Fortune Favors the Bold

6

They did indeed find a cafeteria on the third level. It was a wide space that held a round table in its center to accommodate all ten of them. Except for it, there were no other locations to sit so they would be forced to eat together.

Kalani sat between Tamara and Mason. The boy seemed to naturally gravitate toward her, but she couldn't complain. His company was entertaining.

Everyone ate from the cans of instant food that were lined on the counter that stood against the left wall. Sparse conversation sparked between them, but nothing of interest caught Kalani's attention until Tamara shifted closer to her and dropped her voice to a hushed whisper. "Who is that?" She motioned to Not-Castiel.

Though she debated telling her the truth just to spite the boy, Kalani forced herself to keep up the lie. "Castiel Brenden. He was the boy chosen from my province," she mumbled and ate another spoonful of the chickpeas she'd found for herself.

Tamara shook her head. "No, he isn't."

Kalani perked up at the reply, forgetting to continue chewing the mouthful she'd just eaten. She blinked at the girl. "Hm?"

They both glanced toward Not-Castiel a second time. He didn't look at them, but he knew they were watching him. His jaw tensed with the irritation he felt for the girl he'd just warned a short time prior.

"Castiel Brenden is the son of a German blonde man and a Scottish redhead. That man is not him," she whispered.

Kalani forced herself to swallow. "He was adopted."

"Who was adopted?" Mason asked curiously.

Tamara only shook her head, still unsure. "I saw Castiel at the Intermediacy, in passing of course, so I didn't pay much attention to his physical characteristics, but I'm positive that he is not the son of the Vlasteric Guard Chief. Just be careful," she whispered to Kalani. "We still don't know what we've been placed in."

"You think he's dangerous?" Mason asked.

Kalani clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, jokingly shoving the boy away from her. "Come on, Mason," she smirked. "You could be a serial killer for all I know."

His eyes widened. "...you're right."

None of them were safe.

Kalani watched Not-Castiel, wondering if he was truly the biggest threat amongst them or if his intimidating appearance was all there was to fear about the boy. Perhaps there was somebody who was far more dangerous, standing in the shadow of Not-Castiel's dark gaze.

Everyone returned to their chambers that night with the plan to meet again the next day and begin searching for an escape. Kalani separated from Tamara and Mason as they all returned to their wings. She walked behind Convict 286, not daring to allow him to linger out of her view in case he tried anything.

But Convict 286 could have done just as much damage from the front if he truly wanted to.

When she stepped into her room, she was surprised to find him stepping in with her. "What are you doing?" Kalani took one step backward as he closed the door after them. "You have your own door-."

His fingers seized her jaw before she could stop. Kalani cried out, surprised when her back slammed into the wall. "Hey!"

"What'd you tell her?" He snarled.

"Who?" She tried to shove him off, but his grip was stone.

"The Filarko girl."

Only then did Kalani realize he'd noticed the way Tamara had watched him throughout the entire meeting like she was unsure whether it was okay to let her eyes wander somewhere else. She didn't trust Not-Castiel and she didn't bother hiding it.