“Girls.”

We all turn to see three guards at the door.

“It’s okay,” they say. “Please read what you want.”

I realize no one is going to move so, taking a deep breath, I take a shaky step forward. I walk over to the shelves, and I reach up, taking the first book I see. It’s an old historic war book, but it looks like it might have a romantic element. The other girls watch me, their eyes still wary. When I take a seat on one of the soft couches, they slowly begin moving towards the shelves.

I read for three hours, just taking in the words, and enjoying the fact that I am allowed to do this. When I’ve tired of reading, I stand and walk out into the hall and make my way towards the large living area. There are six girls in here, and one of them is Number Twelve. She waves me over when I enter, and I tuck myself into a spot beside her.

They’re watching a movie about a rich girl and a poor boy falling in love, but their parents forbid their relationship.

“What’s this called?” I whisper to Number Twelve.

“It’s called The Notebook.”

I settle back into the couch and watch the movie right to the end. I decide it is definitely something I will put on my list of favorites.

“It’s time for dinner now, girls.”

We all stand when we hear Bill’s voice, and slowly, we all make our way back to our rooms, feeling refreshed and oddly content. Our dinner is already waiting for us by the time we get back, and we all go over quickly and take our seats. I lift the lid to my tray, and feel a big smile creep across my face. On the plate are a burger, and a pile of fries. Next to it, instead of milk, there is soda.

The other girls are smiling too when I glance at them.

I lift the burger with my hands, and bring it up to my mouth. I catch a smell, and my stomach rumbles. Yum. I take a bite, and the combination of beef, cheese, and sauce dance about on my taste buds. I eat a couple of fries, and that just completes the pleasurable experience. It tastes so good. I don’t ever remember food tasting this good.

By the time I’m done, I’m looking around for more. I could eat those every day. I cover my tray back up, and then pop into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I pull my long hair over my shoulder and plait it, relishing in the soft feel of it as my fingers run through the long locks. I nearly skip out of the bathroom. I haven’t felt so at ease since I’ve been here.

“If you continue to behave, this will occur more and more,” Bill says, coming in to collect our trays. “Goodnight, girls.”

I crawl into my bed, and I feel the warmth invading me once more.

They drugged the soda.

I sigh, and my eyes flutter closed.

Of course they did.

CHAPTER TWENTY

WILLIAM

Fire.

It’s like fire. I can feel it eating into my flesh. It’s burning every layer of skin as it moves down my skin, trickling onto my ear like an acidic snake. My own screams do nothing to erase or ease the pain. My vision blurs, and I’m sure I can hear a bubbling sound. Is that my eye? Is that the chemical devouring my skin?

I jerk upright, reaching up and grasping at the skin around my eye. My vision is wavering, and panic is seizing me. It takes a moment for me to realize I’m not being burned again, and that I’m safe. I run my fingertips over the bumpy flesh around my dead eye, and I sigh deeply, trying to steady my pounding heart.

Another nightmare.

That’s all it was.

I throw my legs over the bed and flick the lamp on. I run my hands through my disheveled hair, and swallow the bile that rose in my throat back down. I get to my feet and walk towards the door, opening it and staring out. Even though I know nobody is there. It doesn’t matter. I need to re-confirm that. I need to know that this is my space, that nothing can come in here.

You have control.

They can’t hurt you in here.

No one can.

“My name is Josh, and I’m filling in for Bill while he’s away. I’ll be with you for two days.”

I stare at the temporary guard standing in the room with a cocky smirk on his face. I don’t like him. There’s just something about him. Bill might be hard on us when he needs to be, but he follows William’s orders to complete perfectioneters,. He would never do anything he wasn’t allowed to do. This man, he seems like he’s enjoying the fact that he can push around a group of girls.

I don’t like him.

“I’ve been told that you’re in the kitchen today, so I suggest you get up and move. Now.”

I don’t like him.

We get out of our beds and eat our breakfast before dressing and following Josh into the kitchen. We get started as soon as we get in, doing our usual duties. We’re with a few of the others girls, and we all chat quietly as we work. We’re all used to each other now, and some of us are even forming nice friendships.

“Shut up.”

I hear Josh bark at us as he steps into the kitchen, and my blood boils. Bill let us talk—so long as we did our work, he let us talk. This man, he’s being a complete jackass. I glare at him, and his eyes widen. I turn back to my preparations, ignoring the feeling of his eyes burning into the side of my head.

We work through lunch, and when the day is over, Josh leads us back to our rooms. He steps in when we all sit on our beds, and I can feel the atmosphere in the room change. What is he doing in here? Why the hell does he think he can come into this space and just stand there?

“You two,” he growls, pointing to Number Seven and Number Twelve. “You’re to go help the other girls deliver the washing to the rooms before you retire for the night.”