Page 35 of Mindeater

“You might have Matthias convinced by your subservient act, but I see right through you. Rebel sympathizer and traitor.”

“Then arrest me,” I threaten. “If you have proof, that is.”

He holds my stare for long seconds before finally breaking the tension and smiling. “One day I will.”

I scoff and continue heading to sector three.

***

The tenement may as well be an exhibit. Refugees brought in will be exposed to the point of cruelty. Thick planes of glass wrap around the structure, leaving no dark corner to hide in. Glimpses of blinding fluorescent lights and Matthias’s violet eyes prick my mind, but I force them back. Avis keeps his distance, his stare fixed on my profile instead of the building.

“Fitting, don’t you think?” he asks casually, our earlier spat set aside for now.

“It’ll house refugees much like a burnt tree houses birds,” I say, my disapproval clear.

“Unlike a tree, they have a roof over their heads. More than they’ll find in the Barrens.”

“Of course.”

There’s a tentative brush of his mastery, like phantom fingers caressing my skull. I whip my head toward him. This isn’t the first time he’s tried to slip inside my thoughts, and I doubt it’ll be the last. I push back, our eyes locked. He struggles to keep his composure—the pitiful mental shield disintegrating like wet paper. As soon as I taste that first thought, I smile.

He breaks away first, sucking in a rough breath. “Count your days, Saren,” he growls and storms off.

I scoff.

Now that I’m alone, I scan the area. The Rows feel so much different than they did when I was younger. I finally see the fear in the humans’ eyes—and the rage, too. While I would still argue that New Grove is better than the alternative, I’m not blind to the injustice. Children wear clothes that barely fit. Parents are thin, eating slop meant for livestock. In recent years, the alpha population has dwindled. I can hardly scent them anymore.

Betas and omegas are easier to control. That domineering, challenging energy is not as prominent.

Yet, even without their alphas, there’s resistance. The sheer amount of people I’ve eaten in the past six months is worrisome, and it has little to do with my insatiable appetite. The fires of rebellion are rising. I’ve overheard Matthias during his meetings with Horris and Lilah. They’re worried. Hence, the tenement. A reminder of where the true power lies and that residing within our community is a privilege, not a right.

If this new trade route is established with Red Hill, I can only imagine how hard the Telex fist will slam down. I’ve looked into the community. Not extensively, or else I’ll raise suspicions with Matthias, but enough to know that all those years ago, Ryx was right.

The mines.

The oil.

The trapped souls who live and die there.

One of New Grove’s best-kept secrets, that fell into my lap by chance. I only wish I’d believed the boy who told me first. I should have. Just thinking about him sends a sickness through my veins. A plague I’ve fought for years to avoid catching. After they took him away, I did try to escape.

When I was weak.

When I had no chance of succeeding.

Telex heal at an inhuman rate, but I still carry the scars of that failed attempt. They broke me, put me back together, and I let it happen. By the first seer, I was pathetic. A sniveling child with not enough sense to see the writing on the wall…

“CASUALTIES!”

I whirl around, facing the gate as numerous soldiers race from the barracks—Avis among them.

My guardian would insist I leave them to it. Council members do not engage in such affairs unless absolutely necessary. But this must be the convoy. As loath as I am to admit, I care what happens to our community and its members.

“Open the gates! Quickly!” Avis booms up to the sentries atop the wall.

Keeping my steps steady, I approach the growing crowd. Weary glances aim in my direction. The scream of metal on metal echoes through the courtyard as the decontamination chambers hiss. As the massive gates open, a choking engine and screams carry through.

Fuck.