I stare Ike down, not sure whether to slap him on the back, in the face, or just laugh out loud.
“That’s the plan?”
He shrugs. “It’s all we’ve got.”
“You want me to get thrown in solitary? On purpose?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but if they take you down to solitary, you’ll be close to the admin offices. I have a supply there, and it’ll be easier to dose you if there’s no one else around.”
“With Luck?”
Ike nods, a mischievous grin forming. “A kind donation from a VIP.”
I blink, trying to process the new information as it comes and failing miserably. Luck? That’s the best Frank can come up with, after all this time? Sure, it helped me out of a scrape or two when I zapped him and Harding in Emotiv, but I doubt it could stretch to this.
“It’s going to take more than just luck to get out of here,” I say grimly. “It’ll take a damn miracle.”
“That may be true,” Ike leans back against the shelves next to me. “But it’s a real good start. We get you dosed up, and when you get back to the dorms—”
“—If I get back to the dorms—”
“—when you get back, Kyla. I’m not about to let you rot in solitary confinement.”
I fold my arms over my chest, shivering uncontrollably, like I’m standing on a cliff edge looking over at the ground far, far below. I tuck my hands into my armpits to hide the shaking from Ike. It wouldn’t do to look like a coward right now, not when he’s tasking me with a prison break.
He carries on talking, but the words echo and jumble in my ears. I catch the odd detail here and there, but the fine details are lost on me. I ask him to repeat the plan two or three times before I finally hold my hands up.
“Okay, I give in. I’m freaking out. I can’t concentrate.”
Ike nods slowly. “I get it. It’s a big deal. Just focus on what you can do, okay? Leave the rest to me.”
He goes through my jobs, slowly and carefully, getting me to repeat them back to him before he moves on to the next step.
First, I cause some trouble to get taken to solitary. Nothing too serious, just enough to get a single night's stay. I have to choose the timing, because Ike is only on solitary duty once a week. Tomorrow is his next shift.
“Alright,” I say, trying to feign confidence, even though the shaking has become so bad that I can barely get words out anymore. “What then?”
“The next part is really up to me, but as soon as I’ve dosed you, I can send you back in with a second dose for Dani.”
A chill runs up my arms. I look Ike in the eyes. “And Caleb?”
His adams apple bobs as he gulps.
The chill turns into a cold sweat. I shake my head. “No. I’m not going anywhere without my brother. If I go, Caleb goes. If he stays, I stay.”
“Kyla, it’s not that simple,” Ike hisses. “If we don’t do this soon—”
“He’s my brother, Ike. And he’s here because of me. Do you think I’d really abandon my own brother here?”
He tries to lay a hand on my shoulder to comfort me, but I shake him off. He runs his hand through his hair instead, visibly irritated. “I get it, Kyla. I’m sorry. I can’t fit him into the plan, not yet. But if Caleb has any chance of ever getting out, we need as many of us on the outside as possible. Frank has people ready to move, but we need you.”
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I almost laugh. “What the hell do you need me for? I’ve only just fallen into this mess?”
“We need everyone we have right now. We don’t exactly have numbers on our side. But we do have knowledge.”
I rest my head back, closing my eyes. “I don’t know shit. I’m just a dumb worker who made some bad choices.”
“Followed by some great choices.” Ike says quietly. “You may not realise it, but you are making a difference. The supply you stashed in the warehouse? We used it to capture three wardens. Frank and Lena are using them for intel right now.”
I stay silent, not wanting to put my annoyance into words. If I told Ike how little I cared about the resistance in Skycross right now, would Frank give up the rescue effort?
Thinking of number one again, Kyla. Some things never change.
“That’s not all, though,” Ike continues. “I’ve seen how you’re caring for Dani in here. I see how you treat the other abandoned at Emotiv, and the other inmates. You look at people for what they are—people—you don’t act like they’re diseased or evil.”
Not anymore, maybe. But I did, once. I grimace, remembering when I first saw John enter the cafe. When all I could think about was the mess he’d leave on the counters. That I’d have to clean it up. I didn’t see a person in need, I saw more work for me.
My face flushes hot at the memory, and I hold up a hand to stop Ike saying anymore. “Please, don’t. I can’t handle this right now. Whatever Frank’s reasons are, I won’t question it. But I can’t leave Caleb here. Please help me get him out.”
Ike purses his lips, but eventually nods. “I’ll try everything I can.”
“Thank you.” I try to put all the sincerity in the world into the single phrase. Trying is the best we can do right now.
“Alright, we need to get you back to dorms.” Ike motions for me to hold out my hands, and cuffs me. “Act like I just dosed you.”
I nod, and follow him into the pit, dragged along by my cuffs once again, with Ike’s vial of Composure tucked into my waistband.
After leaving the pit and walking along the long, dark corridor, Ike stops abruptly at a junction. I want to ask him what’s wrong, but I have to keep up the pretense of utter compliance. He tilts his head to one side, and I slow my breathing to listen carefully.
A voice booms down the corridor from the dorms. At this distance, the words are indistinct, but the speaker is obviously angry.
Ike picks up the pace, pulling me along behind him. “Follow my lead.”
I tap his wrist once for yes. We rush along until we reach the large double doors leading into the women’s dormitory. The moment Ike opens the door, Hardings’ voice hits me like a tidal wave.
“Where is she?” His eyes focus on me, and a cruel grin spreads across his face. He glances at Ike. “She your favourite, or something?”
Ike grunts. “Something like that. Caught her sneaking supplies from the pit.”
Shit. You really want to throw me in solitary right now, Ike? I relax my focus and stare dead ahead, into the dead air between me and Harding. Not away from him, but not at him, either.
He takes a step towards us, dragging someone on the floor behind him. “Theft must run in the family.”
With a sudden twist, he lifts his arm and hauls an inmate onto the floor in front of him. I don’t have to look to know who it is. The sound of his pained grunt is all I need to know I don’t need to look for Caleb any more.
Guess that’s one thing to thank Harding for.
“I caught this dumb shit stealing from the warden’s office. Tried getting his hands on a radio, of all things.” Harding places a boot on Caleb’s hand, and presses down. Caleb cries out, but clamps his jaw shut at Harding’s command.
My breathing has quickened, my heartbeat racing. I have to pretend I’m dosed. I have to trust Ike. If I clue Harding into my resistance, it’ll get us all in more trouble.
Harding watches me closely, pressing harder on Caleb’s hand, until I can almost hear the bones in his wrist pop.
Ike yanks me forward and I fall to my knees. “What do you want me to do with this one?”
I’m grateful for the excuse to gasp—it masks the choking cry that had been threatening since we walked in here. I focus on the floor, on the cold tiles against my palms, and slow my breathing. But a tickle at my waist, then my thigh, causes my heart to thud in panic.
The vial.
Being pulled to the ground has shaken it loose from my waistband. Now it’s loose inside my trousers, at my knee. The moment I stand up, it’ll fall on to the floor.
Please don’t make me stand. I beg silently. But I know it’s going to happen, eventually. Maybe I can redirect the vial, send it into one of the bunks…
Bennett catches my eye to my left, sitting on her bunk, staring right at me. She shakes her head in disgust—no doubt fully buying into Ike’s story. When I go to solitary, she’ll probably throw a party.
The last thing I want is for her to find the vial.
But I haven’t got any more time to think. Harding walks towards me with Caleb in tow.
He drags me to my feet without a word, and I flinch at the clink of glass as it skitters from my trouser leg along the floor.
Harding looks right at it, then grins at me with a look of pure satisfaction.
“I finally have you, Miss Chase.”