Shymers by Jen Naumann Read Free Book Online Page B

expertly choke down over the years when Zeke—one of my only friends in the orphanage—charges straight for me. His hair seems exceptionally greasy this morning. I sometimes wonder if he showers every day, or if there is some kind of imbalance that makes it that way. I think his appearance disgusts even some of the other Shymers.
    Once in front of me, he grabs my elbow and whispers, “Did you hear there was a new girl brought here in the middle of the night?”
    I shake my head and shrug. “So what?” Newbies at the orphanage is certainly nothing new. It happens on almost a daily basis. Sometimes they are like me, with nowhere else to go after their parents die. Other times, parents are doing well in the Future territory and have to leave their Shymer children behind. There have only been a few instances when a Future child was brought here, and it was always just a temporary arrangement until they were adopted by a wealthy family.
    “She’s from th e Free Land s ,” Zeke whispers excitedly.
    A sudden curiosity and blinding jealousy fill me. How could a girl survive in the Free Lands? Was she alone? Was she caught trying to get there? The mixture of feelings is so overwhelming that I have to remind myself to breathe. I search the cafeteria, but don’t see anyone unfamiliar.
    “Well, where is she?” I ask, turning back to him.
    “She was taken early to register for school. Her mother was placed in suspension last night.” Zeke’s excitement comes as no surprise. He is all for the ways of Society. I only became his friend when I realized no one else would talk to him. I have never told him of my hatred for Society, or my secret wish to join the Rebels. Just having rebellious thoughts could land me into suspension, and I wouldn’t put it past Zeke to report me.
    I pick through my breakfast while Zeke talks excitedly about this new girl. His words become a blur when my own thoughts consume me. How long had this girl been living in the Free Lands? Zeke said her mother was placed in suspension, but what about her father? Does she know everything about the ways of Society? She must be a Shymer. Why else would she have been in the Free Lands?
    During the rest of the morning I am still lost in my thoughts while keeping an eye out at school for anyone who looks out of place. I think between classes I catch a glimpse of a girl I haven’t seen before, but her hair is blond and held back behind her head in the style a Future would wear.
    At lunchtime I join the usual group of Shymers I have known most of my life. We have gone to school together since we were quite little, but I can’t really say that any of them are my actual friends. They continue inviting me to hang with their group, even though they are used to my silence.
    Kai smirks my way. She is considered highly unusual by Shymers and Futures both. No one holds any sympathy for her, however. She purposely tries standing out with her illegal habits and strange jewelry on her face. She even shows her Shymer mark in plain view, although it is considered shameful. Still, she seems to hate Society as much as I do, so I actually kind of like being around her.
    “Have you met this girl yet?” she asks.
    I shake my head.
    “Bree met her this morning. She’s bringing her here to meet us.”
    Although I would never admit it to Kai, a small thrill of excitement races through me. I may actually meet someone who made it to the Free Lands, even if only for a short time. I pick at my lunch in silence until Bree comes into view. Sure enough, there is a girl at her side. Surprisingly, i t i s the girl I spotted earlier in the hallway with blond hair swept into a band behind her head.
    As the twosome draw nearer, I gulp in more air. Wisps of darker blond hair stick out next to the new girl’s freckle covered face. The pink top she wears isn’t something revealing like a Future would wear, and not the drab color the Shymers are known to use, either. My eyes wander to her bare