The Human Zoo (1)

Chapter 14 - Jax

Chance and Tate sit silently near Kara and me. Most of the time, I forget they are around, kind of like shadows. Kara is too preoccupied picking at her long fingers to notice no one has spoken in at least fifteen minutes. Even now, while stressed, she's beautiful and making it hard for me not to stare. Ben's acted distant and she is worried about him. It's evident in her fidgeting hands and wandering eyes. He said he needed some fresh air, which I find ironic since we're outside, but no one argued, assuming it's due to Priya's absence. I've tried to ask them about it, but no one is willing to talk. Whether they don't care or not is still up in the air. My stomach growls, starving.

I think back to my conversation with Dr. Jenkins during SHIT training.

"Jax, there are two things you should remember. First, there are unique structures within each compound. It's fascinating. I recommend putting all notions of our society behind you and follow the rules of your enclosure, where yours is less strict than others, I've observed. Still, don't let your guard down."

"No guarantees, Doc."

"One more thing, Jax. Hunger will become your best friend. I can't stress this enough."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad," naively I reply.

As I sit here amongst these starving people, his words resonate with truth. I've never been this hungry in my life. Even more so, I've never been this bored. There are no toys, no games, no movies—nothing to keep us occupied. Well, there are games that no one knows how to play. There are just the endless days and pointless conversations to keep us complacent, which is probably why these people developed "governments" to control the main side effect of perpetual boredom: mental chaos.

"Oh shit," Kara whispers as she points behind me. Her eyes go wide and a hand comes up to cover her mouth.

Please be something exciting.

Turning around, I see Ben. He's not alone; with him is a young woman. They stand a reasonable distance apart. Her hair is a soggy mess, she's dirty, and looks frail. Her left wrist is in some form of a cast and there are cuts and scrapes along her body. She limps next to him but if she feels any pain, she doesn't show it. Despite her current appearance, it's clear that she's an underrated beauty. Her lips naturally pout and her long lashes fan across her face.

As they approach, her eyes catch my attention. Even from here, I see they're golden light brown, almost like honey, and they stand out against her taut face. They hold a fire in them; a strong will that puts me on edge, in an exciting way. She strides toward us gracefully, even now like this, broken. A sensation of familiarity surges in me as I continue to look at her and I grasp internally for the strings that connect the feeling to the memory.

In both awe and horror, I watch as she sits down next to me. Her long legs stretch out in front of her and I follow them up to the edge of her dress that stops at the top of her thighs. My eyes travel even further until I realize what I'm doing. Immediately, I look away. Her bold eyes scrutinize me, and I feel as if she's taking my soul out and cutting it open, revealing all its truths.

She squints her eyes at me. "Do I know you? You look familiar," she asks quietly so that only I can hear. Her voice is velvety and calm, unlike her exterior.

"Priya, this is Jax. He's a transfer too," Kara chimes. She looks away from me and I feel my body physically relax. My heart beat, on the other hand, goes wild.

"Do we take everyone now? Just call us the outcasts. What kind of name is 'Jax' anyway?" The fierceness in Priya's words excites me. She's sharp and direct in a commanding yet not an overly aggressive way.

"It's a name for someone who's smart, charming, and incredibly handsome. I'm surprised you had to ask." I wink at her.

She doesn't smile at me. Instead, she raises an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, Jax, don't flatter yourself. I've seen dead animals that are prettier than you." Her eyelashes bat at me as she kisses her lips together. My gaze moves from her eyes down to her mouth as my mind travels to perverted places. I shake my head to focus.