“You read these at your leisure. No rush, but these packets are an entire rundown on Proctus and its comings and goings. Do make sure you read them at some point, however. They are important.
“Alright. Let’s get you fed and then show you where you’ll be living during your time here in Proctus.”
She tells us to wait here while she returns with food. It’s another ten or fifteen minutes before Katherine arrives again with another Angelic in tow. They carry trays of food for each of us and hand them off, waiting in front of the room while we eat.
The food on our plates is fresh, which is surprising. Fresh-grown vegetables, cheese, and a nicely put-together sandwich. I’m finished in minutes. Ezra, on the other hand, eats half of what’s on the tray, but I’m glad to see he’s consumed something of substance.
“Finished?” Katherine asks.
“Yes, thank you,” I say.
“Thanks,” Atlas mumbles.
Ezra nods.
“Shall we show you to your places?”
She introduces the other Angelic: Bobby, who sports a long pixie cut in a vibrant purple, with faux gold glasses to match.They smile and wave, a gesture that eases some rooted tension since waking in the warehouse. When Ambrosia said we needed to cooperate, I didn’t have sedatives and bonds in some warehouse in mind.
Bobby’s assigned to Atlas. Me and Ezra, however, are with Katherine. We say strained goodbyes with Atlas before parting our separate ways. Ezra appears crestfallen, then tries to mask his expression with a more upbeat, positive one. I don’t buy it for a second.
Katherine shuffles into a room housing our backpacks. She acts ignorant about the Glock’s disappearance, but I decide it best not to pry any further. I suppose the gun isn’t needed anymore, anyway.
The warehouse is near the location of the place we’ll be staying, so we don’t have much walking to do. We’re on the main street at the heart of the town, passing through old brick buildings with a nostalgic feeling I love. It’s homely, to a certain degree. Katherine rummages for the keys in her pocket and unlocks the door to a set of stairs leading up. We climb after her, the steps groaning beneath our feet, but the noise is comforting, in a way.
“You have the entire apartment to yourselves. It’s a one-bedroom, newly renovated and furnished. Esther is ensuring we make every occupiable space feel new and homey.”
A random surge of excitement blooms in my chest.
“Welcome home,” Katherine says and unlocks the door.
Chapter 50
Atlas
Separating from Ezra and Conin incites an epiphany. When they walked away, my heart and body felt the magnetic pulse increase, begging to close the space between us. It’s strange being apart from them now that they’ve remained a staple in my everyday life over the past week. And the worst part of this all?
I’m attracted to them both. No matter how hard I deny it, it’s the irrefutable truth. I think I understand now, partially, what pa meant in the motel, proffering my big heart like it’s no big deal. Because of that, I’m drowning in the demise of my emotional promiscuity.
Can you call this jealousy? Maybe. I’ve had my fair share of jealous plights, but nothing to this extreme. Conin and Ezra love each other. They’re childhood best friends, so on top of their infatuation are years of history that I don’t share. I’m scrambling for ways to cast the idea of them out of mind, but that frustration returns.
(God! When did I stoop this low? Pining after people I can’t have?)
Watching Ezra and Conin kiss was even worse. I tried to act like it hadn’t bothered me, playing the part of a flustered boy who was caught accidentally watching an intimate moment between two lovers.Twolovers. Would the idea of another partner be too much for them to fathom? The thought had certainly crossed my mind on numerous occasions. I’ve never been in one (a polyamorous relationship), but that’s me, and I know it. It’s just . . . particularly in Utah, a part of oneself that’s deeply frowned upon. (I’m looking at you, Joseph Smith.)
There’s a connection between us three and it’s more than just the tether that keeps me bonded to Ezra. Imposing might ruin the friendship I think we’ve created over their time at the bunker. A week ago, I had no idea who these two were. Now, it’s like . . . they’ve always been a part of my life. It’s hard to imagine one where their friendships aren’t valued. It would be nothing short of a miracle if Conin and Ezra felt the same.
Bobby taps me gently on the shoulder. I’m so engrossed that by the time we reach our destination, I can’t remember why we’re here. We’re in front of a trailer home surrounded by a community of more trailer homes.
“I’ve been assigned here?”
Bobby’s sheepish as they try to mask their discomfort.
“It’s not glamorous,” they say (truly the understatement of the century), “but this is where we pair, um . . .lone wolveswith others so they’re not on their own. See it as a buddy system—a means to have someone always watching your back.”
Lone-fucking-wolves?
“You can just say people who don’t have a family,” I deadpan.
