Page 34 of The Woman

Something shifts in his gaze. I’m not sure what exactly, and I’m still not sure what his plans are with me, but I realize my life is in his hands. If he asks me questions and wants to know things about me and understand, I should probably answer.

Maybe that will help with his decision.

Chapter 16

Phoenix

I stare her down as I often do with others when figuring out what type of person they are. Unfortunately for me, she’s not as easy to read as they are, which keeps my curiosity piqued.

I know she’s practiced the art of keeping her feelings under control, but I don’t think she’s pretending right now as she boldly stares back at me, not averting her eyes. And she doesn’t appear to cower under my usual glower.

It’s fucking gratifying to me.

“How much do you know?” I track her teeth scraping along her lip in thought, and I realize the question is probably too broad, and she would have no frame of reference. “You know how to play the piano?” I ask instead, even though it’s been fairly established that she can.

Her head dips once. “Yes.”

“How?”

“I was taught,” she answers.

“Taught?” I ask. “They taught you at the facility?”

She shifts a little, and I track that as well, apparently fascinated with her every move and every word out of her mouth now.

“No.”

I didn’t think so, but it still leaves the question. “Who?”

Her lips press together, reluctant to answer. It’s not the same type of denying to reply to a simple question like earlier, though, so it doesn’t evoke that same type of frustration toward her.

She doesn’t want anything to happen to whoever it is.

“I won’t report them,” I offer.

Her eyes caress my face, searching for the truth. And now that I know there is intent behind her stare, I find it to be a different experience. I want to know what she thinks when she looks at me.

Whatever she sees must satisfy her because she finally opens her mouth to speak again. “When I first arrived, there was another . . . defect like me. Older. She taught me to play, amongst other things, before she was selected.”

Another WOUN at the same facility? That suggests they are not quite as rare as I had originally assumed.

“How did she know? I mean, how did it come about that she taught you?”

“We can see it in others, whether it’s through accidental eye contact throughout the day or at night when we’re all supposed to be in bed. A normal woman wouldn’t notice me get up and sneak to the door. A defect would.”

I unfold my arms and grip the edge of the desk, thinking of this disturbing information I’ve been so eagerly ignorant of before now.

WOUN that sneak around in the facility at night.

WOUN that hide who they are.

WOUN like Avery: beautiful and willing to do whatever to remain hidden.

“Have you always known? Has anyone ever suspected?”

Her head twists to the side to look out one of the large windows.

“My father knew that I was different. But if he had turned me in, he wouldn’t have gotten anything except for a job well done.“ She faces me once again, her features sure and determined. “He wanted the compensation that is provided by the facility once a female is given. So, he told me to keep my mouth shut and my face blank.”

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