Ordinary (Exceptional Book 3) (6 page)

[ ally ]

Night came and the room turned dark fast and they decided to take shifts sleeping. Luke was too weak to do much of anything, and Max and Lilla were unconscious, so Ally, Stosh, and Sabine attempted three hour rotations. Without clocks or watches, they just had to guess. Ally ended up with the second shift and got so caught up in her thoughts, she never woke Sabine up for the last shift.

She thought about possible escape plans, and then rethought them when she realized getting Luke, Max, and Lilla out of the town would severely disable them. If Lilla and Max even made it that long. She thought about what they would if they reached the southern city. What would they say if they ran into other Ordinarys or Exceptionals? What if they found a city just like the one they came from?

“Ally?” a voice croaked.

From where she was sitting, Ally could turn her head and look at Luke. The last time she had checked he was laying on his stomach, but now he had crawled to the side of the cage and was looking at her through the bars. Somehow, he looked better than the day before.

“I’m going to get us out of here,” Luke said with a clearer voice than before.

“Luke...” Ally started.

“No,” he held up a hand. “I’m getting my strength back. That tranquilizer is wearing off. These cuffs are just so heavy.”

Ally tried to smile. Even if the tranquilizer wore off, Luke was still only as good as Ordinary.

“Have you tried to take them off?” Ally asked.

Luke stared at her for a moment. “Yes. If it were easy, we would probably have a guard.”

“True,” Ally said with a sigh. “What are we going to do Luke?”

Before he could answer Ally moved on.

“How’s Lilla?” she asked.

Luke looked at the dirt and then back up. “I haven’t check in awhile. I’m... I’m afraid of what I might find.”

Luke’s words slammed into Ally. She had never hear him sound so vulnerable, and it was a far cry from the Luke she had encountered in the city just a few, short weeks ago.

“Check,” Ally responded. “While the others are still asleep.”

Luke crawled over to Lilla and leaned over her. Ally gripped the bars of the cage, pressing her forehead against the cool metal. She watched as Luke ducked his head and turned toward her.

“She’s dead.”

Ally covered her mouth quickly, silencing a sob. She had barely known Lilla, but the loss still hit her hard. She felt responsible for her since she had been the one to convince her to come with them. She turned and looked at Max, whose chest was still moving up and down. She held on to the hope that since his eyes hadn’t turned violet yet, that there was still a chance he would wake up.

“They’re going to come for you today,” Luke said.

“What?” Ally looked over at him.

“The men in this town. I may not have my abilities or strength, but I still have my hearing. I could hear them talking outside last night. They are going to take you and Sabine and sell you to unmarried men in the town.”

Ally wanted to punch the metal bars until her knuckles bled. “This isn’t how this is supposed to end. What are they going to do with you and Stosh? What about Max?”

“I don’t know,” Luke responded. “They didn’t talk about that in the conversation. My guess is we’ll either be forced to work or they’ll kill us. In fact, I am pretty sure I have a good chance of being killed.”

He laughed dryly.

Pale light was slowly filtering into the room, signaling dawn Sabine stirred next to Stosh and raised her head.

“Is it my shift yet?” she said sleepily. She looked around the large building. “Is it already morning? Why didn’t you wake me?”

Luke shifted back to the ground, turning away from Ally and the others. She turned and crawled over to Sabine. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“You should get some rest,” Sabine said, rubbing her eyes and sitting up.

An hour ago Ally would have argued with her, but now she agreed. She wasn’t sure what the day held for her but she at least needed her mind clear.

Ally woke up some time later to Sabine shaking her shoulders.

“Ally,” Sabine said her name. “Ally, wake up. They’re coming.”

Ally shot up to her knees. “How long was I asleep.”

“Hours,” Sabine said. “They brought us breakfast this morning but I didn’t want to wake you. You should eat some quickly. They’re coming. Luke said he can hear them.”

Ally peered over at Luke. He was standing now, but was using the bars of the cage to support his body. He seemed to be listening through the wall intently. Stosh handed Ally a piece of hard bread. She chewed a small piece quickly.

“You need to fight them, Al. Fight hard,” Stosh said to her.

“No,” she said quickly. She made a point of looking directly at Sabine. “We need to do just the opposite. We need them to think we are going to cooperate. At least until we can think of a better plan.”

“We?” Sabine hissed at her. “They are going to separate us and then we’ll probably never see each other again.”

“For now, Sab. Please?” Ally pleaded.

Sabine looked away but nodded her head. Moments later a door slammed open and heavy footsteps approached their cage. The man Ally thought might be called Big Earl appeared outside their cage.

“Time to git up girls,” he said. “It’s biddin’ day.”

Another man appeared behind Big Earl and opened up the cage. Stosh twitched beside Ally but she reached over and squeezed his wrist. She nodded at Sabine and they both stood together.

“That’s right,” Big Earl said. “Listenin’ like you’re supposed ta. You’ll make fine women for some lucky men out there.”

“Take care of Max, Stosh,” Ally looked down at her brother. “Keep him alive.”

Stosh just nodded and then said, “Take care of Sabine for me.”

Ally nodded and followed Big Earl and the other man through the building. Sabine held her hand as they walked, and soon they were through the main door and outside. Ally breathed in the fresh air, squinting slightly at the bright sun.

“This way,” Big Earl barked.

Ally noticed that the men didn’t even bother to cuff her or Sabine, or even carry them to where they were going. Either they were stupid or they didn’t think Ally and Sabine had a chance at escaping. They walked back to the area of town they had been in the day before. It appeared as though the whole town had come out for the occasion.

A small wooden platform sat in the middle of the circle of people, and the man that appeared to be in charge stood atop it.

“Big Eli,” Big Earl said. “The girls are here an’ ready.”

Big Eli nodded his head and Ally and Sabine were pushed toward the stairs that led up to the platform. They clung to each other as they climbed up and onto the worn wood. They stood together next to Big Eli and Ally took this time to look around the crowd. Just as she had noticed last night, a lot of big, dirt covered men, and heavily clothed women. A few of the girls looked younger, and had desperation in their eyes, and Ally had to wonder if they had stood on this platform not long ago.

“People of New Eden,” Big Eli shouted. “We have ‘ere two gals that need a proper home to care for, and a man to take care of. They looks to be ‘bout two years past their prime marryin’ time, but I still think they’re worth a good price.”

A few of the men in the crowd cheered and laughed. Ally heard words and comments that made her want to first vomit, and then start swinging her fists. The women in the crowd started to look at the ground, and Ally realized why they weren’t treated with caution when taken from the cage. Women here weren’t respected or feared. They were objects to be possessed.

“Get up ‘ere Big Sal and Big Dean,” Big Eli said.

The men stepped in front of the platform rather than onto it.

“Since they found ‘em, they’ll collect the bids,” Big Eli said. “First up is dis tiny red head ‘ere.”

A few of the men booed.

“Now I know dis red hair might look ugly, but I bet she can cook and clean just like the rest of ‘em.”

Sabine was shaking against Ally’s body.

“It will be okay,” Ally whispered.

They watched as younger, yet still big, men stepped forward and offered items like firewood, food, and cloth. A few even offered work hours. In the end, Big Dean accepted a large lot of firewood and bread, along with two hours of work, in exchange for Sabine. The man, more of a boy, stepped forward and helped a terrified Sabine off of the platform.

Ally tried to reassure her with a look. It was useless though. Sabine’s eyes were masked with tears, and Ally could feel her own filling up. She couldn’t lose hope that they might be able to escape.

“Next up is da pretty brunette,” Big Eli pulled Ally forward a little. “Should pull in a nice lot fer Big Sal.”

“If it’s okay,” Big Sal looked up at the platform. “I’d like ta keep her.”

There were some murmurs in the crowd but Big Eli hushed them by raising his hand.

“With the death of Big Sal’s wife Sarah, I say it would be a right time to give him a new wife.”

Several people in the crowd nodded.

“Sold, ta Big Sal.” Big Eli said.

Ally barely had time to blink before she was being led down the stairs by Big Sal. The crowd dissipated at a quick pace. The men walked off in loud, boisterous groups while the women hurried off with heads down.

Big Sal kept a hand on Ally’s arm while he led her through the town. They walked through dirt streets and past the worn buildings. Ally realized they were walking past homes when she saw women outside hanging laundry, or tending to gardens. They weren’t far from the main part of town when Big Sal led her through the door of one of the buildings.

Inside the main room was lit by fire, and it seemed as though the living area and kitchen were all in one, open room on the first floor.

Big Sal pushed past her. “The bedroom is upstairs, as well as the washroom.”

Ally stepped slowly into the small room, feeling completely lost at what her next move should be.

“I know yer goin’ to try and escape,” Big Sal turned on her suddenly.

Ally backed up against the door and shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t try it.”

“No. It’s okay.” Big Sal grinned. “Imma help you.”

“What?” Ally stayed against the door, her eyes wide.

He stepped closer to her. “Imma help you and yer friends escape.”

[ marnie ]

The soldier led Marnie down the dark hall and into a small, gray room. In it sat the General, along with two other important looking men. They sat at a long table that faced a large window.

“Ah, Marnie,” the General said her name as if they were long time friends. Never mind the fact that he had called her by her ID number last time he had talked to her. “I’m glad you could join us this afternoon.”

As if she had a choice.

“Good to see you again, Sir General,” she responded stiffly.

The men seated with the General shared a confused look.

The General’s face turned slightly red and he stood up quickly.

“Here’s how this is going to work.” He stepped closer to Marnie. “The prisoners will be brought into that room, where I will interrogate them. You will sit in here with my friends and record everything they are thinking.”

“Will they be able to see me?” Marnie asked.

The General looked down at her.

“Sir,” she added.

He rolled his eyes. “No, the window is one way. You can see them but they can’t see you.”

“Interesting,” she responded.

One of the soldiers stepped forward and removed the cuffs from around her wrists. She itched at the sore skin.

“And no speaking to the prisoners. If you’ll have a seat, we’ll get started.” The General motioned to the chair he had previously occupied.

Marnie sat down slowly, directly between the two other men. A mini port sat on the table in front of her, nothing else.

“I don’t know how to use one of these,” she said quickly.

The General furrowed his brows. “You’re kidding, right?”

Marnie glared at him. “They don’t exactly supply them in the Sectors. Perhaps a pencil and paper?”

The General turned to a soldier standing guard at the door.

“Get the Exceptional a paper and pencil.”

Marnie cleared her dry throat. “Oh, and some water, too… Sir.”

The General nodded to the soldier. Once Marnie had her requested supplies to record the prisoners’ thoughts, and a giant glass of water, the General stepped into the interrogation room. Minutes later the first prisoner arrived.

He was an older man, much older than Marnie was used to seeing. He had long white hair and a thick beard, and his skin was dark and leathery from time spent outdoors. His appearance reminded Ally of some of the older Exceptionals outside of the City, except this man was Ordinary.

The man sat down in the lone chair in the room, and the General leaned against the desk.

“What’s your name?” The General asked.

And so began a long afternoon of question after question and prisoner after prisoner. The first two had committed smaller crimes, ones that made it seem silly for the General to use Marnie for questioning. Then she realized that he was testing her abilities, and whether or not she would tell the truth.

The remaining four prisoners were all Rebels from outside Zone D, captured and brought in by soldiers. Their minds were filled with horrible thoughts and plans for murder and destruction in Zone D. She was having trouble writing their thoughts down and had to request that the General pause a few times.

She wished that Evan were there to talk through it all with her. It might have made her slightly more comfortable. Maybe.

The interrogation of the six prisoners lasted until well after dinner. Before the last two prisoners a soldier had delivered her some dinner, which Marnie had scarfed down. After the General had dismissed her, she was escorted back to the large, steel door she had entered through.

She sighed with relief when she saw that Evan stood on the other side. He offered her a small smile and turned to lead her back to her room.

“So, how was it?” he asked once the door behind them had closed.

“Long. Frustrating. Almost unbelievable,” she responded. She knew she could come up with more descriptive words if she tried.

“I’m guessing they had your listen in on Rebel interrogations? Those are the ones the General takes most seriously.”

She nodded. “I’ve only heard a story here or there about the Rebels. I had no idea that they caused so much trouble or that they had such bad plans for Zone D.”

“They are getting worse,” Evan told her. “They are getting bolder and finding new ways to be destructive. They’ve been breaking into Zone D and a few of the southern Sectors these past few months. I can tell the General is thinking about taking a bigger action against them.”

“From what I heard in their minds, I think that is a good idea.”

They stepped onto the elevator and Marnie braced herself against the wall as it started to move.

“Do you think the General can stop the Rebels?” she asked.

Evan looked over at her. “I think he can. It will just be a matter of whether or not it’s too late when he finally decides to try.”