“Alonso!” I cried out as a familiar face appeared.
He hurried toward my door and slid the food slot open to speak to me.
“What’s going on? Where is everyone?” I asked quickly, bending to put my mouth near the slot.
“Did you leave your room last night?” Alonso asked quickly.
“What? No, of course not,” I lied.
Alonso was quiet for a long moment.
“What’s going on?” I pressed.
He sighed. “I don’t really know. They aren’t telling us shit. Something went down with the higher-ups. Pavol’s freaking out. I think Benedict quit or left or something. I’m not sure. Anyway, Pavol doesn’t want anyone out of their rooms today.”
“But what about food and the bathroom?” I asked.
“You’ll have to use the one in your room today, I’m afraid.”
All the rooms had a toilet and a small sink in them, just like prison cells, but I hated using them. I always felt exposed.
Dark figures appeared at the end of the corridor. Massimo, dressed in his black robes, walking quickly with Dr. Blackwood.
He didn’t glance in my direction, but Blackwood stopped to talk to Alonso for a second, instructing him to have the cook prepare trays for all the rooms.
I stared at the side of Massimo’s face, wishing that he’d look at me, but he didn’t. Of course being suspicious right now wasn’t a good idea, but still, I sought reassurance from the only ally I’d ever had.
“Katarina, everything okay?” Dr. Blackwood asked me suddenly.
My eyes snapped to him. I nodded and leaned down to speak through the food flap. “I’m okay, just curious what’s going on.”
Dr. Blackwood nodded. “Well, once you have your meds, you’ll feel better. Maybe you can have a little sleep. I know they make you tired. In fact, everyone should eat well today and then rest. The day will pass faster that way.”
I nodded and stepped back to watch as Blackwood and Massimo walked away.
“You heard the man, I better get on.” Alonso’s voice was heavy.
“Okay, come tell me if you find anything out,” I said.
He just shrugged and walked away.
It didn’t look like I was going to get any answers right now. All I could do was wait.
Luckily for me, I had a lot of experience with that.
I sank down on the floor, my back to my bed, and stared at my wall and the mess of black chalk that lived there: scribbled notes to myself, and words and names of things I’d tried not to forget.
And I waited.
Come nighttime,my stomach screamed for food. The only thing that had been delivered all day was a single mystery-meat meal. I’d been desperate enough to eat it, but after a few bites, a strange chemical taste had lingered in my mouth. I stared at it, then leaned in and inhaled. There it was—a bitter chemical smell.
Drugged.
Blackwood had had the food drugged with a sedative, probably so everyone would stay in their rooms docilely.
I pushed the rest of the plate away, my stomach still painfully empty, but knowing that I couldn’t eat anymore.
After a while, I went to bed and lay down. There was just enough of the drug in my system to make me sleepy. I closed my eyes and let myself drift off.