“Where should we go?” Bette asked in a shaky voice.
“Not here,” I muttered even though there were multiple empty tables.
Malika had passed us in line but was dragging her feet, and Bette and I caught up with her before we’d made it halfway across the dining room.
“Outside?” She kept her voice low like she didn’t want anyone to hear.
I looked around, taking in the fertility counselors whose job titles had apparently suddenly been changed to minders, as well as the soldiers. When we’d arrived in the dining room, I’d been so hungry I hadn’t paid attention to how many soldiers were present, but there were at least a dozen. And that was just in this room. They were all armed with automatic weapons, too. Why? What did they think was going to happen?
“Yeah,” I replied, as a sense of foreboding came over me. “Let’s get out of here.”
Bette, Malika, and I were silent as we wound our way between tables, each of us carrying plates piled with food that was now doubly repulsive than it had been before my altercation. The thought of taking even one bite turned my stomach, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it down if I tried. The problem was, I was pretty sure that if I didn’t eat, one of theminderswould notice. Since I didn’t want to draw any more attention to myselfthan I already had, I needed to figure out a way to make it look like I’d eaten at least a little.
There were more soldiers outside. A lot more. They patrolled the perimeter like prison guards, guns clasped tightly in their hands and their expressions stony. I scanned their faces as I followed Bette and Malika to a table, searching for Ramirez. Being outside, masks weren’t mandated, so he wasn’t wearing one, and seeing his entire face was a comfort. Although not much of one. If only I could call Trevor and cry to him.
Since Bette and Malika – who I didn’t know at all but had admired since my first group session – were all I had at the moment, I shifted my focus to them as we settled around a table.
“What the fuck was that?” Malika hissed after she’d ripped off her mask, revealing a sneer that was almost as scary as the minder’s threats had been.
“I don’t know.” Bette’s voice shook as she, too, removed her mask. “But am I the only one who felt like I was going to get detention? I mean, that’s just weird.”
“Forget detention,” I muttered. “I felt like I was about to be thrown in a cell.”
When Bette’s eyes widened, I immediately regretted my words. I didn’t know why, but I felt protective of her. Like a big sister. Which was nuts because I’d never had a sibling.
Malika was nodding, but I barely registered it because I was too busy scanning the surrounding tables. With their masks off, I was able to get a good look at the other women for the first time. Like the group I’d come in with, they ranged in age, appearance, and race. Despite our differences, though, we all had one thing in common. We were all fertile, and because of it, we were property of the United States government and totally at their mercy. It made me want to vomit, and the sensation only grew worse when more than a dozen chimes sounded. I looked at my wristband while around the courtyard, other women did the same. It was eight o’clock here, which meant it was time for a temperature check. Again, I scanned the faces of the other women, wondering if any of them had just found out they were fertile, if they would be inseminated tomorrow, and when it would be my turn again.
Twenty-Nine
The meal was mostly silent, with Malika chowing down while Bette and I did our best to make it look like we were eating by pushing food around our plates. When we were finished, the three of us returned to the dining room where several minders stood next to the depleted buffet, bins of dirty plates in front of them as they barked orders at us. Again, I felt like I was in school.
“Scrape any leftover food into the trashcan and place your dirty plate in the bin,” one said in a schoolmarm tone. “Cutlery goes in the second bin and glasses in the third. Stack them, please. We don’t want them to break.”
With my mask once again in place, they couldn’t see my scowl as I obediently scraped my food into the trash, which I was grateful for. I had no desire to be threatened for a second time tonight.
When I’d cleaned my plate, I followed orders and placed it, my cutlery, and my glass in the proper bins. Then I stood to the side and waited for Bette and Malika.
When I spotted Hilary talking to the minder from earlier, my stomach dropped. Great. As if my fertility counselor didn’t dislike me enough.
When Bette and Malika had joined me, we followed the line of fertile women heading for the door. Once again, the minders were ready with instructions.
“Your luggage has been delivered to your room,” a tall woman with light brown skin said in a much kinder tone than the ones inside the dining room had used. “We know it’s been a long day, so please go to your room and get settled in for the night. Breakfast will begin at seven tomorrow morning and conclude at nine. Be sure you’re up in time.”
“What if we’re not tired?” a woman a few feet in front of me asked.
The minder didn’t hesitate before saying, “It’s time to turn in for the night.”
The woman who’d asked the question blinked in confusion, but the minder’s unyielding expression must have been enough to convince her that she didn’t have a choice, because she said nothing else before moving on.
The minder continued giving instructions. “After breakfast tomorrow, there will be a briefing where you’ll get more information about what your stay here will be like. In the meantime, be sure to get some rest. Remember, your health is of the utmost importance.”
“What about calling our family to let them know we’re okay?” someone I couldn’t identify asked, while another woman called out, “Is there WIFI? My phone doesn’t have reception.”
The corners of the minder’s eyes wrinkled, indicating she was smiling behind her mask. “The Department of Fertility has sent word to any family you have, letting them know you’ve made it to your destination safely. You’ll receive more information about contacting them yourselves tomorrow. As far as WIFI goes, that, too, will be addressed tomorrow. In the meantime, please proceed to your rooms.”
She’d saidfamilyhad been contacted, but what about those of us who didn’t have any? Trevor was all I had, which was why he was listed as my emergency contact. And I couldn’t be the only person in that position, not with the pandemics that have plagued our lives. Had the government bothered touching base with people who weren’t blood relatives? I wasn’t sure but knew by the minder’s repeated comments that I wouldn’t get any answers today. It was also very clear that we were expected to get to ourrooms as soon as possible.
Malika, Bette, and I headed upstairs with the rest of the women, passing minders and armed soldiers. Most of the former repeated what we’d already been told, telling us to rest as much as possible, while the latter watched us with unemotional expressions.
