Beyond(16)

Gina chooses that moment to walk up to us. Her face is pale and she’s trembling. “I need Dane.”

Lars and I share a look. “He’s not here.”

Gina whimpers, and I find myself stepping towards her. “What do you need us to do?”

She wraps her arms around me and starts sobbing, her tears wetting my dress. Patting her back awkwardly, I look up helplessly at Lars. “Did any psychologists survive the apocalypse?”

I can tell he’s trying not to laugh and I don’t appreciate it.

“I’m sure Lars would like you hold you until you feel better,” I tell her.

Lars shakes his head.

I narrow my eyes at him threateningly.

He grins and crosses his arms. “Wasn’t in my job description. Only had to keep an eye on you.”

“Yeah well I’m comforting my fiancé’s ex-girlfriend, I’m a little traumatized. If you’re meant to keep me safe you’re failing. Or was it only physical not mental harm?”

Gina lifts her head. “Dane and I didn’t date.”

“So I’ve heard. So what was that?” I ask her, frowning.

“Panic attack,” she murmurs, looking down.

“Do you feel better now?” I ask quietly.

She doesn’t answer.

I look to Lars but he’s no help whatsoever.

“I have to get changed and then go outside to watch Regan play. Do you want to come with me?”

She lifts her head at me and smiles, nodding and wiping her tears away.

Christ.

She really was a beautiful girl. All big blue eyes and brown hair, with little freckles peppering her nose.

“Okay then,” I tell her. “Follow me.”

I couldn’t just leave her here, crying and vulnerable. Dane wasn’t here, and he cared for this girl. She was one of my people, I couldn’t leave her to be miserable alone, having panic attacks or whatever else she was going through. Post-traumatic stress? Something obviously set her off, because she wasn’t like this all the time.

We walk to my room in silence, side by side, Lars following behind.

Before Dane, I was a loner.

Now I had a f*cking entourage.





A week later, I’m sitting next to Lars having dinner and annoying the shit out of him. “Are you excited to kiss me next week?”

“No.”

“Are you going to use your tongue?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

He puts down his fork. “No. And don’t mention that again or else Dane will kick my ass when he gets back.”

“Fine but you’re at least going to touch my ass right?”

He gets up and leaves the table.

Gina shakes her head at me. “Leave the poor man alone.”

I giggle. “I can’t help myself.”

She laughs with me then looks down. “I’m worried about Dane. He didn’t even tell me he was leaving.”

I clear my throat. “Does he have to report to you or something?”

She smiles sadly. “No I don’t mean it like that. It’s just that…”

“What?”

She looks me in the eye. “Did Dane tell you how the two of us know each other?”

I shake my head.

She nods, like the expected it. “You haven’t left these walls in a long time Olivia. You don’t know what’s out there. There is no humanity left in our race. We’re all monsters.”

I look around. “There are good people here in the castle.”

She nods. “There are. Why do you think I stay here? This place is a blessing.”

“Then why do you… you know.”

“Sleep with men for whatever I want?”

I look down, my cheeks heating at her bluntness. “Yes.”

“A few reasons,” she says slowly. “Dane hates it too, but… it’s hard to explain. It’s all I know, really. And I’m not going to lie, I like the attention. I like sex, a lot. I guess I use it as a means of currency and an escape. When I’m sleeping with someone, I don’t think. My mind is blank. There’s no pain. There is also the fact that the women who choose to please the men get to use protection. We’re one of the few women in the castle that don’t have to have babies. I don’t want any children.”

I hadn’t heard any of this before. It would only make sense that they would have to be protected when sleeping with multiple men, but I never thought of it as a way to get out of helping to rebuild our population.

My eyes widening with her brutally honest admission, I mutter, “I don’t know what to say.”

She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You don’t have to say anything. It is what it is.”

“What is it like out there now?” I ask, waiting for her answer.

“Destroyed,” she replies casually. “Dead. Empty. There’s no sign of life, and when you do find it, you wish you hadn’t.”

Goose bumps appear on my arm from her explanation. “Yet Dane’s out there alone?”

“Dane could survive out there alone. Trust me, you don’t need to worry about him. He only got caught once because he trusted someone, and he won’t make that mistake again.”