26
Ellyssa was amazed how close the storage room was to where she’d been staying the last few weeks. Not once had she heard scraping boxes, or people filing in and out for supplies.
She opened the closest box and pulled out an industrial can of peaches, like the ones the cafeteria at The Center served. She folded the lid down and placed it on top of another box with the same contents.
“You should see this place when it’s full,” Trista said, carrying a carton marked with a red cross. “This is nothing.”
“How long will this last?”
Trista looked around. Beside the one box of medical supplies, the few remaining boxes held a dwindling stockpile of food. “Maybe a week, with hunting.”
“I am amazed you have this much.”
“We get a lot of help.” Trista set the medical supplies next to the doorway. “So, what’d you think of the council members?”
Ellyssa pushed a large box against the wall as she thought about her newly assigned duties.
Yesterday, a council meeting had been held. Unfortunately, it had been Jason who escorted Ellyssa to an unfamiliar part of the cavern, where the meetings were held. Distrustful of him, she’d kept her mind open to his thoughts.
The images she’d received had been twisted, violent…and lustful.
Ellyssa had prevented herself from taking him down right then. Thoughts were thoughts. Actions were what counted and, so far, he hadn’t done anything.
When they’d reached the meeting room, Jason had entered first, brushing against her as he passed. His brief touch had caused nausea to roll in her stomach. He was lucky she’d fought the impulse that had swelled inside her. Maintaining her composure, she’d pretended nothing had happened.
Woody had smiled encouragingly as Ellyssa had entered the tiny room, furnished with an old, rectangular table and metal folding chairs, like the researchers used during training at The Center. She’d made her way to sit next to him, then met the other council members.
Eric, who was fifty—his grandparents among the original survivors—had caramel skin, like he was from Eastern descent, and hair a shade lighter than his complexion. He was friendly, and shook her hand when he introduced himself, as if they were old friends.
Brenda, the only other female council member, was about forty, with premature greying hair and big eyes framed in blond lashes. By the way she spoke and presented herself, Ellyssa had determined that she was very intelligent. She had found out later, after the meeting, that Brenda had defected from society about twenty years ago.
“They were very accommodating,” Ellyssa finally replied to Trista’s question.
“Rein?” Trista asked.
The mention of his name let loose butterflies in Ellyssa’s chest. Was he back? Hopeful, she turned toward the bouncy blonde. “Has he returned?” she asked.
Trista frowned. “No.”
“Oh.” Ellyssa poked around in a box, trying to hide her disappointment. “What about him?”
“You know, what do you think?”
Taken aback, Ellyssa gawked at her. “About Rein?” She felt the heat creeping up her neck. Was this girl talk? She’d never participated in the social custom of talking about boys. Not that she’d ever participated in anything more than flat, emotionless speech.
A sly smile curled Trista’s lips. “Well?”
Flustered, she felt heat rise in her cheeks. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I am supposed to think.”
Scrunching up her face, Trista thought for a moment. “Do you like him?”
Ellyssa felt an urge to look away. She clicked her tongue, secretly relishing the feeling of embarrassment, while buying time to find an answer. Should she admit her feelings? Trista’s eyebrows arched above her blue eyes while she waited.
“Yes, I like him,” Ellyssa admitted.
“He likes you, too.”
Ellyssa’s lips curved into a smile. “How do you know?”
“The way he watches you.”
“And how is that?”
“Like this.” Trista peered intensely at Ellyssa and then wagged her eyebrows. “How’s it going, baby?” she said in a deep, sultry voice that wasn’t even close to mimicking Rein’s. “How about a kiss?” She puckered her lips and made dog-calling sounds, swaying her shoulders seductively.
Shaking her head, laughter burst forth from Ellyssa as if it had been waiting for the chance to spring forward. It was absolutely marvelous to allow the experience without worrying about punishment. Almost everything about the community had been positive, opening her to intense experiences she’d never fathomed possible with her upbringing.
Still giggling, Trista shoved more cans into a box as Ellyssa’s thoughts moved to Jeremy, the catalyst of her being here. She wondered why Trista never mentioned him or his ability. Maybe there was a reason Jeremy’s skill had been kept secret, and an even bigger reason hers had never been mentioned.
Instead, she said, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” Trista answered, grinning.
“What about Jason?”
Trista’s smile faltering, she said, “What about him?”
“I don’t know. It is just…” Ellyssa shrugged.
“He’s creepy,” Trista finished.
Ellyssa’s mouth twisted to the side as she nodded.
“He’s harmless enough. But I know what you mean. He’s a little weird.”
“Exactly. Where did he come from?”
“He was born here. His mother and father died in a cave-in, along with my parents. They were expanding this section of the cave so the supplies could be stored further away. You know, for safety reasons.”
Uncomfortable at the direction the conversation had turned, Ellyssa became impassive. “I am sorry. I did not know.”
Trista didn’t seem to notice the change in her demeanor, or her monotonous form of speech. “No need to apologize. It was a long time ago.”
Ellyssa couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose people you loved and depended on. Her closest understanding of feeling sorrow had been for Jordan, and that still felt like her heart had been removed without painkillers. Not knowing whether she should attempt to offer comfort or stay silent, she watched Trista, hoping for a telltale clue.
“Seriously. It happened years ago. I still miss them, but I choose to remember my parents with happy thoughts. I don’t want to dwell on the fact that they are gone.”
“What type of thoughts?” Ellyssa asked, genuinely curious.
“Well,” she replied, her face lighting up with pleasure, “things like my mother singing to me. She had a wonderful voice. And my father carrying me on his shoulders and pretending he was going to bang my head into the overhangs. Or, when we went outside and he’d toss me in the air. I thought he was the strongest person on the face of the earth. Invincible. Anyway,” she continued, “back to Jason. He’s harmless enough.”
“He has never hurt anyone?”
Trista frowned. “No. Never. Why would you ask that?”
“Just the way he looks at people, once in a while.” She folded the flaps of the box inward.
“That’s just the way he is.”
Ellyssa carried the box of peaches from the storeroom and followed Trista through the passageway linking the old coal mine with the cavern. The bulky boxes made navigation difficult, but both managed by turning their loads sideways.
A woman with auburn hair piled high on her head waited in the dining room. She took the box, offering Ellyssa a polite smile, and placed it on the edge of the serving pans.
“Looks like fruit for lunch,” she said. “Hunting was disappointing today.”
“That will be changing soon, Bertha. Ellyssa knows all about roots and scavenging in the woods. She’s going to show us how.”