Unmarked

14. Long Night

I need food and lots of it.

I'm starving and my feet ache from standing for hours on end. How the rest of them do this every night and also fight is beyond me. It's a form of torture.

The beautiful mysterious creatures from earlier are gone. Their make-up and body sheen wiped away, their dark god and goddess alter egos have been removed to reveal normal looking individuals.

"You did well tonight." Lottie nudges me gently. "Unusual method with the ordering but it worked."

"Thanks. Hearing the orders is easier than having to deal with scrappy pieces of paper." I shrug.

"You've got a bit of competition, Grey," Thiago says, throwing a bread roll at Grey who catches it mid-air and takes a bite. Thiago grins. "Maybe Cady could be your replacement. Hey, Gloria, are we finally going to get rid of Grey?"

"We'll get rid of him when you learn to speed up taking orders from the customers," Gloria snaps back. "I was timing you, and at one point you were talking to a table of customers for over fifteen minutes."

"I'm keeping the customers happy. Your rule, not mine."

"You also need to keep me happy and you know what makes me happiest? People buying drinks and spending money, not getting chatted up for free by you." Gloria shakes her head in exasperation.

"Maybe Cady should stay behind the bar. It was a lot quicker with two people which meant drinks got served faster which meant they got drunk earlier which meant we sold more and ..." Lena gasps, ducking her head in embarrassment as everyone turns to stare at her.

"Breathe, Lena... I get your point," Gloria says. "Grey, are the takings higher tonight compared to usual?"

"Yes," Grey says slowly.

"Cady, you'll stay on the bar with Grey. We'll review it at the end of the week." Gloria stands up and walks towards the office. "Also, Cady, in the future, could you not compare our customers to dogs, especially to their face. I've got more important things to deal with than wasting it apologising to some drunk idiot who simply wanted to chat you up."

The murmur of soft laughter sounds as Gloria slams her office door closed.

"So are you going to tell us why you're here?" Darla says. "We're all intrigued."

"Eighteen and no engagement seal," I say, poking the food on my plate.

"Bad luck." Lottie places her hand on mine.

"You're not the only one. Abi, Darla and Lena don't have engagement seals," Mariana interjects. "I don't know why. Anyone can find a fiancé. The state even organise specific functions for it for goodness sake."

"My lack of seal is out of choice thank you very much, Mariana," Darla snaps. "And anyway, the seal didn't do much good for you. Didn't your husband turn out to be a psycho which is why you ran away and ended up here?"

Mariana flinches and Josh wraps a protective arm around her. "That was uncalled for."

"It's true. And why should we have to get engaged and married by a set time just because The State deems it proper? I don't want the restrictions of a life bound to one person. I want to experience life, have a bit of freedom and fun before settling down."

"And how's that freedom going for you?" Abi says stiffly.

Darla doesn't respond.

"Better off here personally," Olexander adds. "I was married and it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I'd take this place over that experience anytime."

"The only problem you had with marriage was being faithful," Josh says gruffly.

"We're not always this miserable, I promise. Apart from Mariana, she's always a sour old hag but the rest of us are usually much cheerier."Lottie places her arm across my shoulders, ignoring Mariana and Josh scowling at her. "So is there a boyfriend or girlfriend?"

"Even if there was it's over now, I'm here. Being trapped in a basement doesn't exactly keep relationships together," I joke, gesturing around me.

I can't help think of Teddy who is not my boyfriend but more than a friend. What is he doing now?

"Lottie's on the prowl again," Darla laughs, rolling her eyes.

"You don't think Cady's cute?" Lottie raises an eyebrow, her arm still draped around my shoulders. Her fingers play with my hair and I try not to flinch at the intimacy.

"Not my type. A bit too female for me," Darla says casually. "No offence, Cady."

"None taken." I smile. I gently remove Lottie's arm off my shoulder. "Lottie, me and you would never work. You're way too gorgeous that you'd give me an inferiority complex if I was with you. I'm also the super jealous type, and I don't think Gloria would appreciate me attacking every person who flirts with you, especially as that seems to apply to most of the customers."

"And those words only make me like you more," Lottie laughs then kisses me hard on the mouth. She leans back licking her lips. "Tasty."

A round of laughter erupts, dissipating the earlier tension. Finishing our meal, a bubble of sadness rises inside which is stupid. I've known these people less than two days and I'm already being sucked into the false idea of a family. Is this how they keep people, encouraging attachments until you're so dependent the idea of running is no longer a desirable option?

I refuse to fall for it. I will find a way out while everyone sleeps. I must.