Underland(41)

The dwarf woman hit the red button, and he shrieked—immediately trapped. Glass doors shut him inside the machine. “We have a cheater.” She spoke into an intercom, and a crowd gathered around and started to boo and hiss loudly at the fake competitor. She pushed another few buttons on her console, and the floor dropped out from under him. He fell into a dark hole. Kira had no idea where it led to, but she had a feeling she never wanted to be suspected of cheating.

“Next!” The short woman perched on the tall stool yelled a little too happily.

Kira stood frozen, staring as the hole in the floor closed up with a whoosh of air. She was not going to step on that platform. No way.

“Next!” The control woman ordered, and Kira felt a nudge from behind her. She was next.

“Name?” The short woman on the tall stool watched her. Kira’s eyes were glued to the floor, and the control woman had to ask twice more before Kira could tear her eyes away and answer her.

“Kira Lier.”

“Owner?”

Owner. No one owned her. Her anger spiked. She refused to say anything. The line of other runners behind her was beginning to talk.

“Owner?” The short woman repeated a bit more impatiently.

“I am.” Remus stepped up from the other side of the machine. He held up his bracer and put it against the metal reader on the exit side of the machine. Numbers flashed across the screen, and then there was a picture of her.

“Okay, step through.”

Kira held her breath. All she could think was that the floor could open up and swallow her.

She stepped through and got scanned. Her stats came up on a viewing screen.

“Put your band against the plate.”

She did. The plate beeped, and freedom tokens were loaded onto it—quite a few. Because she had killed the number one contender, Bogeyman, she got his winnings. Even more were loaded onto Remus’s because he was her owner, and then it kept loading long after hers was done. His eyebrows shot upward when he read the amount.

Den stepped forward and placed his bracer against the plate.

He had placed bets. Who had he bet on?

“Underdog paid out big today.” The short woman smiled wryly at Kira, showing her green and rotted teeth.

He bet on her.

She didn’t understand the numeric system, but she understood money. Money meant freedom. As long as she could earn enough, she could leave. Her spirits soared.

Den gave her a pat on the head when she came out and didn’t even look at his winnings. Remus stood behind Den, waiting to collect for Chaz. He was bouncing nervously—and wearing more jewels and decorations than she had seen him decked out in before.

Kira brought up her band to look at her winnings.

Remus gripped her wrist and twisted her arm, turning the brace so he could read the number.

It was odd. Kira felt violated, wanted to hold her hand over the screen and hide the numbers from Remus. She could almost see his mind plotting to steal her winnings. But then the whole exchange made her feel dirty. She did all of the work and Remus received money too—just for owning her.

“Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, the girl and I. Even though it’s killed two of my prize runners now.”

Chaz had just come through the machine, and Remus rubbed his hands together before moving to collect more winnings. “Yes, yes that’s good.” The number on his brace rose and kept rising. “You’re doing well, Chaz. Won’t be long now.” Remus raised an eyebrow at him.

Chaz scowled and strode off into the crowd.

“Den.” Remus turned and scanned the line. “Where’s your zeke?”

“Infirmary,” Den answered. “Warrick’s taking care of him. He got injured protecting your runner, and now it’s gonna cost me more money to fix him up.”

“Maybe he should have minded his own business,” Remus held out his arms, making his ornate robes flow beneath them. “I’d have made even more money on its death.”

“He’ll be fine.” Den answered. But a sheen of perspiration peppered his forehead. He was nervous about something.

She backed away and bumped into Chaz who put his hands on her shoulders.

“I need winners, Den, not losers. Creeper and Bogeyman are busts. Chaz is a winner, certainly, but who knows how much longer he’ll be with us. This is your problem twice over. Get me more winners.”

“Maybe I’ll help you out, and buy you out of your problem, Remus.” He glanced over to Kira, and she felt a surge of hope. Maybe he could buy her.

Remus licked his lips and stared at Den’s band. “Anything can be bought for the right price.” His eyes flicked to Kira. “But sometimes I prefer death to money.”





Chapter 19

A heaviness hung in the air as they left. Den and Warrick spoke in hushed voices, their conversation just quiet enough Kira couldn’t make it out.

Zeke seemed to be improving—he got into the truck with little help. He did stay far away from her, though, leaning his head against the wall. And he wouldn’t look at her. Did he feel bad for wanting to attack her in the medic room?

She kept glancing his way, trying to figure him out.

When they got back to the compound, an excited crowd greeted them. Holly was there—her black and purple eye had faded to a greenish yellow. Her mouth curled down with displeasure. Chaz jumped off the truck, and the first thing she did was hit him in the arm. A heated argument ensued, her hands flying and her voice rising.