“It’s really quiet,” I spoke, and it was like a sonic boom attacking the quiet.
“We encourage all our residents to sleep early. Our lights out is nine, but many choose to go to bed earlier. Rest is so important when you’re in a stressful situation.”
“That’s true,” I nodded. My stomach flooded with warmth, and I realized it was joy. Not the result of eating something spicy and questionable from a dumpster. I felt... nearly happy.
“You’ll be on the right, top bunk. There are nightlights in all the rooms, so please do not turn on the overheads and disturb your roommates. We’re lucky this was once a school for young pups. Each room has its own half-bathroom. Do you require any hygiene products tonight?" The Beta sister glanced behind her, head tilting as if she heard something I didn’t. But then she focused back on my face.
I thought back to The Eros Institute and Beta Love burning all my things.
“I don’t have anything now,” I admitted, “I... lost it all.” How do you explain that you let yourself be poked and prodded and that all your stuff got scorched?
“Ah, not an issue. I should have inquired earlier. Stay right here and I’ll get those things for you.” Sister Grant turned heel and disappeared.
Josie chose then to meow inside the bag, her kitten patience finally wearing out. I unzipped the top just enough to let in a little air. “Just be patient a bit longer. They won’t let us stay if they find you.”
I swear animals understood humans.
The clicking of Sister Grant’s shoes announced her return. She handed me a little plastic bag, not unlike the kind you get at the dentist, and then opened the door to allow me entrance.
“Sleep well, Tessa,” she quietly bid me goodnight.
“I will,” I whispered. “Thank you so much.”
I scurried inside, the gift bag rustling and the briefcase jostling Josie. Thank God she’d kept quiet, but the minute the door clicked closed, shepushed hard against the bag and made a hiss grunt hybrid noise. I moved to the bathroom first, trying to make no sound, and relieved myself. Then I found my way to the right bunk bed, crawling up the ladder with some strained effort. As soon as I was settled, cringing as the metal creaked and the whole piece of furniture shifted slightly, I took the bag off and tipped it over. After unzipping it fully, I parted the sides so Josie could extract herself. It was good she wasn’t a huge cat. Small and scrappy like me.
She pawed at the course blanket for a moment, stretched, and then acted like it was just another box in an underpass. She moved to the upper corner by the pillow, circled several times, and curled into a ball.
Following her example, I laid down. Every part of me seemed to ache as it sunk into the mattress. It was too soft. My body wasn’t accustomed to that kind of luxury anymore.
But I fell asleep so quickly, as if I hadn’t truly slept in over twenty months.
13
TESSA
3 DAYS AGO...
I woke in a cold sweat,the memory of dream needles piercing my skin so vivid that I instinctively touched my neck, even though the pain there was minimal now. I was disoriented for a moment, forgetting where I was, but the feel of Josie against my body, her gentle purr vibrating, brought me back to reality. Though I had an entire twin bed at my disposal, I’d somehow contorted my body into the fetal position as if I was still sleeping in a box. That habit couldn’t be cured by one night’s rest against a proper mattress. I shifted slightly to stretch my legs out, the bunk bed groaning in protest, and stifled a yawn. Every inch of me still ached like it had survived playing road chicken with an eighteen-wheeler, but my mind was less fogged-over. You don’t realize you’re running on fumes until you stop driving. Until the engine sputters to a halt. Given time to recover, your pain becomes piercingly obvious.
"I’m Lily. Are you new here?"
I jolted as a cheery, sunflower voice flooded over me. It was too early, and life was too shitty, for someone to sound like that. The innocence and brightness and hopefulness in her tone should be illegal in a place like this, where the lonely and lost came to roost.
“Did you hear me?” The voice pressed atme with perky persistence.
I closed my eyes. Maybe if I pretended to fall back asleep, she’d leave me alone.
"I can see your eyes moving under your eyelids.” There was a hint of amusement in her voice. “I’m the reigning champ of faking sleep, so you can’t fool me.”
I sighed and cracked one eye open. Blocking my view of the room beyond the bunk bed was a halo of frizzy ginger hair surrounding a round, freckled face. She’d attempted to tame her mane with a chipped claw clip gathering the top half. Unfortunately, her efforts had done little good.
“So, as I was saying. I’m Lily.” She bounced a little, bringing her hand up and pushing it toward me. I shook it awkwardly, the safety rail of the upper bunk creating an obstacle. After a few beats of silence, Lily rolled her eyes and grinned, showing off a cute gap between her front teeth. “And this is the part when you say your name and we become fast friends.”
I couldn’t help myself; I laughed. And when I laughed, Josie woke up, growling in protest.
“Ohhhhh,” Lily’s nearly lavender eyes widened. “Shut. The. Front. Door.” She hopped down from where she’d been perched on her mattress and proceeded to climb up the ladder to sit cross legged on the end of my mattress. She was wearing a shorts and tank pajama set. The top had a big cartoon sun splashed across the front. I had to scurry out of her way, sitting up too fast and making my head spin.
Pushing Josie behind my body and out of view, I stiffened at the intrusion.
