Unmarked

15. Accusations

The soft regular breathing of sleep has started. I count slowly in my head. One, two, three... I have to force my eyes open. My legs throb, swollen from a night of standing, and my arms are numb from the repetitive action of pouring drinks. I'm exhausted. Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine... I think back to the outfits they wore this evening, revealing way too much for me to hide my unmarked body and this is meant to be the option which allows me to be the most covered. I dread to think what the other venues are like. Fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two... I think about my mum, has she waited for me or am I going to have a long journey getting to her at our new destination? Even then, I'll have to try and find her. Eighty-four, eighty-five, eighty-six... Keep counting, be patient, don't fall asleep.

Creeping down the stairs to the main area, I see a guard standing by the exit. I won't get past him, no amount of charm will persuade them to let me out. Not only do they keep their distance to prevent forming relationships but strength-wise they'd overpower me in a second.

Heading back upstairs, I softly pad down the corridor away from my room. Avoiding the rooms, I know are occupied I open doors, the dim light from the corridor illuminating rooms which are all a variation of the same thing: stacked furniture and boxes, musty smelling and unused. No windows, no exits. My hope for a way out is rapidly vanishing.

"What are you doing?" A voice booms behind me.

Freezing on the spot, my hand is wrapped around a door handle. The beat of my heart speeds up in my chest, thumping hard against my ribcage.

Turning slowly, I rearrange my face; calm, innocent and relaxed while my brain goes into overdrive for an excuse.

"I asked what are you doing?" The voice is louder as the guard paces towards me. A solid mass of flesh towers above me, his face taut and menacing.

"I'm lost," I sigh as I focus all my effort on making the sound as genuine as possible.

"Lost?"

"Yes, lost..." I pause as I think of an excuse.

"Cady, my rooms over here." A voice sounds from behind the human boulder blocking my path.

Peering round, Grey stands in a doorway, half-asleep wearing a creased t-shirt and trousers slung low around his hips. They're not buttoned up showing he put them on quickly. "I've been waiting for you. What took so long?"

I stare for a second before quickly saying, "Oh, I couldn't remember which door was yours."

Others pile into the corridor, groggy and dazed at the abrupt interruption to their dreams. They stare confused at the three of us.

Grey shoves his hands in his pocket. "I promised to lend Cady some clothes. I'll make sure she gets back to her room, Taylor."

Taylor the human rock grunts, watching me intently as I squeeze around him. Everyone's face drops as I duck into Grey's room.

"Private room. Nice," I mumble, gazing at the basic facilities: double bed, bedside table, set of drawers and a row of books, all damaged, defective and cracked. A small door leads to a tiny shower room.

Grey doesn't respond, closing the door behind him.

"Are you not trying to save up like everyone else?" I ask, filling the awkward silence which hangs between us.

"I haven't got anything to save up for."

"Or you know saving up won't allow you to buy your way out of here."

Grey frowns but doesn't answer as he rummages through his drawers and pulls out some clothes which he offers to me.

"The clothes I promised to lend you," He says sarcastically.