Page 63 of The Red Woman on Mars

Vivian took Xavier’s hand in hers, careful not to squeeze. His calloused thumb rubbed roughly across her palm. “Go,” he said in an undertone. “I know how to handle Silas.” He’d said as much, hadn’t he? With the weapons drawn, Vivian had no choice but to trust Xavier knew what he was doing.

Delilah grabbed Vivian firmly by the arm and pulled her away. Without speaking, they walked briskly down unadorned corridors until they reached a room and opened the door.

As Vivian caught her breath, she looked around, seeing a neatly made double bed, papers strewn over a desk, and a line of several sets of military boots. Handwritten charts and lists covered the walls.

Delilah wrapped her arms around Vivian and held her tightly. “What were you thinking coming here?”

Vivian pulled back, holding Delilah’s arms. “What wereyouthinking? Mom and Dad need us.”

Delilah looked away. “I know. Mitzi, she—I just couldn’t stay. You wouldn’t understand.”

Vivian rubbed Delilah’s shoulders. “It doesn’t matter right now. We’re going to get you out of here. Xavier is making Silas an offer. He said he’d do whatever it takes.”

Delilah barely seemed to hear her words. “Do you have a way out of this dome?” she asked urgently. “Could you get there without Xavier?”

Vivian jerked her hands away. “Without Xavier? What are you talking about?”

“You heard Silas, didn’t you? He’s been waiting to have Xavier in his power for a long time. Silas isn’t going to let Xavier leave here alive.” Delilah was shaking. “The childhood resentment goes deep.”

“Childhood resentment? Delilah, it’s Xavier who hates Silas. And with good reason! When Silas was in his twenties, he seduced Xavier’s younger sister when she was only fifteen. He got her pregnant, and she nearly died from the complications.”

Delilah’s face was stark white. “You need to get out of here before they decide they want to keep you too. At least you aren’t pregnant.”

“ ‘They’? Who are you talking about?” Vivian asked, her stomach in knots. “Delilah, we came here to rescue you.”

“Forget about me.” Delilah’s eyes were wild and her tone as serious as Vivian had ever seen. “Come on. There’s another exit through the back. We’ll hope Silas is too distracted by Xavier to look for you until you’re safely away.” When she opened the door, Vivian heard an anguished scream. “You have to go. Now.”

Vivian’s heart rate doubled. Another scream. “Is that Xavier?” Could Xavier make a noise like that? It barely sounded human. What was Silas doing to him? “Delilah, please … I asked him tocome here. I will not abandon him. And I won’t abandon you.” Vivian pulled her sister back into the room. “Tell me what’s going on. Let’s make a plan. Please, Delilah.”

Delilah returned to the room and began hunting through the narrow closet. “Silas won’t hurt me, not while I still carry Yarrow’s designer fetus. They need me. And Silas will still need me afterward, if he wants me to bear his own.”

“What?Delilah, what are you saying?”

Delilah gave a despairing little laugh. “It’s the same here, isn’t it? Everywhere we go, someone is trying to control our bodies.” She thrust a gun into Vivian’s hand. “Here’s the safety. Look through here to aim.”

Vivian took the gun with shaking hands. “I thought guns were illegal on Mars. You can crack the domes and kill everyone nearby.”

“Do you think Silas cares about following the law? I’m almost positive this is the sole gun in the building, from the way he brags about it. That should help you out if you get into any trouble sneaking out.”

“I’m not leaving without Xavier.”

Delilah looked away, biting her lip. Another piercing scream echoed from the hall. She let out a long breath. “Fine. I’ll help you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

3 Sols to Presentation Day

Vivian couldn’t control her rapid breathing. She wasn’t strong enough to do this. She’d always followed her mother’s advice and avoided danger, suppressing her ambitions in order to make her life as small and safe as possible.

But she couldn’t abandon Xavier.

The hallway stretched for an eternity. With every step she took, she could hear Xavier’s frayed voice, growing more and more inhuman.

Clipped steps sounded in the hall, and Delilah grabbed her arm and dragged her through a door and into another bedroom. Delilah listened intently at the door frame. Her sister seemed to have grown up all at once. Gone was the silly girl and in her place was a serious woman honed by her circumstances. All Delilah had wanted was to find love. And instead, she’d gotten Mitzi and now Silas.

“Come on,” Delilah murmured, and opened the door.

The screams reverberating down the hall were ragged now. What was Silas doing to him? Were his soldiers content to stand by and watch?