Steven shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “We weren’t supposed to talk to you about this.”
“Vaguery!”
“Shh, alright.” Crystal says, sounding annoyed. “There’s a group of us, a rather large group, who are not especially happy with our current situation.”
“Your situation with the Colonies?”
“Our situation at this Colony.” Steven corrects.
“How is this one different than any others?”
“The first Colony was incredible. It was a lifesaver. People joined up willingly and it grew and grew until we had to branch out. New Colonies were formed, new Pods created. We traded with each other, we visited one another. You were allowed to go outside the gates and be in the world. It was dangerous but it was nice to walk free, to swim in the Sound, to visit the city. But as the Colonies expanded more and more the tone of things changed. They stopped talking about surviving and being a community. It became more about keeping the sickness out and maintaining the purity within. The doors were locked, people were assigned permanently to Pods and we lost contact with everyone else. Then the roundups started. They went into the city and gathered people, saying we were saving them from themselves and the illness. They were put to work. If they refused, they were taken away. People would disappear for days, sometimes weeks, and they’d come out looking broken. But they’d get right to work. It’s been going on this way for years.”
“That’s a generalization of all Colonies.” I say, feeling annoyed. “You said you’re unhappy with this one specifically. So you’re okay with all of that stuff? With being locked in and the roundups and us from the outside being taken prisoner?”
“It’s a posh prison compared to outside.”
“It’s still a prison.” I tell him hotly. “Just because you don’t want out doesn’t mean it’s not a cage.”
“But you see, we do want out. Or at least to go back home. When they brought all of us here to fix this place up they broke up families, something they’d never done before. They pulled parents from children, husbands from wives, sisters from brothers. They say the selection system is a lottery, that it’s random, but it’s not. It’s very specific.”
“Separating you from your families keeps you in line doesn’t it? It gives you the incentive to keep your head down.”
He nods grimly. When I glance at the others I can the tension in their faces. They’re all missing someone. “It’s a very good incentive, yes. One that we believe they felt the need to implement only recently. You see, Lexy told us your theory about the fallen Pod. We think you’re right.”
“Really? Because she didn’t seem to believe me. Or she didn’t want to.”
“She’s skeptical of everything.” Crystal says with distaste. “That’s why she’s dropped the ball with you.”
“What does that mean?”
“She was supposed to convince you to let her speak to the hornet a week ago. She’s not even trying anymore, is she?”
“No, she’s avoiding me actually.”
Crystal shakes her head, disgusted.
“Why didn’t you guys approach me?” I ask. “I would have taken any one of you to him immediately.”
“We were told not to talk to you about it.”
“By who? The Team Leaders?”
Steven chuckles. “No. By the others. Others like us.”
“Others who are unhappy?” I ask, picking up on what we’re not saying.
He nods. “But we got on with you too well too fast. It’s why Melissa pulled you out of here. She likes your relationship with Lexy because you don’t like each other. You obviously don’t trust each other.”
“And Melissa knows all of this how?”
“We’re watched very closely. This right now is actually very dangerous which is why any further communication will have to be with Lexy.”
“How can you go along with this?” I ask exasperated. “If you know they’re manipulating you and kidnapping people like me, how can you still be in favor of the Colonies?”
“We’re not in favor of it. Not exactly. We’re not ready to go out and live in the wild like you do, none of us would last a day, but we do want the old days of the Colonies. Back when it was a community all about survival and not—“
“A prison? A slave trade?”
Steven’s mouth drops into a grim line but he nods. “Yes, exactly.”
“As long as you’re in favor of people like me being allowed to live their life as they choose—“
“We are.”
“Then we’re good. I’m on board. But you still haven’t answered me, though I think I know the answer already. What does Lexy want to talk to Vin about?”
Steven meets my eyes with a sad smile. “Freedom.”
I nod. “I think that’s a conversation Vin would be willing to have.”
“Are you for real?” Vin asks Lexy, staring at her in amazement.
“Don’t be a dick.” I mutter to him.
I would rather he didn’t burn this bridge just as I built it up. It took days to get Lexy talking to me. Days of sitting beside her working on seams and never saying anything about my conversation in the kitchen. They told me to wait, to let her come to me. To let her take her time until she was ready. Steven and the rest of the kitchen crew promised to talk to Lexy and explain my willingness to bring her to Vin now that I knew what was what, at least a little. Still she made me wait.
Finally, on day four of the silent treatment, she broke down and asked again to speak to the hornet. I wanted to tell her no, just to watch her head explode. But I was too frustrated to bother so I told her I would make it happen.
The wild is very straightforward. All of this intrigue and drama here on the inside is giving me hives.
“No, really, I need to know.” Vin demands, having listened to her tell him the story the kitchen crew told me. “Is she being serious? Am I insane or am I getting this right? Because she isn’t actually saying what she wants.”
“I’ve made myself very clear.” Lexy says angrily.
I put my hand up to stop her. “Don’t fight fire with fire where Vin is concerned. You’ll only get burned.” I turn to face Vin, trying to be patient. “She hasn’t been clear, no, but you get the idea.”
He ignores me and glares at Lexy. “Say it in plain English or go away.”
I watch her grit her teeth but she doesn’t walk. I’m a little shocked by that. “We want help from The Hive.”
“Help with what?”
“With our release.” She takes a breath and her voice softens. “You’re not the only prisoners here.”
Vin chuckles darkly. “Honey, they won’t even help with my release. They don’t care anything about yours.”
“Why not? Your people hate the Colonies. I’d think they’d jump at the chance to take one down.”
Vin snorts. “Not badly enough to risk the lives of everyone in The Hive. If they come here and you don’t succeed, they’ll all be taken prisoner as well. It’s not worth it. Not by a long shot.” He leans forward and folds his hands on the table, looking her hard in the eye with his charming smile. “Now, if you want to free me, I’m all for that. I’ll go ask them to come rushing back here, but don’t be surprised when no one shows.”
“Not even you?” Lexy asks, glancing at Nats and I sitting on either side of Vin. “Not even for them?”
“Not for anyone.” he replies, no hesitation.
She shakes her head. “I can’t believe that.”
“Believe it.” I tell her. “It’s how it is in the wild. It’s how you survive.”
“Kitten’s right. You can’t value anyone or anything too much.”
“Which is why you have to offer The Hive more. Way more than just Vin or a shot at destroying this place.” I say evenly, wondering what the hell I’m doing.