Folsom (End of Men, #1)(56)
“Do you know where Folsom Donahue is?” I ask the officers repeatedly.
One of the officers finally speaks up when we pull up to an abandoned building. “This does not concern Mr. Donahue. Worry about yourself.”
“This isn’t the station. Where are you taking me?” I’m dragged into the dark building and taken to a sparse room that has a table, one chair, and a couch, and I’m left there to wait and wait and wait. I bang on the door to tell them I’m hungry and a guard gives me a banana muffin and sunflower seeds, which does nothing to abate the hunger. When the door is finally unlocked, my mother and Pandora walk in.
“Mother,” I say, standing up, relieved. “Why am I being held in here?”
She looks at me sadly and I feel the panic build.
“I never dreamed you’d do such a thing,” she says. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“What—what have I done?” I put my hand on her arm and she pulls away, moving closer to Pandora.
“We have a witness that says you started the fire at the hall last night,” Pandora says.
“No! It was Langley!” I yell. “I saw her do it.”
Pandora shakes her head. “Langley was with me all evening. I can testify to that when the time comes.”
I stare at her, wide-eyed. “You’re lying. Mother, she’s lying. You know I wouldn’t do something like this!”
“This…man—he’s changed you, Gwen. I feel like I don’t know you anymore.” Her eyes are ablaze. She doesn’t look like my mother. I glance at Pandora who stands back, a self-satisfied smile on her face. “You’ve become a zealot who is going against everything I’ve raised you to believe,” my mother says. “I can’t stand by and watch you become this person.” She moves to the door and knocks twice.
“Don’t leave me in here, not with her!” I plead with her. “I want a lawyer…”
The door opens and she walks out. I’m left alone with the governor.
“I have the right to a lawyer,” I repeat. My heart is throbbing in my throat. I choke down my panic.
“No need for drama, you haven’t been arrested. Yet. Here’s what will happen,” she says, leaning against the wall with her feet crossed. “I’ve managed to talk the police into letting you stay at the mansion while they conduct their investigation. It’s an unfortunate thing, Gwen, that you can’t be trusted with that precious, precious gift you’ve been given.” She glances at my stomach, and my skin crawls. She scratches her hand and flakes of skin rain down like confetti. “But the second you start causing trouble again, charges of arson will be filed against you.”
I slam my fist on the table. “Someone else started that fire. Don’t you want to find the person who really did it?”
“Everyone thinks you set the fire in that ridiculous show of jealousy.” She tsks at me. My cheeks burn and I fist my hands under the table. “Honestly, Gwen,” she shakes her head, “—with your little schoolgirl crush. It’s pathetic.”
I want to jump to my feet and slap her in the face, but I know they’re watching me. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I’m about to tell her so when she narrows her eyes, a cruel smile on her lips.
“Do you think that he loves you? He’s an End Man. It’s his job to charm women. You’re no different than the rest of the little whores he fucks. That’s what your measly followers will believe after word spreads about what you did…you’re nobody.” She taps on the door. “You’re free to go and collect some of your things. You’ll be expected at the mansion by this afternoon at two. If we have to come looking for you, you’ll be arrested.”
One of the officers drives me back, not saying a word during the drive. When we reach the compound, I walk into the bedroom I’ve shared with Folsom. I check the Silverbook and feel sick that he still hasn’t responded. I write a note explaining that I’m being forced to stay at Pandora’s and wish I could trust that he’ll get the message. I don’t bother going online to see what’s going on because I know the propaganda against me has probably already started. I’m beginning to see how it all operates. I wish I hadn’t been so blind before now. How long has my mom been this deceived? Krystal and Sera and several of the others are watching as I take my things to the car. No one offers to help. No one says a word. Any generosity exhibited to me during my stay was contingent on Folsom being around. Without him, I am—as Pandora so kindly put it—nobody.
A couple of hours before I’m due at the house, I drive out to Genome Y and am denied entrance.
“I work here,” I say to the guard. “You know me.”
She shakes her head, but not unkindly. “I’m afraid you don’t work here anymore. I can’t grant you access without clearance.”
Maybe they think stripping me of everything will shut me up. Maybe that would’ve worked on me a long time ago, but that girl is gone. My mom might have spoken the truth—I have changed. But it has nothing to do with a man and everything to do with fighting for what is right. I find a printing shop and make copies of the files I brought home from the lab yesterday and put the copies in a safe deposit box. After that, I drive straight to Governor Petite’s mansion and submit myself. It goes against everything inside me to cave to Petite’s demands, but I can’t be any help to Folsom if I’m in jail. And I’m convinced more than ever that he needs me.