Escape from Eden (7 page)

After hiding my sketchbook and charcoal, I headed to the bathroom, stripped off my bra and underwear, and tossed them into the hamper in the corner of the room. I heard the front door of the cottage squeak open.

“I’ll be out in a bit,” I called, stepping into the bathroom and kicking the door closed behind me.

I didn’t even bother to wait for an answer. If whoever-it-was needed to use the bathroom, she’d just come in with me in the shower. It’s not as if we had locks on the doors. Or privacy.

I slid the shower curtain closed. I watched the dark water fade to clear at my feet, then scrubbed myself until my skin was raw red. By the time I got out, the bathroom was filled with opaque steam. I wrapped myself in a towel, went out to my trunk, and snatched up a clean uniform from the pile.

When I returned to the bathroom, most of the steam had cleared. A dark shape next to the mirror caught the light. I drew closer. Stuck into the wall next to the mirror was my chef’s knife. Then I saw the writing on the steamy mirror.

Meet me on the fishing beach after curfew. Come alone.

The ocean was black and still in the moonlight, waves folding quietly in on themselves. It would have been beautiful if it hadn’t been for the jangling of my nerves. I stayed close to the tree line, inched my way off the cove path, and onto the sand. I scanned the cove, but knew no guards were here. They always patrolled the jungle, not the water.

They’re not keeping people from getting into Edenton. They’re keeping the Flock—us—in.

If what Gabriel had said in the infirmary was right, then I understood why they didn’t patrol the waterfront. We didn’t have boats, no small inflatable dinghies, or even life preservers. There was no way the Flock could escape out onto the water, so why waste the manpower? With our limited number of guards, it made sense to patrol where we could get away on foot.

Still, I remained close to the trees and hoped to make it to the jetty of rocks that separated the cove from the wide fishing beach without being seen. I’d changed into the dark T-shirt and jeans I’d been given for heavy-duty work—for most of the Flock that would have been their Contrition punishment—and my work boots. No breeze came off the water in the cove and my shirt stuck to my skin. My thick-soled boots shifted around unsteadily in the deep sand.

I saw deteriorating indentations stretching along the beach. Eleven. A curtain of dread dropped over me and I glanced up at the star-drenched sky. That was the last thing Octavio and Lily probably saw, all that beauty coaxing them into the everlasting night.

The jetty reached far out into the ocean, separating the cove where we were occasionally allowed to swim for training, and the fishing beach. Instead of taking the path to the beach, I decided to climb over the jetty. Enrique and Angél’s cottage was at the mouth of the fishing beach path. I couldn’t risk being seen by the fishermen. The rocks were slippery, though. Water from the breaking waves sprayed my face, feeling cool against my heated skin. A sharp rock scraped my palm and I hoped the salt water would clean it because I didn’t want to have to lie to Doc Gladstone.

My boots hit the sand on the other side. It was wet and easier to walk in than the deep sand on the cove side. I walked slowly, scanning the wide expanse of beach. On this side of the jetty, the small waves broke far out, low tide expanding the beach into a wide stretch of sand. In the half moon’s milky light, the humidity hung in the air like steam, blurring everything. I squinted and off in the distance saw what looked like a large rock at the edge of the water, as if it had come loose from the jetty. Slowly I approached, the wet sand sinking below my heavy soles. A figure unfurled from the rock-like shape and began walking toward me.

“You came,” Gabriel said as he moved closer, no surprise in his tone.

He’d expected me to show, and, in a way, I didn’t really care what he’d expected. I was out on the beach, late at night, with a boy. That tingle came back; excitement mingled with fear. This time I welcomed it. Because, why not? I glanced up at him. Same as me, he wore dark clothes. Wind sweeping off the water blew wisps of hair from his forehead and I could see a spark of satisfaction in his eyes.

“If the Reverend finds out we’re here, we could get in a lot of trouble,” I said.

“But you don’t care about getting in trouble, do you?”

He was right. I didn’t care. Not anymore.

“Why did you ask me here? I have to be at breakfast service at six
A.M.
”

“Don’t plan on sleeping,” he said as he grabbed my hand.

The warmth of his palm electrified my skin. It ran all the way up my arm as he led me down the beach.

“Where are we going?” I asked, peering back over my shoulder.

He didn’t answer, only darted forward, dragging me toward the high rocky bluff towering over the far side of the beach. My breathing rang in my ears as we moved farther from the shoreline, the ocean breeze disappearing as we headed inland.

We stopped at the edge of the bluff. Above us, the rocky ridge peaked high into the night sky.

“It’s not as steep as it looks,” Gabriel said, following my gaze.

“It’s not as—huh?”

“Have you ever climbed a rock wall?”

“A what?” I dropped his hand. “I can’t climb that.”

His eyes skated over me. “Something tells me you can.”

“Why would I want to?” I asked.

“Because I want you to see what’s on the other side.”

I glanced up the steep hill. It was high. A fall could kill me.

Because, Mia, I’m a murderer.

Or a shove.

I felt instantly stupid for coming out here to meet him.

“Having second thoughts?” Gabriel asked.

“No,” I said and glanced at him. His hair fell into his eyes, a curling bruise dark around the eye where Grizz had punched him. Is this what a murderer looked like? “Maybe.”

Gabriel kicked the toe of his shoe against the craggy wall then bent down and fiddled with the heel of his shoe. He drew something from it. It glinted as he held it up and flipped it open with a tinny sound.

“You have a lighter?” I asked, shocked. “How did you get that into Edenton?”

“They took all my fun stuff. I hid it in crazy places, too. Like in the linings of our luggage.” He examined the façade of the cliff with the little flame. “Except this. Guess they didn’t think to search my mom’s ladytime supplies. Now, if I can just find where I climbed last night … ”

“Ladytime?”

He turned to me, the lighter’s flame flickering between us. “You ready to climb?”

My hands began to tremble. A flutter built in my chest.

“Why do you want me to go up there?” I asked.

“Come on, Eden. Man up.”

“Eden?”

“That’s our last name, right?”

I paused, thinking about my name. Mia Eden. It was like an actress’s name. A made-up name.

“Ricci,” I said, my last name—Papa’s last name—feeling strange on my tongue. It had been so long since I’d said it. “Mia Antonia Ricci.”

“Gabriel Herbert Tallon,” he said, taking my hand and shaking it once.

I sent him a questioning look. “Herbert.” He nodded. “Yeah, I know. But it’s really my only flaw.”

I laughed, and felt an unexpected burst of lightness in my chest, so strange and wonderful that it almost made me forget everything for a split second. The sound of my own laugh shocked me, too. It was warm and smoky, not much different from my voice, but in laughter it became saturated. It had been a long time since I laughed.

Gabriel said nothing. He only stood, eyes fixed on my mouth.

I swallowed back my laugh.

“Follow me,” Gabriel said and placed his foot on a jutting rock. “Try to put your hands and feet where I put mine.”

I watched as he scaled the wall almost effortlessly. Determined, I followed him. Occasionally, I lost my footing and my boot slipped out from under me. My anxiety skyrocketed, bursting in my chest and spreading out into my limbs until they prickled with rushing blood. I loved the feeling of it. Like I’d been wading in a lukewarm kiddie pool for years, then plunged down a water slide, careening almost uncontrollably.

When I reached the top, Gabriel grabbed my hand and lifted me to my feet. We were both breathless and sweating. He stood so close I could feel the heat coming off his body before it was whisked away by the wind.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“No problem.” He glanced down the side of the bluff we’d just climbed. “That was pretty hardcore. I wasn’t sure you’d do it.”

I looked down, too. Once I saw the height we’d scaled, the shock and elation made my head swirl. The wind caught the fabric of my clothes, and for a moment, the idea of flying didn’t seem that crazy. Maybe it was the sudden sense of freedom rushing through me.

I tried to sound indifferent. “So, now I’m up here, what do you want to show me?”

Gabriel let the question hang, the corners of his mouth quirking. “This way,” he said finally, leading me toward the other side of the bluff.

Once there, we mounted a smaller hill with a gradual slope and climbed it side by side. As the next beach came into view, my jaw dropped.

“That’s not Edenton,” I said.

“Nope.”

Down on the beach, lights winked around what looked like a small town square plopped in the middle of the jungle. Modern buildings, much more sophisticated than in Edenton, bordered a perfect plot of well-manicured land. One paved road led to it from the surrounding jungle, a few blue-hued headlights driving toward the outcrop of buildings.

The beach itself boasted rows of little sun huts and a large deck out over the sand, lined with lights.

“That can’t be San Sebastian,” I said. “It’s too small—and it’s supposed to be farther away. The Reverend says the government granted us a ten-mile border radius.”

Gabriel’s tone was flat. “Either the Reverend is easily confused by the science of cartography, or he’s lying.”

I turned and saw the low, muted lights of Edenton just over the trees that lined the beach. The sparkling little beach encampment was just about two miles away.

“Why lie?” I asked Gabriel.

“The Reverend killed eleven people. I’d imagine he’s prone to lying—especially to himself.”

“Is it a resort?”

“No idea. Could be? If it was, why would the Reverend allow the corruption of the outside world so close to his paradise?”

“I want to see what’s down there.”

“I tried that last night,” he said. “I couldn’t get very close because of the guards and when I tried to make it back through the jungle to Edenton, Grizz caught me.”

I thought for a moment. “But you already got caught,” I said. “Would they think you’d be dumb enough to try again?”

“Grizz would. He doesn’t think as highly of me as you do,” he said.

“I don’t think that highly of you,” I said and hid the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “We’ll come back up the way we came.”

He gestured to the rocky slope below. “This side’s steeper than the one we climbed up. I was able to slide down this, but couldn’t gain enough footing to climb back up.”

I peeked over the edge. “We’ll find our way back though the jungle, then.”

Gabriel stared silently at the lights on the beach for a few moments. Finally he said, “How long have you been in Edenton?” He turned to me, moon behind him, eyes cloaked in shadows.

“Six years.”

He inclined his head, almost imperceptibly. “I wasn’t here six minutes when I knew I wanted out.” His voice became a sharp whisper. “I’m escaping from Edenton, but I’m not making the same mistake I made last night. They’re going to be looking for me out there tonight, no matter what you may think about their security procedures. And if you—”

“What if I want out, too?” I asked in a rush.

His mouth snapped shut.

I faced the little beach resort’s lights. “I want to see what’s down there. I want to know why the Reverend lied about the ten-mile radius.” I paused, letting my voice drop to a whisper. “And when you escape, you aren’t going alone. I want to go with you.”

I didn’t remember changing into my pajamas and slipping into bed after sneaking back from the beach. I hadn’t slept since before the Bright Night and must have passed out when my head hit the pillow. While asleep, I was dragged down by guilt and worry. The faces of the eleven stared at me, cradling the cookies I’d made in their hands as if they were precious and rare, all looking at me with trusting gazes. I saw Octavio. Laughing, smiling, eating … dying. Choking and gaging, blood pouring from his mouth and down his chin, staining his flawless skin.

I woke with a start. The light from the windows was gray and murky, barely dawn. A shadow passed between the bunks. The bathroom door closed with a soft click. I glanced at the other bunks. All were occupied, the girls curled under their thin blankets. Except for Aliyah’s. And, of course, Lily’s.

I peeled back my sheet and got out of bed, quietly making my way to the bathroom door. Listening silently, I heard the water running, and, beneath the hiss, what sounded like sniffling. After a few moments the water continued to run, so I softly knocked.

“One minute,” came Aliyah’s voice, nothing more than a weak sound on the other side of the door.

“Are you okay?” I whispered.

The door cracked open. “Sure.” Her smile was bright, but it didn’t match her eyes. “I’m changing for breakfast service.” She motioned to her serviceable uniform dress and bib apron.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Only two minutes until the cottage morning alarm would go off. Although I’d been haunted by chilling dreams, I wanted more sleep. I really did love sleep. Probably because I always felt deprived of it. I couldn’t recall ever sleeping past five-thirty since coming to Edenton.

“How was it?” I asked Aliyah. “Prayer Circle.”

She cocked her head, one braided ponytail falling over her forehead. “Fine.”

I waited for more information, the tell-all she’d promised me about what happened in Prayer Circle, but her smile only grew wider.

“What is it, silly?” Her deep brown eyes looked hollow, lost. Vacant.