned to stare at me. I hate being the center of attention! I thought, suppressing a shudder.
“Yes,” I replied, determined to offer an explanation that would get everyone’s eyes off me. “I was just thinking that since it’s getting late, maybe I could show Wyatt a few things on the lower levels and we could resume looking around the upper levels tomorrow.”
Mr. Halax’s made a face, though he hid it quickly enough that I don’t think anyone else noticed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
I nodded and pretended I hadn’t seen his look of disgust. “Several of Departure’s core departments operate on the lower levels. If we’re going to give him a proper tour of the city, he should see a bit of all of it.”
“I suppose you’re right.” He said after a pause. A forced smile broke out across his face. “You can give him a quick look at the lower levels tonight, and Cora can take him around the markets and public areas tomorrow.” He clapped a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “You’ll know the city better than I do by the time we’re through with you!”
Wyatt smiled back, but I wasn’t sure how genuine it was. Wyatt is still a mystery to me, but he has been much more accommodating than I would have been if I were being held captive in a strange, underground city.
If I were In Wyatt’s place, probably would’ve tried to escape as soon as I woke up, and gotten killed for my troubles. Wyatt seems too smart and centered to make a mistake like that. I don’t think he’s a threat, but it’s hard to know for sure. I’ll have to keep an eye on him, just in case.
The group broke up for the evening. “Drop him off at our place once you’re finished on the lower levels. He has another big day ahead of him tomorrow!” Mr. Halax said, before waving goodbye to Dr. Ward and walking off with his daughter and future son-in-law in tow.
Cora didn’t say anything, but she did look back over her shoulder at us. She’d probably rather be anywhere else than at home with Jarno and her father. Even the lower levels of the city.
Dr. Ward offered a rather stiff farewell and retreated to his home. Probably going to drink. Paul and I always try to remain formal around one another in public, but it’s hard to pretend not to care when I know my friend is hurting. Maybe I’ll try to visit him after I’m finished with Wyatt.
Still preoccupied with my own problems, I gestured for Wyatt to follow me and led the way to the lower tiers of the city.
Chapter 14
As far as I’ve gathered, Departure is comprised of seven different levels. The first level is where the Charr family lives, where the armory is kept, and most importantly where the only exit to the city is. The second level of the city houses the department heads in charge of power, oxygen production, water purification, and the other departments essential to keeping everyone in Departure alive. It’s where Cora and Miles Halax live, and where I’ve been staying. So close to the exit, yet so far away. The third level of the city houses skilled laborers and the heads of Departure’s auxiliary departments. On the fourth level, there’s additional housing for skilled laborers, and space for public buildings like the temple, the community market, the storage lockers, and a large meeting space for public events. The fifth and sixth levels, from what Sade has shown me, houses the so-called unskilled laborers, as well as several production and waste processing sectors. I haven’t visited the seventh level, but from what I’ve heard it isn’t a place I want to see.
“So, what do you think of the city so far?” My guard asked as we stepped off one of the landings. I was surprised when she spoke. Sade Charr doesn’t seem like the talkative type to me, and unless I’m imagining things, she’s in a lousy mood.
Departure’s lower levels were noticeably less well-kept than the upper levels. The houses looked smaller, the streets had few guards, if any, on patrol, and everything seemed grimy. Still, it’s not so terrible compared to some of the things I’ve seen on the surface.
“It’s really nice,” I answered. “I’m a little confused as to why no one else seemed to want to come down here with us. This seems like a decent place to live.”
Sade snorted. “Well, no one in the Halax family would ever want to wind up down here, even if they were j
ust showing someone around. They’re much too prestigious to visit the lower levels of the city.”
Yeah, she’s definitely in a bad mood.
“Really? The Halax’s seem like good people. Cora’s really gone out of her way to take care of me.” My mind flitted back to her sitting near me, dressing my wounds, her warm hands on my chest. A slight smile crossed my face. I hadn’t intended it, but Cora had gotten under my skin. She’s a brave, outgoing, and attractive girl, and the more time I spend with her, the harder it is to deny the chemistry building between us. “Plus, neither she or her father seems to want me dead or imprisoned,” I added with a wry smile.
“Yeah, she’s nice,” Sade said. She still sounded irritated, but she gave me a thin smile.
“But you don’t like her?” I asked, just a touch too defensively.
“I like her,” Sade answered cooly. “She’s confident, assertive, and you always know where you stand with her. But, it bothers me that someone as bright as her is willing to allow someone else to decide how her life is going to go.”