When I woke again, I was back in Elias’ tent.
Unless they all looked the same. But no, there was the marvelous box of books, and this was definitely the same blanket on the bed.
It smelled like him.
How had I gotten here? I couldn’t remember walking back from the medical tent.
Had Elias carried me?
He wasn’t anywhere in sight. What had happened after he’d injected me with the Verax? I couldn’t remember a thing.
What truths had I told exactly?
Apparently I hadn’t said anything they considered too damning because I was still here in the Haven instead of in a shallow grave somewhere in the park.
Unless the wild boys were waiting for a dramatic triple execution ceremony at sunset.
The tent flap opened, and Elias came in accompanied by a rush of fresh, cool air. Through the opening, I could see the sun was getting low in the sky, so it was late afternoon.
He didn’t look at me, just tossed a handful of fabric at me and grunted an order.
“Time to get up and get ready. There’s a bath here for you.”
He gestured toward a collapsible tub sitting along one of the tent’s walls. Steam rose from the surface of the water filling it. It hadn’t been here before, so someone must have brought it in while I was unconscious.
There was also a new scent in the room. It smelled like… flowers. Lavender maybe?
I had really been out of it if I hadn’t noticed someone carrying in a full-sized bathtub and preparing a bath. Slowly I sat up and scooted toward the edge of the bed.
Elias gave me a quick side glance but still didn’t look directly at me. Something about him had changed. He seemed angry.
“After you wash, you can put on those clean clothes. Pretty sure they’ll fit you. Call out when you’re decent.”
Then he turned and left the tent.
Okay then. Guess he wasn’t so happy with my answers after all.
I looked down at the garments in my hands then spread them on the bed.
There had to have been girls here somewhere in the Haven because these were definitely feminine items— a silky white dress and a pair of white panties.
My face went hot. Elias had carried these in here—he’d know exactly what I had on under my dress.
On the other hand, I’d been wearing the same clothes and underwear for a couple days now. A change was welcome.
I bathed and dressed and used the toothbrush Elias had provided.
When I opened the tent flap and stepped outside, he was standing at the edge of the deck with his back to me, watching the sunset. I couldn’t blame him. It was spectacular.
The sky burned with a beautiful combination of pinks and oranges, and the warm rays of diffused light streaming through the tree’s leaves had that magical golden hue only present during the day’s final hour.
Elias must have been deep in thought because he seemed unaware of my presence. I stood behind him, dressed like a bride in a historical novel and feeling a little foolish.
I realized I was also nervous for him to see me like this.
What is that about? I didn’t care what he thought about my appearance.
It was probably just that I’d never worn anything so… so… I guessed sexy was the word.
“I’m decent,” I finally said, and Elias whipped around to face me. He must not have heard me leave the tent.
His eyelids flared, and he stared at me, his mouth falling open. For a second, he said nothing.
Then he mumbled, “A good bit more than decent. You look…”
There was a long pause during which my stomach performed several impressive flips.
“…very nice,” he finished.
His eyes continued to study my body in what looked like extreme interest. Maybe even appreciation.
My heart fluttered like a trapped bird. The boys at the base had never once looked at me like that. It was kind of nice to be admired like this for the first time in my life.
“Thank you,” I said. “What am I all dressed up for?”
“A gathering of all the residents of the Haven. It’s kind of a… welcome ceremony for you and your friends.”
“A welcome ceremony?” My heart lifted. “So we can stay?”
Elias nodded and gave a half-smile, though his eyes didn’t look happy. “Yes. You can stay.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Wow. I’m actually surprised. The way you were acting, I thought maybe I’d said something on the truth serum that made you mad.”
He gave a short back and forth head shake. “No. Not mad.”
Then he turned his back to me and went to the ladder, descending a couple of rungs before turning and holding out a hand to assist me. “Let’s go. It’ll start soon. In fact, we’re probably late.”
“And I’ll get to see my friends?”
I was smiling now, unable to contain my excitement. Things were going to work out after all.
Elias did not return my smile. “They’ll be there.”
We moved from platform to platform, Elias helping me navigate each rope ladder in my dress.
The sunlight was beginning to wane, and electronic torches popped on throughout the elaborate treehouse, reminding me of the fireflies Ketta and I used to run around chasing at dusk when we were little.
It was beautiful, like a fairytale village.
When we arrived at the central platform, I saw Ketta and Jolie, also wearing white dresses, seated in two chairs on a riser. They looked healthy, if a little freaked out.
And no wonder. Surrounding them in all directions, standing on the platform, sitting in the branches, talking excitedly amongst themselves, were the residents of the Haven.
Every single one of them was male.
As we got closer, I could see individual faces among the audience, could see their eyes. A few pairs of them displayed straightforward excitement.
Far too many held a predatory gleam that reminded me of the old nature vids I’d seen of wolves stalking their prey.
What is going on here?
I stopped walking and whipped my head toward Elias. The apprehension had to be plain on my face.
His hand came to rest on my lower back as he propelled me forward. “Don’t be afraid. You’re safe. I’m with you.”
“We’re the only girls at the Haven?” I asked, aghast.
“No. There are others.” He didn’t elaborate.
“Where are they? Why haven’t I seen any?”
“You will—later. For now you’ll just have to trust me when I tell you not to worry.”
“What’s going on? What’s going to happen here tonight?”
Again, his tone was reassuring. “I’m going to introduce you officially.”
We reached the steps of the platform and he stopped to look down at me. “You want to be able to move about the Haven freely right?”
“Yes.”
“Well this is the first step. It’ll be fine. Go sit with your friends. I’ll see you afterward.”
Feeling supremely self conscious, I walked across the stage to join Ketta and Jolie. They looked beautiful. And nervous.
“Mireya,” Ketta exclaimed, stretching her hand out toward mine. “Are you okay?”
“I got scared when we didn’t see you for so long,” Jolie said.
I nodded eagerly, taking my seat beside theirs. “I’m okay. I’ve missed you. Are y’all okay? No one’s mistreated you?”
“The first day sucked— when we were kept in separate tents. But then they moved us into our own tent. The other girls here are pretty nice.”
“You’ve seen other girls?” I asked, surprised but relieved to know Elias had been telling the truth.
“Not many,” Jolie clarified. “Apparently there are a lot more guys here than girls. Nobody’s really explained why. But the girls I’ve talked to so far seem happy here, so that’s good.”
“Why haven’t I seen them?” I wondered aloud.
Ketta answered. “They spend most of their time in a big tent up there.”
She pointed to the upper branches of a distant tree. “We only see them when they come home at night.”
I was about to ask another question when Elias’ voice rang out. I turned to see him standing at the front of the stage facing the gathering. His arms were stretched out in front of him.
“Okay, okay, let’s have quiet. I know you’re all excited, but please simmer down so everyone can hear.”
The crowd hushed, and Elias went on. “As you can see, the rumors are true. We have three new residents at the Haven—Ketta, Jolie, and Mireya. All of them came here from Georgia.”
Each of us lifted a hand in a small wave as our names were called.
There was a roar of applause and cheers. A few whistles as well. Guys were turning to one another, talking excitedly, and in some cases pointing to us.
It was nice to see people so happy to have us here but also rather unsettling to be displayed up here in front of the crowd like a buffet of fresh meat. Did they always put Haven newcomers on the spot like this?
Elias pushed down on the air in front of him, and the guys got quiet again.
“They’ve all passed the truth test, so let’s get to the business at hand,” he said. “I know you’re eager to get the Eligibility Trials started, and you won’t have to wait long. They’ll begin in two days’ time when the arbiters have had a chance to prepare the games.”
The roar now was deafening. Whatever these games were about, the residents here obviously loved them. They must have been some sort of traditional celebration, maybe to welcome new residents?
Once again Elias raised his hands, and the audience noise diminished.
“Take the next couple of days to decide whether you’ll participate then prepare yourselves for the competition. Obviously previous winners will not compete. I suggest you go home and get your rest. Whether you win or lose… you’re going to need it.”
There was raucous laughter and applause, and the crowd began to dissipate.
No one came up to introduce themselves to me and my friends, which surprised me a little.
It seemed like that would be the natural thing to do when you had newcomers to your community. But the guys kept their distance and did no more than look at us before going back to their tents for the night.
I assumed I’d be going back to the girls’ tent area with my friends. Elias had said I’d be allowed to explore the Haven now that this formality was done.
But he walked over to us and took my arm at the same time two other guys came to Ketta and Jolie’s sides. They began to escort my friends from the platform.
Elias turned and started herding me the other way.
“Wait.” I stopped and dug my heels in. “I’m not going with my friends?”
He wrapped a large hand around my wrist and tugged. “No. You’re coming home with me. You’ll stay in my tent until the games are completed.”
I jerked my arm away from him. “Why? You said I’d have my freedom after tonight.”
He gave a little chuckle as if my irritation amused him. “I said tonight was the first step.”
Then his smile disappeared. “Don’t worry. You’ll be rid of me soon enough. If it makes you feel any better, your friends will also be guarded until the Trials end. Now come on.”
It didn’t make me feel better. Did he still not trust us? He said we’d passed the truth test.
“Why do we still have to be guarded? What exactly do you think we’re going to do to you?”
He slid a glance to the side, meeting my gaze briefly before looking away.
“It’s not for our protection. It’s for yours.”
