Timestone

Chapter Four ϟ Vela

Marco is pacing the room while we wait for Jasik to return. "This is your last chance, kid. Just tell us who you are and why you're here."

I can't think of anything more I can say to convince him, so I remain silent, staring at the ground.

"No?" he finally asks after a moment that probably seemed longer than it was. "That's okay. The device Jasik is preparing has a way of removing stubbornness. You'll tell us your secrets soon enough."

I was already panicking, but now, it erupts like a geyser. I raise my voice in desperation. "I don't know. Just give me more time," I beg. "Please. If my memories return, I'll tell you everything." Then, I bury my head in my hands to stop the shaking of the room. My breathing becomes shallow and erratic.

A long moment passes before Marco finally speaks. "Okay, kid. Calm down. We aren't going to torture you."

I lift my head in surprise, wondering if I heard him correctly.

He raises a forward-facing palm. "We aren't going to hurt you. Okay?" He pauses to make sure I understand.

I slowly nod back. The heat in my face begins to dissipate. My heartbeat is slowing with each beat.

Marco's eyes remain fixed on mine. "It was just an act to get you to talk. We aren't in the torture business—especially with kids."

Relief continues to wash away the fear and adrenaline. For a second, I feel like hugging Marco until I remember he's still the one threatening me and holding me captive.

"Well, kid, now I don't know what to do with you," says Marco. "I don't believe your story. And we can't exactly let you go."

I nod. I want him to see that I'm willing to cooperate. I wish I could cooperate and tell him my name. I want to know it more desperately than he does.

"Here's what we're going to do," Marco continues. "It's getting late, so we'll pick things up tomorrow. But let me warn you, the exit will be guarded. If you step a foot out of this room, we will seriously reconsider our no-torture policy. Comprendes?"

I don't understand that last word, but I nod anyway. Marco exits. A minute or two later, the dark-haired lady who flashed a weapon at me earlier walks in with a folded-up pad. She grabs a blanket from the shelf and sets everything on the bench.

"Thank you, ma'am," I say.

"My name is Camila." Then, she exits the room. Moments later, the lights shut off. I unfold the mattress on the bench I've been sitting on, but it doesn't seem wide enough. I worry that I'll roll off in the middle of the night. So, I pull it onto the rocky floor and try to get comfortable. The pad feels even thinner than it looks. But it doesn't matter. I close my eyes and fall asleep.

ϟ ϟ ϟ

When I wake, the light in my room is on. I roll on my side and stretch out my limbs. Sharp rocks dig uncomfortably into my thigh and ribs, but the stretching feels good.

A delicious smell fills the room. I'm so hungry I would probably classify any scent of food as delicious right now. I sit up and see a plate sitting on the bench. A perfectly cooked egg sits next to a bowl of some kind of hot grain cereal. Steam rises and curls. I devour everything.

Just as I finish, the girl who brought the food to me the day before walks in with a smile. She appears in a better mood this morning. "Good morning," she says more brightly than I expect in her beautiful accent. "My name is Vela."

"Velluh?" I ask, trying to pronounce it correctly.

"No, V-a-y-lah," she repeats slowly with a laugh.

"I'm . . . uh," I stumble over my words. I'm still trying to spin my sleepy mind's flywheel to full speed. I suddenly remember that I don't actually know who I am. "Well, I don't really—"