Evadere by Sara V. Zook Read Free Book Online Page B

listened to Karn’s heavy steps as he made his way back over to where I knelt, the end of his staff sinking in the dust in front of me.
    “Get up,” he commanded.
    I slowly made my way back into a standing position. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Weakness made its way through me as I felt as though I would collapse. I longed for a real meal and a real bed. I longed for Earth and the green grass of Seneca. A twinge of worry zipped through me at where Emry was now. He must be going insane without knowing where I was. I forced my head to move upwards so I could look the ghastly beast in the eyes, praying I wouldn’t become ill and go to the ground again, afraid I’d never be able to get back up.
    “How is it that you’re so healthy after all this time out here alone?” he questioned in a mocking tone.  
    I closed my eyes momentarily, unsure how I was going to respond. My brain didn’t want to seem to cooperate with my lethargic body. I licked my lips, the taste of putrid vomit returning to my tongue. I smiled nervously at Karn.
    He backed away for a moment, gasping.
    I glanced back at Jo whose eyes were glued on us. When I looked back to Karn, his beady black eyes burned in fury. What was happening?
    “I knew it!” he roared out. “Did you see that?”
    A Scave woman quickly rushed up to me and stuck her repulsive fingers in my mouth, jerking up my lip. I backed away and attempted to spit out the filth.  
    “What are you doing?” I cried out.
    The woman grinned revealing a mouth of rot, her gums sagging and covering up the majority of what teeth she did have. “Such a pretty mouth,” she said, her voice high-pitched and shaky.
    Karn nodded. “Straight white teeth.”
    My hand shot up to my mouth to cover it up. Why had I done that? I had mistakenly smiled. Jo had warned me not expose my teeth. Now I understood why.  
    “Another spy?” the woman asked.
    Karn narrowed his eyes. “This one has to be in trouble. They sent her out here to die.”
    “Please,” I said. I needed to plead for my life now. I had to think of something, anything to undo what I had just done.  
    “Get her!” Karn yelled.  
    I closed my eyes and cringed, waiting for the Scaves to capture me. Nothing was happening. Then the rustle of feet startled me into turning around. Jo had made a mad dash to get away, but Rooney was right behind her. He took a leap and tackled the poor girl to the ground. She kicked and thrashed, even bit Rooney to get him to release her, but he had his arms locked securely around her, his strength overpowering hers. She struggled for a few more moments and then gave up, succumbing to her sobs. Rooney began carrying her back to Karn.
    “This really pains me,” Karn announced. “A traitor among us when I thought we were one.”
    Rooney still held Jo in his arms. She hung her head in shame, her hair falling over most of her face.  
    “The contributors must’ve promised you things,” Karn continued. “What are you getting out of this?”
    Jo remained silent, her body limp in Rooney’s arms, her head still cast downwards.
    “Ashamed, are you? Do you think I’m a fool?” Karn’s voice was getting more intensely angry by the moment. “I took you in, raised you from a baby when they didn’t want you. They left you for dead. You’re alive because of me, and now you turn on me, on all of us?”  
    The group of Scaves behind us glared at Jo. Their faces held no sign of sympathy.  
    “What do you want me to do with her?” Rooney asked.
    Karn scratched his hairy chin. “I never expected this to happen.”
    “Let them fend for themselves,” the Scave woman with the shaky voice suggested. “See if they can survive on their own.” A smirk played on her lips.  
    Karn looked from Jo to me and then back to Jo. I wondered what he was contemplating. I was terrified, my palms now clammy and wet. He exhaled loudly. “Very well,” he finally said. The decision was made. “We’ll let them