Page 104 of Red Captive

“He’s a respectable male,” Natalia says.

“A trustworthy citizen of Mistveil,” Roscoe adds.

I can’t hold back the tear that rolls down my cheek. “Thank you.” I feel the barest hint of relief. At least I finally get to do something.

Steel

I’m lying on a thin mattress, staring up at the white ceiling between the walls and bars of my cell, trying to stay calm and failing.

Arctic doesn’t believe me.

Of course he doesn’t. I was fucking stupid to think otherwise after what happened to Anya. After what I did. I had started to believe that perhaps I could cut myself a modicum of slack. Not enough to ever forget or to ever completely forgive myself, but enough to carry on. To move forward with my life. Because I’ve been stuck in stasis. At least, I was up until I met Jen.

Someone clears their throat outside the cell. Probably one of the guards making their rounds.

It happens again. “Steel,” a male whispers.

I jump up. “Rex?” The male still has fading bruises on his face. He walks with a slight limp. Someone beat him up really badly. That someone wasn’t me.

He hushes me, looking down the hallway. “I only have a minute,” he whispers.

I go over to the bars and grab them. “Why are you lying?” I whisper back.

He looks down the hallway again. I realize that he looks concerned, scared even. His eyes are wide. His hands are shaking.

“I wanted to apologize while I could. I’m so sorry I lied. I’m sorry I took Jen. That you are taking the fall for something I did.”

“You have to tell them. You have to do the right thing and set the record straight.”

He looks to his left and to his right. “I can’t,” he whispers, his voice hitching. “It would be a death sentence. They might kill me anyway.”

“Why did you do it? I thought you liked Jen.”

“I do. I think she’s the best.” He licks his lips. “I know it’s wrong. I know it was wrong of me, but, you see, I was promiseda female. I was told I would get one of the first Tributes if I went along with it. I was promised a promotion, too. Told that Jen would be safe. That she would get to go home. That her family would get the money. That it was all for her protection.”

“That’s bullshit,” I whisper.

“I know that now, but I believed him. I believed them.”

I have no doubt that he is talking about Ice and the lieutenant. I leave him to talk.

“I didn’t know that they were going to kill Ash. That’s the other guard I was with. Then I heard he was dead, that they were blaming you.” He hardly looks at me. His eyes shift from left to right. They are glistening with unshed tears. “They took it too fucking far. It wasn’t meant to go down like that. It’s not what I agreed to.” He’s talking fast. His voice is a little high-pitched. He’s terrified. “I had to come. To apologize.”

“Who made you these promises?”

“I have to go.” He starts to walk. “I’m sorry.”

“Wait!” I whisper. “Who orchestrated this? Who was it?” I need to hear him say it.

“Ice. And if he catches me here, I’m as good as dead. I think he might kill me, anyway. I’m a loose end.” Then he’s gone.

That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m a loose end, too. As long as Jen is safe. As long as she’s okay, I’ll take whatever comes my way.

34

Jen

“Wow!” I whisper as we pull up at the castle. There is a sea of people outside. They’re demanding that Steel be released. They have signs and everything. “This is amazing.”