“Come with me,” Nat said, grabbing my elbow and directing us toward his table. My body ached from the strenuous day. 

After having rejected Nat, he shut down completely. The tension rose again, but I felt no pity. He was still ignorant to why I had originally been upset with him and showed no point to understand. Nat’s work pace improved greatly. I found myself struggling more than usual to keep up with the brisk pace. 

My body felt as exhausted as it had on the first day here. 

It was now dinner time. 

My eyes moved down to the fingers curled around my arm and bit my lip. “I’m just going to find a place along the wall.”

Nat raised an eyebrow humorlessly. “We’re going to sit at my table so you can tell them your plan.”

I scowled irritably. “If you think my plan is just going to get rejected, then I’m not going to waste anyone’s time.”

“Eva, don’t be like that.” He gave me a tug in the direction of his table. “Let’s just get this over with. Who knows, maybe you’re plan isn’t that bad”

“Stop pulling me!” 

Nat’s eyes narrowed. He shifted his tray in his other hand for a better grip before harshly tugging me to him. I stumbled into his chest, spilling my water. Nat used my surprise to his advantage as he roughly pulled me with him to his table. 

“Are you kidding me?” I hissed.

Nat ignored me. 

I followed along begrudgingly against my will. As the familiar faces appeared, I noticed that something was off. The usual, conceited atmosphere surrounding the table had disappeared. The men leaned forward, lips moving quickly in hushed voices.  

Nat noticed a moment after me. His step faltered slightly as he took in the change of mood with his friends. He cast me a side glance of confusion, but proceeded to lead the way over nonetheless. I masked my curiosity with irritation. 

The men parted when they saw the two of us approach, providing room for us to slide in. A few eyes glanced my way, but I noticed Nat shake his head out of the corner of my eye. Apparently, I was accepted even under these abnormal circumstances. 

“What’s going on?” Nat asked, using English for my benefit. 

A dark-skinned man glanced my way before speaking, “Chi has been captured.”

Nat’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “What? By who?”

“The Gliesans, who else?” A Hispanic man next to me snapped. He let out a string of curse words in another language. Nat and he had gotten into an argument a few days ago when I had sat here. My impression of him wasn’t a positive one. 

Nat shot him a dirty look before asking another round of questions. “What happened? How did they catch him? What did he do?”

The man who had spoken originally calmed explained the situation. “Apparently, Chi and his group were planning to break out a few of those in Isolation. He was working in the Stripping room speaking in Hindi. It was a safe bet. The bell had just rang, and you know how mostly white girls are Strippers. Chi thought it was safe. Someone overheard. Some ratted him out.”

His voice cracked on the last word. The man took a moment to swallow and calm himself down. 

“There were sixteen of those bastards waiting for them at Isolation.”

I gasped, my heartbeat accelerating. I hadn’t known Chi personally, but it wasn’t hard to imagine the fear they must’ve experienced at the sight of those monsters waiting in such large numbers for them to arrive. 

A shudder passed through me. 

I noticed that Nat’s face had gone white. 

“Four of his men were dead. There were twenty-eight total.” Another man spoke. His eyes were staring at his full tray solemnly. “As far as we know, Chi’s alive. But not for long.”

“Who did it?” I whispered. 

“We don’t know.”

A loud crack sounded to my right. 

Nat had snapped his tray in half. His body shook and his face began to heat up in anger. Jaw muscles straining as he gritted his teeth, Nat’s eyes were focused ahead. I tentatively reached my fingers out and brushed his arm, but he jerked back sharply. 

“Nat….” An Asian man who hadn’t spoken much before sent him a cautious look. “Take a deep breath.”

“No,” his voice was barely above a whisper, but the anger was evident in each syllable. “This is too far. This shit ends now. I’m going to find the bastard that killed Chi, and slit his throat, along with every single damn bastard on this plantation.”

“Wishful thinking, amigo,” the Hispanic muttered irritably, “But don’t you think we would’ve done that by now if we could? It’s not as easy.”

“I don’t care.” Nat stood up from the table. “I’m done. They’ve gone too far now. We’ve talked about a rebellion for years, and what have we done? Watched man after man get slaughtered. This is it. This is war.”

Nat stormed out of the Mess Hall, not caring who was in his way. My eyes followed his retreating body until he disappeared out the door. His neglected broken tray sat next to me. The food slid out and onto the table in a yellow mess. 

“He’s going to get himself killed.” The African man shook his head solemnly. 

“He’s right though,” I said, “It’s time to take a stand for what you believe in. Nat’s not thinking logically right now, but his words were true.”

“And how do you propose we do this?” Another man asked. 

I bit my lip, my heart beat racing. “I’ve got a theory, and I think we should put it to the test.”

The Hispanic rolled his eyes, “Oh great. Another idiot who thinks she can save the human race with a pathetic little plan. Save it, chica.”

“You don’t even know—”

“He’s right,” The Africa interjected, “You don’t know the ropes here like we do.”

“But—”

“I said save it!” 

“No,” the Asian man said softly. I noted how he was older than the others sitting around the table. “Let her talk. I’d like to hear what she has to say.”

I was getting an opportunity?

Nat hadn’t been lying when he thought my plan wouldn’t be taken seriously, but I was grateful that one man was at least giving me the option to present it. 

I had faith, and I knew I wouldn’t abuse this moment. 

He sent me an encouraging smile and nodded for me to continue. 

I glanced over my shoulder to where Nat had disappeared before finally beginning my explanation on how to save humanity.

~*~

I hadn’t seen Nat since he left after dinner. 

I hadn’t bothered to search for him either. 

Though, I had a fairly good idea of where he would be hiding.

It was my shower night, and I was looking forward to the few minutes standing beneath the cascading water, regardless of the temperature. It had felt like an eternity since I had last cleaned myself. 

I walked hurriedly toward the bathhouse, hoping to get a decent spot in line before the hot water ran out. While it was never as warm as I would have preferred, it was much better than the icy water that the last got. 

The cool air whipped about as I approached the end of the line.  A smile slid across my lips. It wasn’t as long as I had feared.

I waited patiently for my turn. The line seemed to move much quicker tonight than normal, and I was grateful for that. After the events that had occurred today, I needed something to improve my mood. My mind drifted off to the little river that Nat had showed me yesterday. I could picture him sitting there now, trying to calm himself down. 

Even just imaging the picturesque stream bubbling along brought a wave of relaxation and serenity over my stressed body. I almost envied Nat for being able to so freely navigate himself to his clandestine location, until I remembered that I was mere yards away from a shower. 

That surpassed any serene location on this forsaken planet. 

My shower time ended all too soon. I had become accustomed to the other females around me in the weeks that I had been here. Eyes slipped, but most were respectful of one another’s privacy. Regardless, there was still an eerie feeling of being watched throughout the entire time. I ignored that, and focused on cleaning myself as well as I could.

Before I knew it, I was slowly making my way back to my cabin. 

“93-11!” A high-pitched voice called. 

I turned around, my eyes landing on Red. 

Her hair was equally as wet as mine was. She grinned once she caught my eyes, hurrying up to catch up to me. I smiled in response to her.

“Hey, Red!” I said softly, once she was closer. “What’s up?”

Her feet slowed to a walk as the short girl fell into step with me. She flicker her damp hair over her shoulder, spraying me with water droplets. My face cringed slightly, but I made no comment. 

We walked in silence for a few minutes. It seemed she merely wanted someone to walk back to the cabin with. Red made no motion for conversation, and I kept my lips still. She took the lead in directing where to go; I followed wordlessly. 

She lead the way down a pathway, and I soon found that I had l didn’t know where we were. Not wanting to be a burden, I followed. 

Red slipped down one more row before grabbing my elbow.

I gasped as she pulled us into the shadows of one cabin.

“What’re you doing?!” I exclaimed, surprised. 

Red’s hand moved over my mouth fiercely. The flesh of her palm pressed my lips against my teeth painfully. She pinned me to the wall of the cabin with her other arm pressed against my neck. Dark eyes pierced into mine as she hissed at me with gritted teeth.

“I don’t know what you or your friends are doing,” her words were threatening and sent chills down my spine, “but whatever it is, knock it off.”

My eyes widened with confusion as my heartbeat accelerated in my chest. Air was coming in short and shallow, and with her hand claimed over my mouth and her forearm to my throat, my oxygen intake was very small. 

“I know you’re up to something. You’re friends with him after all. You want any more trouble?” She growled. 

She pressed her arm into my neck when I didn’t respond. Furiously, I shook my head back and forth. 

“Good,” she whispered. Red glanced around cautiously behind her before sending one last threatening message, “and I know where you two go when it’s dark. You tell anyone of our little conversation, and I’ll tell of your hideout.”

She didn’t wait for a response this time.

Red pulled away and hurried off around the side of the cabin, disappearing out my vision. I inhaled deeply, trying to regain my steady breathing pattern. All the while, my mind struggled to comprehend what had just occurred. 

She knows about the hole in the fence.

My heart sank at that realization. 

Surely, if she knew that much, then there were certainly more she could tell.

But the real question was…

Who would she be telling?

*******

Sorry, again. I think I'm going through like.. anxiety or something. This school year is kicking my butt. I'm failing two classes and I've never failed before. And I have to get a job by the end of the month. Writing is the last thing on my mind.

And I feel awful about that. I'm sorry everyone <3