Page 48 of Mountain Captive

“How old are you?”

“I’m ten.”

“Who else is here?” Chris looked around the cave. Anything more than a few feet from the lantern’s flame was pitch black, but it didn’t feel as if anyone else was nearby.

“There is a guard outside the entrance. Probably several guards. Please, let me look at your injury.”

Chris hesitated, then turned her back to the girl. Serena was so slight that even in her injured state, Chris felt sure she could defend herself against the child if necessary.

“I’m going to clean away some of the dried blood in your hair,” Serena said.

Chris winced as the cool water—or maybe the soap in it—stung the gash on her head. “That was a nasty fall you took,” Serena said as she dabbed at the wound. “You must have hit a big rock.”

“I didn’t fall,” Chris said. “Someone hit me, though maybe they used a rock.”

“Who would do that?” Serena asked.

Chris didn’t answer. How could she explain anything to this child?

Heavy bootheels striking rock echoed around them. Serena’s hand stilled, and Chris turned to see Jedediah. The lantern’s flickering flame cast macabre shadows over his face, deepening every crag and crevice, turning his eyes to dark smudges and highlighting his large yellowing teeth. “Good, you’re awake,” he said.

“She said she didn’t fall,” Serena said. “Someone hit her in the head.”

Jedediah didn’t look at the girl. “She’s confused. She fell.”

“I didn’t fall until someone hit me.” Chris wanted to stand up to face him, but she was afraid if she did so, she might faint. She had to settle for glaring up at him. “You can’t keep me here. People will be looking for me.”

“They won’t find you.”

“Where am I?” She didn’t remember any caves in the area around Guthrie Mill, but there were plenty of old mines.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “We’re not going to stay here long. We’re moving you to a new hiding place right away. By tomorrow you’ll be halfway across the country.” He turned to Serena. “Get her dressed in those clothes I left. And don’t forget the wig.”

He left, his footsteps echoing behind him. Serena moved to Chris’s side, a bundle of fabric in one hand, a curly blond wig in the other. “You need to put these on,” she said. “I can help you if you’re still feeling dizzy.”

Chris eyed the long-sleeved dress, with its high neckline and long skirt, and the blond wig. “Why do I have to wear those things?” she asked, even though she thought she knew the answer. Once she put on that outfit, no one would be able to see her tattoos or blue hair—the very things anyone searching for her would be looking for.

“I don’t know.” Serena thrust them at her again. “The Exalted wills it.”

This was the reasoning given for any number of actions within the Vine, from a designated fasting day to a dictate of what clothing people would wear, to the decision to move to a new location. Chris eyed the dress—a particularly drab shade of faded gray. “I won’t wear any of that,” she said.

Serena bit her lower lip. “If you don’t put them on, they’ll punish you,” she said.

“I’m not afraid of their punishment.” Not entirely true, but right now she was too angry to pay much attention to the fear lurking at the back of her throat.

“They’ll punish me too.” The words came out as a whisper, but they stung like a scream. The child had been hurt before.

“Where are your parents?” Chris asked.

“My parents have gone on to glory,” she answered, blurting the statement like a child reciting the multiplication tables.

The familiar phrase sent another chill through Chris. “Do you mean they’re dead?” she asked. “Both of them?”

Serena nodded. “Please put the clothing on,” she said.

“All right.”

Serena—who was strong despite her slight frame—helped Chris stand. “Do you need help undressing?” she asked.

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