“The offerings look delicious tonight.”
The voice jarred Avalore out of her thoughts.The line had dwindled, allowing her mind to wander briefly.She glanced down toward the rest of the servers and ensured she had not inadvertently caused a backup.But only this man waited.
She used her tongs, picked up two thick slices, and placed them on his food-laden tray as instructed to serve each person.She expected the man to continue walking toward a seat when she drew her hand back.However, he didn’t move.
When she glanced up into the face of the bearded man with shaggy hair and dark eyes that made her feel like she was on a slide under a microscope—those eyes invaded her, tried to see too much.There was something about him that was familiar.In the lab area, they frequently saw guards moving through the corridor, some with batons or other weapon-like sticks in their hands.Since their comings and goings had nothing to do with them, Avalore and the other women minded their business.
She was grateful for the extra layer the apron provided but still fought the urge to wrap her arms around her chest.
“Well, look at what we have here.”
Ava kept her silence.
“They didn’t take your tongue out in the clinic, did they?”His lascivious stare moved to her mouth.
She swallowed.
“All the better if they did.”He leaned forward toward her, his protruding belly hanging over her food tray.
Avalore continued to keep her counsel, and she looked down the line again, hoping she saw someone else coming and she’d have a reason to encourage the man away.It was still empty.
“Play shy all you want, one, zero, zero, zero, one, three...they got your number next.”
His words made Avalore frown as she looked right at him for the first time.
His smile widened at her gaze.“Yes.Got your attention now.”He let out a rough, odd laugh.
Avalore bit into her bottom lip.She was not trying to entertain any conversation with this man.However, it seemed he knew something of her volunteer work.
For a moment, she was distracted by the sounds of her fellow servers picking up their long-serving dishes and heading into the kitchen.
Thankful she’d been provided a way of escape, Avalore took hold of her tray.
A thick hand manacled one of her wrists.“You see, the others didn’t make it.Not sure that one in your room will either,” he continued.
That bit of knowledge made her pause, and her heart stop.“What?”The word tumbled out of her mouth.
His hand tightened as he brushed a rough thumb over the back of her wrist.“Yup.Gone and carried off to the burn station,” he chuckled, as if other innocent lives were not valuable.
Her throat seized, and her stomach rolled.Could this man be speaking the truth?Were she and Mich the last two?
“That can’t be true.”
“Oh, it is.”The ruddy man glanced over his shoulder to ensure he was not overheard.“Y’all ain’t the first batch.They keep dying.Can’t hold inside what’s foreign and an abomination.”
Inside?Abomination?Avalore wanted to tell the man he was wrong because they were only giving samples, and the only thing they had been given was medicine; then, they took more blood or urine to see how it processed in them so they could test it on virus samples.The clinicians had told them this over and over and over again.They even took the time to explain the scientific procedures to them so they would understand.
We’re saving lives, she declared silently.
Ava squeezed her hands around the pan and tried to tug away again.
The security guy's grip held fast.“Don’t you worry, none.With your hips...”He lowered his eyes down her body, salaciously taking in the wide curves of her hips, a testament to her heritage, as he licked his mouth hidden by his overgrown mustache and beard.“You should be fine.You may be their success story.They’ll use you again and again as long as your body is able to continue.”
No.
“But, Ole Sals goin’ get a taste before they let ‘em at you.”
Let them at me.Who?What?Her mind was swimming with so many questions that she felt lightheaded and afraid if she didn’t get away from the man, she’d drop like a stone onto the highly polished wood floor.
