Page 30 of Resistant

I have a myriad of equipment here-an older laptop, and some state-of-the-art microscopes to study the plants I’m growing to hopefully disturb the Gray. That is, if the government leaves me alone long enough to make progress. Then my focus will be escaping the camp and getting my research out to the leaders of the Resistance, where it will be used for good.

My laptop has seen better days, it’s not even a touch screen, but I’m glad to have something to store my work and run simulations.

I tap my fingers in annoyance on the desk. There must be something I’m missing. I need a growth accelerator, more than fertilizer or common additives we had in The Before, enough growth to repair the ozone and disburse the Gray quickly. I go through my notes again looking for something, anything that will result with the growth I need.

A power surge floods the lab, and the lights and equipment blink once, twice, and when I look back at the screen, I have an email message. I look around, stunned. There is no internet anymore and I’m not sure where this came from. I wish I had taken computer science courses, there’s no IT to help me here.

The message is short.

Go to the stocks, make sure you have 8675. You need her.”

What the fuck?I have no idea who 8675 is, and I have no contact with the women here.Except for last night.

I feel myself get hard in my pants. I blow out a breath and run my hand through my hair, my heart rate picks up.Great, now I’m distracted, again.And I’m talking to myself.Fucking super.

I glance down at the tattoo on my forearm, 6457, my new name. The only name I’ve had over the last few years.Fuck me.Why do I need her? Who sent this message, how do I know that I can trust anyone?

Unlocking the laptop, I try to reply. The message box disappears.Well, that was helpful. Fuck.

The chute is not crowded today, and I shovel in the slop that only loosely resembles food. The guard from last night appears at my side.

“You have the stocks tonight. You’ll have the stocks every night except yard days. I’ll be at the elevator to unlock the door for you 15 minutes after slop. Don’t be late. I won’t wait, I’ll go in your place and get a piece of ass for myself.”

I stiffen and stifle the urge to tackle him to the floor as he walks away. I slide my tray into the dish slot and walk quickly to the showers.

No fucking way am I going to allow him to rape that woman.Fuck, is she going to be waiting for me?I need to look for her tattoo. I need to find a way to talk to her.This is madness.

The Second Meeting

Declan

The guard drags the elevator door open, and we turn down the hall toward the cell door.

“Hey, can you tell me why I’m not blindfolded?”

I nod toward the cell door, where she sits blindfolded.

The guard smirks.

“Men need to see to get off. Take your present and shut the fuck up, or I’ll take it for you.”

The guard steps away and swings the cell door wide.There she is. I’m both relieved and terrified it’s the same woman from last night.

Tonight, she has a red blindfold over her eyes, and I realize it’s a man’s necktie. She sits on the desk naked, shaking like a leaf. I scrub my face with my hand.

This woman is my reward, and this is all so very wrong. I’m already hard, Jesus, I can’t go through this every night. She is broken. Fuck, I’m broken. Are any of us not broken?I can’t take a woman who doesn’t want me. And I can’t keep coming down here naked, with this naked woman, and not lose my mind. That red tie is going to kill me. How many ties did I have like that? Fuck, I need to find her tattoo.

She turns her face towards me, listening. I watch her as she breathes deeply, and I see a hint of a smile. I reach for her arm and gasp. 8675.Fuck what are the odds of that?

I shudder and pull her in close to me.What if I’ll get to keep her? What? Fuck, I’m going off the deep end. I can’t keep her; I don’t even have myself. I’m a prisoner. Jesus.

I sigh, hopefully, she’ll accept more contact from me tonight. There is no touching in this New Reform, and I’m slowly dying inside. I’ll do anything to make her mine even if it’s just for tonight.

I lean in, my arms clasp her around the back, and whisper directly in her ear.

“You must have been such a good girl.”

I hear her gasp, and her fingers travel up my chest to my face. My eyes are closed. I can barely feel her fingertips glide over my eyes, nose, and jaw. I hear the scrape of her nails over my stubble. She’s trembling again and her hands travel back down my chest. I watch her face, looking for an inkling of what she might be feeling but it’s difficult when I can’t see her eyes.

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