I just sat there on the floor, unsure of what to do. Of all of the things he could of said, I never expected that. Go with him? But where? Lucas was hardly ever in camp and when he left, no one knew where he went. He always insisted on going alone, so why did he suddenly want me to come along? Aside from the obvious reason that I refused to admit.
The dull aching in my wrist snapped me back to the room and I sighed, hauling myself to my feet. There was already a blue bruise starting to form on my skin and I knew that I should get something on it to prevent swelling. The last thing I needed was to be injured if Lucas really was going to make me go out into the jungle.
The supply hut wasn't that far and I slipped in silently, trying to be unnoticed. The other sixers had grown accustomed to my presence, but it was common knowledge throughout the camp that I didn't want to be there so they all kept a close eye on me. What did they think I was going to bolt or something? Where did I have to run to?
The guard inside shot me a look but I ignored him as I pushed open one of the heavy crates, reaching in and feeling for what I was looking for. My hand closed around a thin cylinder and I pulled it out nodding as I saw that it was what I wanted. I spun off the cap and shook a few drops of the mixture onto my wrist then practically sighed as I felt the coolness spread through my wrist. Isocon. Thank God for the little medication we had. With any luck the swelling in my wrist would go down in a few hours.
Now that that was done, my mind went back to what I could do to distract myself from what was happening the next morning. I glanced around the room and my eyes landed on one of the food crates. Of course. I knew the sixers would notice if I took too much so I slipped silently over and gathered only a few things. A piece of bread, a mango and a bag of nuts. It wasn't much but I was sure it would do. Bunching up my shirt, I hit the food in the folds and ducked out of the room.
My sleeping cabin was one of a handful on that side of the camp. They all looked almost identical but I knew where I was going. Past my own room, down along the bridges for a way and then finally I was there.
"Deb?" I called softly as I rounded the corner and made my way into the room. It was still relatively dark but in the dull rays of the light I could make out the low cot and the person lying in it. "It's me. How are you do-" The words froze on my tongue as I realized that I wasn't the only one in the room. I tensed, expecting a sixer guard but when the figure turned to me, I saw that it was only a girl.
She was young, maybe around sixteen or seventeen with wavy light brown hair and serious blue eyes. I had never seen her face before but immediately I knew who she was.
"Who are you?" the girl asked, her tone hesitant and guarded. I didn't blame her. I had heard stories about Skye and her mother. Looks like I wasn't the only one being used against my will.
"My name's Tess." I said, careful not to move from where I was. I didn't want to intimidate her at all and I could tell that she was very protective of her mother. "I brought this." I unrolled my shirt and let the food fall into my hands, holding it up so she could see. "I wasn't sure if Mira's men were feeding her enough."
"It's alright Bucket." Mrs. Tate said, lightly touching her daughter's hand. "I know her. She's a friend."
I smiled. "Hi Deborah, how are you feeling?"
"Much better thanks to your food rations. Thank you Tess."
Skye's look of confusion melted into one of relief and she smiled at me gratefully. "Thank you." She said softly and I nodded to show her I understood.
"It's alright. My mother is back in 2149 but if she were here I'd want someone to be taking care of her too."
I slowly came into the room and knelt down, placing the food on the bed side table, then I turned back to Skye. "You must be Skye."
Fear and suspicion flashed in her eyes so I quickly added, "Your mom told me about you."
"Mhmm." Deborah said softly and we both turned to her to see that her eyes looked heavy and lidded.
"Here," I slowly unfolded my legs and extending a hand to Skye, "why don't we talk outside?"
Skye hesitated, but then nodded and took my hand, allowing me to help her up.
"Look," I said, when we were out of the room, "you don't have to worry. I promise I'll take care of her while you're gone. Your mom is the closest I have come to company since I got here-"
"What are you doing here?" Skye asked, cutting me off. "Are you one of-"
"One of them?" I asked, not even bothering to mask the disgust in my voice. "No. Never. I came through on the eighth pilgrimage so I'm not a sixer."
"Then what are you doing here?" Skye asked, the question I knew would be next.
For a moment I thought about telling her, but then I thought better of it and just said, "It's a long story."
Skye looked like she wanted to say more so I quickly changed the subject.
"I've heard your name around camp. You're quite a big deal."
"Yea." Skye said softly. "Lucky me." She looked down at the ground and I immediately felt guilty for having said anything.
"You're not the only one." I said quietly and almost on cue I heard someone call my name.
"Tess!"
The word was sharp and angry, the same way it had been this morning. Mira. Skye tensed and I automatically put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You should probably go." I said softly, guessing that she, like any sane person, wanted to avoid Mira. "Just pretend you've been with your mom this whole time. From the tone of her voice I'm guessing I'm in trouble, again, so you probably don't want to be associated with me." I smiled and winked, trying to erase the tension from the conversation we just had.
Skye nodded and went to go back into the room, but at the last second she paused and turned back.
"I know you probably don't want to be here any more than I do." She said. "But thank you. For being here. For looking after her."
I nodded knowing, despite the fact that I refused to tell her my story, some part of her trusted me.
"Your welcome." I said, then I turned and headed off to find Mira.