“Cell?” She tilts her head in a show of curiosity.
I don’t want to deal with her, whoever the hell Kyle is, or anyone else for that matter. I want a blanket and a leg of lamb to gnaw on. “You answer my questions, and I’ll answer yours,” I propose.
“Or I could beat it out of you.” Her comeback is quick, as if she was anticipating such an offer.
“You could try, but I will warn you. I’m fucking freezing and desperate, and I bet wearing your skin would warm me right up.”
Her eyes bulge. “Gods,” she mutters as if the idea is insane, but I can’t even take credit for it. The male planted the thought in my head, and now skinning someone doesn’t sound half bad.
“When and where can I get food?’ I pose the question before she has time to realize I’m too weak to do much more than stand here and run my mouth.
“We only get access to the tavern when it’s our turn. Where’s Kyle?”
“No clue. When is that?”
“You could risk going now. Who are you?”
Something about the way she says “risk”gives me pause. “Briar. Why is it a risk to go now?”
Her face scrunches up when I say my name, like she thinks it’s horrible, not that I can argue. “Wandering around after dark isalwaysa risk.”
I take a chance by looking away from her in search of a window, or any other means to identify the time, but if there is one, I can’t find it. I recall the three people who left the barracks just as I entered. They didn’t seem too worried about it being after dark. “How do I find the tavern? Be very specific.” I don’t tell her I suck with directions and I’d be lucky to find it even if she drew a fucking map, but I’m sure she gets the message.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You think I have it memorized turn by turn or something? It’s on the third floor, west wing.” She rolls her eyes, which makes her seem young for the first time.
“What floor are we on now?”
“You haven’t answered any of my questions.”
“You haven’t asked any I could.”
“Where did you come from?”
I hesitate, thinking about my answer. If I tell her the Ivy, it could go either way. She could think I’m strong and not want to mess with me, or she could see me as a challenge she wants to best. If I lie, it may come out later, and that could be worse. Damn it, I hate feeling trapped. “I was traded from another institute.”
“What?” she scoffs, clearly not believing me.
“You have one more question,” I grit out through my teeth, pissed that she doubts me. Apparently, my pride got an undeserved boost while I was at the Ivy.
“Why are you here?” She doesn’t have to think about her question at all, it just flies from her mouth almost immediately.
“The same reason you are. To play a stupid fucking game for the gods.”
Her eyes grow wide again, but this time she looks around as if to see if anyone else heard my answer. “You better be careful talking like that. Someone is always listening.” She takes a step back from me, and I know without a doubt if I challenged her right now for her bunk, I would win by default because I’m certain she would walk away. Something about what I said frightened her, or maybe she’s afraid of whoever she thinks could be listening.
Whatever the reason, I use it to my advantage. “Tell me how to get to the tavern, and I won’t take your bed tonight.”
“Take the stairs across the hall up six flights.”
“Six flights?” I can’t keep the horror from my tone. “You said it was on the third floor,” I remind her.
“Yeah, you’re on sub three. I think you can do the math.” She’s getting a little more confidence back, so I should leave soon.
I spin and mutter, “Where’s a fallen when you could use one?” Climbing six flights might kill me, but I’d rather die trying to find food than crawling under a bunk and wasting away.
“I won’t need to worry about you taking my bed. You’ll be dead before the night’s through talking like that.”
I look over my shoulder to see the female dart her eyes down as if she didn’t expect me to respond. “I’d never be that lucky.” I push out the door with pure spite as my motivator.
