by Jessica Kapp
“No. I need to hear this.” I relax my hand and give him a nod to continue.
“They use the foster program as a front, selling kids’ parts to clients who need a new liver, lung, kidneys—”
“How can people do that? How can they live with themselves knowing we’re being slaughtered?”
“Because they don’t know, or they refuse to believe the rumors.” Gavin shakes his head in disgust. “Most people believe parts come from the cryopreservation unit or that they’re buying parts from people who signed up for the Donor Program. People addicted to pills get pretty desperate. They’ll sell a kidney or lung to buy more drugs. But their parts aren’t in the best shape, and cloned parts don’t last as long. Nothing beats healthy, live parts. Like yours.”
The tuna sticks in my throat.
“Don’t get me wrong, the Donor Program is a legitimate business, but there aren’t enough healthy donors left on the island,” he says. “Almost everyone is hooked on some kind of drug, which makes you so valuable.”
“The health screenings they make us do, what are they for? To match us with buyers?”
Gavin’s nod is almost imperceptible, but the entire room sways like the earth has rotated on its axis. I close my eyes for a moment to regain control.
“The doctors are just verifying what they already know,” Gavin continues. “What your blood type is, what you’re allergic to. They’ll look more in-depth at the parts they need, and there are some tests they can’t do until after puberty.” I look down at my plate, afraid to ask what those tests are. Luckily, I don’t have to. “Our bodies change with hormones, so they’re looking at how your compatibility might be altered, if there’s a better candidate on the waiting list.”
“So no one at the Center can really fail the health screening?”
He shakes his head.
“And when the patients get new organs, they go back to buying their drugs. The cycle just keeps going.”
“Precisely.”
Parker was right to wonder about why no one came back. I drop my spoon, my appetite gone. “What they’re doing can’t be legal. Why don’t you just contact the police?”
“Who do you think paid for the police station and hired the chief? PharmPerfect is more powerful than a bunch of teens living under a barn. Until we can get some concrete evidence, it’s our word against theirs.”
“But aren’t we evidence?”
“There are no records you ever existed. Sasha can tell you.” He nods in her direction. “And I’m sure the local government is paid to look the other way.”
“But people are dying!”
The room behind me falls quiet and I shove a cracker in my mouth. It’s dry, and my throat hurts when I swallow.
“Drugs are a way of life here. And it’s getting worse.”
“Drugs like the one Ry gave me?”
“Euphorium? That’s only the beginning.”
“He took a pill before we went on a run; I couldn’t keep up.”
“Endurance. That’s one of his favorites. Some habits are hard to break.” Gavin scowls and takes a bite of corn. “It’s easy to get hooked.”
“I didn’t know what I was taking.” His head stays down, shoveling food in. “I was born with a heart condition. I told Ry what my medication looked like and he gave me a pill that looked identical.”
He pulls the spoon out, but his mouth stays open. “Heart condition, huh?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am. Having a heart condition is like owning a puzzle with a missing piece.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“What I mean is, it limits their profits. Once someone from the Center is sold, they harvest all the parts and keep them in the cryopreservation unit for future clients so nothing gets wasted.” He waves his spoon at my chest. “The heart is worth almost as much as a liver.”
Silence fills the air as I think about the amount of time my trainers made me spend in the pool. They must have been building up my heart’s strength so it’d be worth something when the doctor carved it out.
“How do you know all of this?” I ask, shifting in my seat. “I mean, you sound like you work for them. Or used to…”
“Ry might not be the most responsible person in the world, but he knows the right people—even though some of them aren’t worth knowing at all. A couple of his dealers work for PharmPerfect, and their info has helped us piece together what’s going on inside, everything from prepping bodies to what meds are coming to market after being tested.” Gavin clears his throat. “Speaking of medication, I take it you need more pills—or are you going to get your next pill from Ry?”
“I have some left, but I’ll need more eventually,” I say. He holds my gaze, his eyes narrowed. I don’t like that he’s judging me right out of the gate. Although in a way, I guess I judged him too. “So how’d you learn cold water would help when I took Ry’s pill?”
I expect him to tell me a funny story about Ry falling into the trough, or that he read it in some textbook at school. But Gavin shifts in his seat like he has an itch he can’t—or won’t—scratch.
“Trial and error,” he finally says, throwing in a smile. I don’t buy it and when I wait for more, he relents with a sigh. “PharmPerfect uses the same base formula for most of their drugs. Cold doesn’t always work. It depends on what else is in the pill. Plus, Euphorium is milder than most of the drugs they make.” He looks away for a beat, then back at me. “I figured that’s what you took when you hugged me.”
My ears burn, and there’s a flash of interest in Gavin’s eyes. It’s gone as soon as it appears, but it makes my heartbeat speed up.
“It helps that your body metabolizes things fairly quickly. Plus, you’re an anomaly.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re a redhead. One of only a handful I’ve seen on the island.” He reaches for my arm but stops short of touching it. “Your skin, for instance, lets in more light to produce vitamin D. That means you’re less likely to get certain diseases. You also need more drugs to knock you out. They obviously didn’t give you enough at the hospital.” He smirks.
The idea that I’m unique, that there’s something rare and different about me, makes me sit up. I feel special, and even though it’s nothing to brag about, it is something to hold onto. Something that makes me feel less like a body parts factory and more like a person.
But I also feel exposed, like Gavin knows too much about me. More than I know about myself.
I change the subject. “How’d you figure out how to get people like Mary and me out of the hospital without getting caught?”
“Don’t forget Sasha,” he says, glancing over at her. “She was the first.”
“Are there any others?” My voice climbs too high, too hopeful.
“Lots of attempts…but no.”
Even though I should have expected his answer, my stomach clenches like it absorbed a punch. “How many?” I ask.
“Six…before Adrian started helping me, I’d trail a car leaving the Center and go into the hospital like I was visiting a patient. It was luck more than anything.” Gavin’s eyes glaze over like he’s lost in thought. Finally, he shakes his head. “Adrian can tap into the communication between the Centers and the hospital, which cuts through the guess work. Now we know when they’re gearing up for a live transfer. He’s one of the reasons your rescue was a success.”
And I gave him a bloody nose. Way to go, Tabitha. “I guess I never told you guys thanks, did I?”
“You just did.” We share a smile, and Gavin stands with renewed vigor. “Listen, I still have an errand to run. I know this is a lot to take in, but if you want to get out of here for a while, see what Nordic Island looks like, you can come with me.”
“But…” I hesitate. “Isn’t it dangerous? Aren’t there people looking for me?”
“Yes, but I don’t want you to feel like we’re holding you prisoner.” His voice is comforting, but I see concern in his eyes. “Besides, I�
��m sure you’re itching to see the island. I’ve got a hat in my truck that’ll conceal your hair. You’ll be safe. I promise.” He gestures at the door.
I resist the urge to wipe my palms on my shorts when I stand. I’m nervous, but intrigued at seeing the outside world through older, wiser eyes.
He scoops up my plate and shakes the bits of food into the garbage before tossing it in the bucket of dirty dishes.
“Can you guess who missed dish duty?” he asks.
I follow his stare to Ry, who’s playing a game of cards on the floor with the longhaired boy and Sasha. Gavin claims she’s from the Center, but for whatever reason, she makes me feel like I’m not entirely safe here.
Gavin shakes his head at Ry and leads us through the hallway. “Any news, Adrian?” he asks.
The radio is assembled and Adrian wipes his forehead, leaving a black smudge mark. “Just static so far, but I’ll get it working again, don’t worry.”
Gavin heads up the ladder first and leans down from the top with an arm extended. This time, I take his hand.
He lifts me effortlessly and puts me down beside him. His hand is rough like the track I used to run on. I would press my palms into it before I took off in a sprint, trying to beat my time in the one hundred meter dash. I miss that feeling, something I could control. Now life seems chaotic. No wonder Gavin likes things so neat.
His truck is unlocked and he reaches into the back seat. “It might be a little big,” he says, pulling out a dark blue baseball cap. “But it’ll hide the red.” He slaps it against his leg before handing it to me.
I stuff my hair underneath, feeling calmer already. But the second I climb in and buckle the seatbelt, Gavin tears down the gravel road and my emotions jump back to the surface. I haven’t been in a moving vehicle with a view since before I can remember, and I’m anxious to take everything in.
We’re out of the trees in a matter of minutes and connect with a road that heads down a hill. Gavin follows the signs toward the Gladstone City Center. The ocean is in front of us, stretching across the entire view.
“Is that where the Center is?” I ask, my voice small. Gavin nods.
“You see that white dot in the water?” He leans into the steering wheel, narrowing his eyes at the image. “That’s the ferry. It’s the only way off the island.”
My eyes drift from the ferry to the Nordic coastline. The buildings seem to be lumped together in sections.
“That’s PharmPerfect’s main lab,” Gavin says, pointing at the building on the far left. “And the taller ones around it are offices for packaging and sales. The building on the right is the Testing Facility.”
What the one on the right lacks in height it makes up for in length. “What kind of tests?”
“For any new pill they come up with. Speed, strength, you name it. They test them on people here before selling them to the rest of the world.”
I don’t want to know the answer, but I ask anyway. “Who do they test the drugs on?”
“Junkies looking for some money and a quick fix.” There’s a long pause. “And uh…anyone who isn’t purchased for parts.”
My chest tightens. That’s where Parker will likely end up.
“Do they let Center kids go when they’re done testing them?” I ask, clinging to hope.
“I’m not sure. We haven’t been able to get very close to that building. The security’s intense.”
I ball my fists. “We have to try.”
Gavin’s eyes flash to my hands. He doesn’t object.
I tear my eyes away from the building, searching for something to take my mind off the image I have of Parker being made to run for hours while he’s force-fed pills. But I can’t escape the reminders. All around us are flashing billboards promoting pills. One touts it can give you larger breasts. Another promises sculpted abs with no exercise, while the billboard opposite claims it can darken your skin tone. The gold PharmPerfect logo is stamped in the corner of every sign—two Ps in a circle that looks like the world.
Then I see an ad that’s different than the rest—one seeking military recruits. There’s a muscular man pointing straight out. Under the waist of his green camouflage pants, it reads: We’re looking for American heroes! Big payout for those who qualify. Schedule your free lab test today.
Again, there’s the gold logo. Why would PharmPerfect be working with the military?
My body jerks to the side as Gavin cuts across a lane of traffic.
“Sorry,” he says. “I almost missed our exit.”
“Where are we headed?”
He clears his throat. “To the hospital to pick up the surgery schedule. We’ve got another mission soon.”
Chapter 7
I’m a ball of nerves and excitement as we head down a four-lane road. We’re going to get the details on the surgery so we can rescue whoever’s next. Maybe it’ll be someone from the Center for Excellence, one of my friends. I put my hands on the dashboard and lean until the seatbelt won’t give anymore.
Gavin glances at me and a smile takes over his face. I didn’t know he was capable of that much cheerfulness.
“We’re going to make a quick stop.” He gives me a mischievous wink.
“What about the schedule?”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got a few minutes. There’s a place I want to take you first.”
He pulls up to a black and white building that’s painted to look like a cow. The roof is round and bumpy, resembling a scoop of ice cream, only it’s covered in dirt instead of fudge, and there’s an air conditioning unit coming out the side.
“Where are we?”
“Dairy Land,” he says, still smiling. His attitude is contagious. “Consider it an apology for dunking you.”
We park and hop out. It’s warm, and I can smell salt in the air mixed with milk and chocolate. It’s a funny combination, but I inhale deeply to take in all three at once. An entire store just for ice cream? I must be dreaming.
He holds the door and we walk up to the counter where a boy in a cowhide apron asks for our order. At the same moment, the bell above the door rings, and a couple with a young child get in line behind us. The boy swings on the metal rail used to keep the customers in line. He creeps closer. Eager to order, I’m sure.
“What kind do you want?” Gavin asks. He orders himself a strawberry shake while I stare at the options on the board above the employee’s head. There are so many flavors, and I don’t recognize half of them from any of the shows we were allowed to watch. These ones have funny names like Mud Pie and Candy Cove. It’s overwhelming.
A loud crack startles me and I spin around, my hands balled, ready to protect myself.
I look down at the boy, whose feet have simply smacked against the tile floor. His eyes are full of fear as he pulls himself against his mother’s leg. Silence coats the room like a layer of melted chocolate.
His parents glare at me and I drop my hands.
“She’ll have a twist cone,” Gavin says, putting money on the counter. We step to the side while we wait for our order, and Gavin shields me with his body.
Gavin doesn’t move until the boy in the cowhide apron slides a tray toward us. Scooping up the shake and the cone, Gavin leads us toward the exit. There’s a height chart against the doorframe, and when he leans back to hold the door open, I notice his head is just above the six-foot mark. But right now, he feels like a giant to me.
The truck starts with a thunderous roar. We roll through the stop sign and get back on the road.
“They must think I’m crazy,” I say when we’re a half mile away.
“Based on their gawking, I’d have to agree.”
“I’m sorry.” I stare at my cone. The ice cream is starting to trickle down the side.
“Don’t be. They’re assholes for pretending there’s nothing wrong with this city.”
“You think they know?”
“Probably not,” Gavin concedes. “I didn’t find out until Ry was high and kept babbling about
surgeries and tests—”
“That’s what tipped you off? He was on drugs and you believed him? Just like that?”
“Ry’s a lot of things, but he’s not a liar. He had nothing to gain by telling me what he’d learned over the years.” Gavin chews on his lip while we wait for the stoplight to turn green. “But you’re right. Most people aren’t going to believe someone like Ry. PharmPerfect is good at keeping their image clean. That’s why people trust them. Trust helps sell pills.”
Gavin takes a big slurp of his shake and jams it into his cup holder.
The ice cream reaches my hand and I lick it off. Pure bliss. It’s better than Euphorium. I try chocolate on its own, then vanilla, and finally a blend, savoring the ice cream on my tongue.
Gavin looks over with a satisfied smile.
I catch his gaze and the awkwardness melts away. I’m glad we stopped by Dairy Land, despite the scene I made. And I’m glad I was with Gavin. He’s much softer than he first appeared, sweet like my ice cream.
“Why aren’t you like the rest of them?” I ask.
His forehead scrunches. “What do you mean?”
“You’re not from the Center, and you’re not missing any body parts—that I know of.”
He gives a deep, manly laugh and sits up.
“I just got tired of seeing what the drugs were doing to people around me.”
“Like Ry?”
“Yeah, him. And other people I’ve known. Ry’s a good guy, he’s just addicted to what people around here call the pill thrill.”
“How did you guys become friends? You’re so…”
“Different?”
I nod as I smooth off the top of my cone. I’m sure I look ridiculous right now, but I can’t help it. Maybe we can stop by Dairy Land again on the way back.
“We went to school together. Played on the same little league team and eventually for our high school. But everyone was using, so it made the game less of a sport and more of a show. If you weren’t taking Endurance or Power pills, you were one step up from the bat boy.”