“But they have you.”
I tried to laugh, but it turned into a coughing fit. “So does Karla and Vinco. Don’t think I can do anything for the scrubs, but keep my mouth shut and hope Vinco’s knife slips.” Slips into my neck and ends my time here. During our last session, I lost my grip on my metal barrier and almost told Vinco everything.
“You are the reason I’m here,” Riley said. “If you remember, I didn’t get involved to find Gateway. But to find a way to improve living conditions in the lower levels. I talked to Doctor Lamont and there is a way to even things out between uppers and lowers. The Force of Sheep is worried about being caught, but they’re also motivated.”
“Why?” I figured they would do what they had done before and lay low.
“Because of you.”
“Me? You’ve got to be joking.”
“You’re right. I am. It’s really because of Sheepy. How he risked his life for them, and how he showed them that scrubs are real human beings who care and want the same things in life. Opened their eyes to the fact the Travas are our mutual enemy.”
“Sheepy’s a great guy…er…sheep.”
“He is. But he’s going to be mutton chops soon if he doesn’t fight back.”
Energized I raised my head and glared at Riley. “Hard to fight back when I’m cuffed to the bars.”
“Your legs don’t work?”
“Vinco’s built like a tank. Have you tried to resist him?” I demanded.
“Yes. If you remember, extra duty is being Vinco’s sparring partner. Except he has a weapon and you don’t.” He rubbed his left forearm.
I remembered Riley’s bloody sleeve. “Then you know how hard it is.”
“I never said it would be easy. Giving up is easy.”
I grumbled.
“Vinco isn’t very smart. If you do decide to try resisting, there is a package for you in the heating duct right near the vent.”
“Who..?”
“Logan rigged Zippy to deliver it to you.”
“Hard to get it out with solid iron bars acting as a vent cover.”
“Think about it,” Riley said.
I grudgingly realized Logan would know about the bars and probably packed the gift so I could pull it through. I wiggled my fingers. My hands were swollen, and the metal cuffs had ripped the skin off my wrists.
“All you need to do is free yourself from those cuffs,” he said as if commenting on the food in the cafeteria.
“But the Force of Sheep doesn’t need me. You have Logan for the computer stuff and Anne-Jade building anti-stunners. In fact, by staying here, I’m keeping Vinco and Karla busy for you.”
“That’s mighty nice of you. But don’t you think you’ve suffered enough? Or do you still feel guilty for Cog’s loss?”
I sputtered, fuming. “You act like I can just saunter out of here. I didn’t ask to be tortured. If it was up to me, I’d have been Chomper’s dinner hours ago.”
He sighed. “It’s going to be hard to tell Sheepy that Trella has given up. To tell him that fierce, spunky scrub I first met is gone.”
I refused to comment.
“Poor Sheepy will be sad. He’ll miss his best friend.”
“He’s a toy, Riley. He’ll get over it.”
