Page 63 of Freak Camp
Chapter Nine
Summer 1998
“Hey, Pretty Freak!”
Tobias closed his eyes before standing.
It had been nice to be invisible for a while.In Freak Camp, being invisible was the best a monster could ask for.But he’d known it wouldn’t last.It figured that Victor would be the first to break it.In a group of sadists, thugs, and Dixons—the last of whom didn’t like to get their hands dirty outside of Special Research—Victor was the smartest.
Victor grinned at him, watching him approach.Tobias kept his eyes lowered, shoulders down.“Sir.”
“How was dinner?”
Tobias swallowed reflexively.The mealworms had gotten into the bread again.He could tell himself all he wanted that it was extra protein, but a slice of vaguely moving bread and a cup of tepid, flavorless liquid hadn’t done anything to make him feel less like he was consuming himself instead of the food.He had hated touching the guards, but he hadn’t realized how much of his food came as a reward for what he did on his knees until it was gone.He didn’t answer.
Victor brought his billy club under Tobias’s chin, nudging his head up.Tobias kept his eyes almost shut.“I asked you a question.Still hungry?”He tapped the club against Tobias’s jaw, and Tobias flinched away.He clenched his fists, angry at his body’s betrayal at so light a move.
“Yes, sir,” he muttered, because whatever was going to happen now, it could only be worse if he lied.
The billy club fell away.“I got a nice fat sandwich back in my office.You want it?”
Tobias’s face didn’t twitch.
“Come on,” Victor wheedled.“Don’t you even want to know what I’m asking for it?”
Tobias inhaled and exhaled deeply through his nose.Might as well ask.“What’s the price, sir?”
“You on your knees in Head Alley.One-time payment.”
Not much work, usually over quickly.Yeah, it was worth it.He just had to hope Victor really did have a sandwich in his office.Tobias jerked his head in a nod.
“Did I read that right?Let’s be absolutely clear.”Victor held up his hands, open and mock-innocent.“I’m not forcing you into anything.You are voluntarily offering to blow me in exchange for something extra that monsters shouldn’t get.So don’t go running to Hawthorne with any stories when I’m doing you a favor.Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“If you don’t want it, you can walk away right now.If you want it, you gotta tell me.”
Tobias sucked in his breath.“No, sir.I want it.”
