Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“So you’re feeling better,” Marcus says.
It’s a statement, not a question.
He’s offensively attractive. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more perfect combination of masculine features. It’s off-putting. An asshole like him doesn’t deserve to look that good.
Today he’s wearing a plain gray T-shirt, his biceps and chest straining against the fabric. His dark hair is perfectly tousled, a few pieces hanging over his forehead.
His chiseled jaw and high cheekbones would be classically handsome, but his serious scowl and the small scar on one side of his neck balance him out in a rugged way.
At around six-four, he once again doesn’t really fit in the chair he’s sitting in. He has an imposing presence, but I won’t let my intimidation show.
“Did you have a question?” I ask sharply.
The corners of Nova’s lips quirk in a smile. She’s also striking, her dark skin flawless and her hair stubble short. There are precise lines cut into it down to her scalp, the pattern swirling around her ears. She’s wearing a simple silver hoop in her septum and her dark lashes are long and thick.
“Tell us about your life before the virus,” Nova says.
I don’t know what that has to do with anything. It feels like she wants to get a baseline of how I behave when I’m telling the truth. Part of me wants to lie, but I don’t. Too many lies get hard to keep track of.
“I was a college student.”
“And how did you survive the virus?”
“I was an intern for a research project on an island off the coast of Washington state. We were isolated and when we heard about the virus, we were able to shelter in place.”
“What were you studying?”
“The effects of ocean acidification on shellfish.” I shift in my seat, looking between the two of them. “What does this have to do with anything?”
“What was the crime that got you sent here?” Marcus asks.
His expression is stony. This guy is a brick wall, physically and emotionally.
I hold up my hands, palms facing me, and let the ink answer for me.
“Can I get a verbal answer?”
I narrow my eyes. “I drank wild ginger tea so I wouldn’t get pregnant. And I got caught.”
He studies me for a few silent seconds. “That’s it? I’ve never heard of anyone getting sent here for that.”
“Guess I’m special.”
No fucking way am I telling him about Lochlan. I’m going to say as little as possible.
“What was your job assignment at Rising Tide?” Nova asks.
“Kitchen.”
Marcus’s nostrils flare slightly; it’s so subtle that I almost miss it.
“What kinds of food did you prepare?” Nova rests her elbows on the table, steepling her fingers.
It’s such a stretch to call what we served at Rising Tide food. “At first, there was fruit. Some smoked fish. But after the hurricane...” I shake my head. “Bugs? Algae?”
Something holds me back from mentioning that the Tiders are eating their own people.
“Tell us everything you saw and experienced in the camp,” Nova says.
I shake my head. “Look, I’ve been cooperative. I appreciate what you guys have done for me, but I have questions, too.”
“You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions.”
“Yeah, which you guys may or may not answer.” I cross my arms. “You want answers from me, you give me some answers first.”
Marcus’s expression remains impassive. “What do you want to know?”
“Where are we? Are we still on the island?”
“Yes, you’re at our camp.”
“How do you have electricity and plumbing?”
He considers before answering. “The camp was built with them.”
I glare at him. “You know what I mean. Were you guys brought here on a boat as prisoners, too? How do you know about aromium?”
He rubs his jaw, his mossy-green eyes intent on me as he picks up the knife. “Where did you get this?”
The information he wants from me is the only power I have. I’m not giving it up for nothing.
“If I can have it back—and keep it—I’ll tell you.”
He lowers his brows. “No one here is allowed to have weapons except our security team.”
I shrug and sit back in my seat. “Put me on your security team.”
There’s a shadow of a smirk on his face. “Not a chance.”
I focus my gaze on Nova, hoping she’ll be more reasonable. “I got here at the same time as Amira. I’ve been at Rising Tide the entire time until I escaped and Virginia tried to kill me. What is it that you guys suspect me of?”
Nova’s expression gives nothing away. “People who have nothing to hide hide nothing. So where did you get the knife?”
I decide to try diplomacy.
“Put yourselves in my shoes. I don’t trust anyone on this island. Every day since I got here, I’ve been fighting just to stay alive.”
“You wouldn’t be alive without our help,” Nova reminds me.
I glance away. That’s a fair point. “I’m willing to trade my information for your information. I think that’s fair, don’t you?”