quite seems to come off.”
But he only smiled again.
“I thought you’d be this way. It’s part of your charm, really. So predictable these days.”
“So I’m free to go?” Mable lifted her wrists as far from the table as the short chain would allow, her eyes expectant and her lips pursed with aggravation. It wasn’t fair he was allowed to live in the same lifetime as her.
Yet again, she was sure there was no justice in this world.
“Well, no. Not quite.” As if to prove it, Arrenstein stripped away the tan suit jacket that probably cost a year’s salary and laid it carefully across the tabletop. “You see, this time, I have something you want.”
Hadley.
Mable’s stomach flipped so hard she thought she might puke on his jacket, though in different circumstances, she might have enjoyed that part.
“No, you can’t,” was all she could squeak out. Of all the good, sweet people in the world, she wouldn’t let him have Hadley.
“It’s settled then. We’ll get you moved into the complex this afternoon.” Dr. Arrenstein held out his hand as if to shake hers, but she only sat frozen in shock.
“What? I’m not going with you. You make promises you can’t keep. You murder people.”
Arrenstein leaned back into the simplistic metal chair that matched hers, crossing his legs and even bouncing one of them. “Now, that’s not true, is it Maggie?”
How dare he call her that?
“You know it is. And, what’s worse, I know it.” Mable paused to bring her voice back under control. She wanted no part of what she said next to go misunderstood. “You’ll never get me. You’ll never get Hadley. There’s nothing you can do or say that will ever change that. Go find some other hapless victim to play your games.”
She tried her best to cross her arms indignantly but only met the full length of chain halfway. The failed motion left her with sore wrists and a bruised sense of pride, but still, she wouldn’t crack in front of him. Mable swallowed her pain and glared her disapproval.
“Ah, well, that’s a shame. Thing is, our next session is closing up this week, and we’re one recruit short. Seeing as how such viable options are so hard to come by, I’ve really got no choice. I need one more, and you two are too good to pass up. You were really my first choice, but since you’ve made it clear you’ll offer no cooperation, I guess I’ll have to go with Option B. Look at it this way, at least you’ll never see me again.”
Arrenstein smiled as if he’d confirmed her order for a birthday cake. He maintained his poisonous grin as he scooped up his jacket and turned toward the single door. His hand was on the knob and turning as Mable watched in horror.
She didn’t want to do it.
She knew she wouldn’t survive in Arrenstein’s program. She knew she couldn’t live with him day in and day out, knowing what he’d done.
But she couldn’t sentence Hadley to that same fate.
“Wait,” came the sound from her throat before she even realized what she’d done.
Basking in his victory, Arrenstein folded his hands under his jacket and waited, his smile never fading.
“You promise to let her go home?”
At last, Arrenstein cracked. He lifted a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat before answering, “Well, the vulgar underground is hardly a home, but yes, I’ll make sure she gets back there. You have my word—for all that it’s still worth to you.”
Already she felt trapped, as if she’d become claustrophobic in the tiny room. Breathing became hard and blinking couldn’t hold back her frustrated tears. Head bowed in shame, she finally said, “Then I’ll come with you.”
SILAS
CPI-AO-301, NEW YORK
AUGUST 8, 2232
The door to his office slammed shut a little too hard. No doubt Nick would notice. Still, Silas pressed his back to the cool metal door and cursed himself. How had he become such a horrible creature?
“Dr. Arrenstein?” came the quiet voice and trio of
But he only smiled again.
“I thought you’d be this way. It’s part of your charm, really. So predictable these days.”
“So I’m free to go?” Mable lifted her wrists as far from the table as the short chain would allow, her eyes expectant and her lips pursed with aggravation. It wasn’t fair he was allowed to live in the same lifetime as her.
Yet again, she was sure there was no justice in this world.
“Well, no. Not quite.” As if to prove it, Arrenstein stripped away the tan suit jacket that probably cost a year’s salary and laid it carefully across the tabletop. “You see, this time, I have something you want.”
Hadley.
Mable’s stomach flipped so hard she thought she might puke on his jacket, though in different circumstances, she might have enjoyed that part.
“No, you can’t,” was all she could squeak out. Of all the good, sweet people in the world, she wouldn’t let him have Hadley.
“It’s settled then. We’ll get you moved into the complex this afternoon.” Dr. Arrenstein held out his hand as if to shake hers, but she only sat frozen in shock.
“What? I’m not going with you. You make promises you can’t keep. You murder people.”
Arrenstein leaned back into the simplistic metal chair that matched hers, crossing his legs and even bouncing one of them. “Now, that’s not true, is it Maggie?”
How dare he call her that?
“You know it is. And, what’s worse, I know it.” Mable paused to bring her voice back under control. She wanted no part of what she said next to go misunderstood. “You’ll never get me. You’ll never get Hadley. There’s nothing you can do or say that will ever change that. Go find some other hapless victim to play your games.”
She tried her best to cross her arms indignantly but only met the full length of chain halfway. The failed motion left her with sore wrists and a bruised sense of pride, but still, she wouldn’t crack in front of him. Mable swallowed her pain and glared her disapproval.
“Ah, well, that’s a shame. Thing is, our next session is closing up this week, and we’re one recruit short. Seeing as how such viable options are so hard to come by, I’ve really got no choice. I need one more, and you two are too good to pass up. You were really my first choice, but since you’ve made it clear you’ll offer no cooperation, I guess I’ll have to go with Option B. Look at it this way, at least you’ll never see me again.”
Arrenstein smiled as if he’d confirmed her order for a birthday cake. He maintained his poisonous grin as he scooped up his jacket and turned toward the single door. His hand was on the knob and turning as Mable watched in horror.
She didn’t want to do it.
She knew she wouldn’t survive in Arrenstein’s program. She knew she couldn’t live with him day in and day out, knowing what he’d done.
But she couldn’t sentence Hadley to that same fate.
“Wait,” came the sound from her throat before she even realized what she’d done.
Basking in his victory, Arrenstein folded his hands under his jacket and waited, his smile never fading.
“You promise to let her go home?”
At last, Arrenstein cracked. He lifted a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat before answering, “Well, the vulgar underground is hardly a home, but yes, I’ll make sure she gets back there. You have my word—for all that it’s still worth to you.”
Already she felt trapped, as if she’d become claustrophobic in the tiny room. Breathing became hard and blinking couldn’t hold back her frustrated tears. Head bowed in shame, she finally said, “Then I’ll come with you.”
SILAS
CPI-AO-301, NEW YORK
AUGUST 8, 2232
The door to his office slammed shut a little too hard. No doubt Nick would notice. Still, Silas pressed his back to the cool metal door and cursed himself. How had he become such a horrible creature?
“Dr. Arrenstein?” came the quiet voice and trio of
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