Page 10 of The Cousins and the Brunette

I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m back. And I’ve got news.”

“Good news or bad news?”

“Depends on how you look at it.” I dropped my bag and sat down on the makeshift bed. “An Elite named Mr. Shoemaker approached me. He wants to hire me to pretend to be his daughter for a few weeks. In exchange, he’s offering me a lot of money.”

Kay’s face fell. “That sounds shady, Brynn. You don’t even know him. What if it’s a trick?”

“Believe me, I thought the same thing, but this could get us out of here. Real money, Kay. Enough to change our lives.”

“Money isn’t worth risking your life,” she argued, her bottom lip trembling.

I stood up. “Look, I can handle it. I’ve dealt with worse. This is our chance, Kay. I can’t say no to this.”

She looked down, biting her lip. “I...I don’t want you to go.”

“I know,” I softened my tone, placing a hand on her shoulder. “But we need this. And while I’m gone, you can stay with Marla. She’ll take care of you.”

Kay’s face brightened. “Ok, but not forever, right?”

“No. It’s just temporary. I promise. Trust me, okay? I know what I’m doing.”

Kay nodded reluctantly, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “Okay. But pinky swear that you’ll be careful.”

I gave her a quick hug. “Now, let’s pack your things.”

Kay grabbed her worn backpack and started stuffing it with her few belongings, including a grimy doll. Watching her, I felt a pang of guilt. My pride and independence had always driven me to provide for her on my own, but now, more than ever, I needed help.

“Ready?” I asked.

She zipped up the bag. “Ready,” she replied, trying to muster a brave smile.

We left the maintenance room, stepping into the sunlight that bathed the derelict buildings around us. The city was alive with buzzing drones, distant shouts, and the hum of far-off maglev trains. We walked across the city towards Marla’s community center.

“Hey, Brynn. Do you think we’ll ever live in one of those big mansions on the hill overlooking the city?”

“Maybe someday…” I sighed, squinting at the skyline. “If we play our cards right.”

“Do you think they’ll have a pool?” she asked, a touch of childlike humor returning to her voice.

“For sure.” I laughed. “And maybe even a robot butler to bring us snacks.”

“That would be awesome!” Kay giggled.

We approached the community center, and the building’s chipped paint and boarded-up windows came into view. It wasn’t much, but it was a safe place for people like us. I glanced around, taking in the sight of kids playing in the yard and volunteers distributing food.

“Well, here we are,” I said, pushing the door open.

The interior smelled of antiseptic and fresh laundry, a strange but satisfying combination. There were rows of cots lined up against the walls, some occupied by sleeping figures, others by people chatting quietly or reading.

“Looks like Marla’s not in her usual spot. Let’s find her.”

“Okay,” Kay said, clinging to my side.

“Bet she’ll be thrilled to see you. Maybe she’ll even bake some of those cookies you love.”

My sister and I ventured further inside the large airy room.

“Over there,” Kay said, pointing to a corner where Marla knelt beside a sick homeless man lying on a cot.

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