I ate everything and drank the glasses of water left for me before I returned the tray to the chair. Then I got under the covers and lay in the dark, comfortable for the first time since my capture. The sheets were clean and warm, my stomach was full, and there was a sense of peace in my helplessness.
It could be worse.
At least that’s what I told myself.
The door flung open, bringing the morning light into the dark cabin. “Up.” The coldness immediately rushed in, the dry air that made it difficult to breathe through the night without burning the nostrils.
I sat up immediately, jolted out of my dreamless slumber.
The light flicked on. “I said, get up.” He threw a pair of snow boots on the floor for me to wear.
“I heard you the first time.” I moved my legs over the edge of the bed and blinked my eyes a few times as I woke myself up. I’d slept hard that night, despite being drugged for so long, probably because my body was exhausted from the adrenaline of the day before.
“Doesn’t look like it to me.”
I picked up the boots off the floor and pulled them on, tightening the laces and securing them on the outside of my pants. The clothes they’d given me were made of a similar material to their own, waterproof because I’d be working outside all day. “I don’t get breakfast first?”
He was still and silent.
I assumed he was staring at me. “Show your face.”
He ignored what I said and walked out of the cabin. “Let’s go.”
I followed behind him and stepped into the morning light. It was another sunny day, and the powder that had fallen days ago was slowly melting into slush in several places. It was so cold that it hurt every time I took a breath, probably because I wasn’t used to the conditions. I walked to university from my apartment, but it was a short walk, and then I spent the rest of my time indoors, usually with a warm cup of coffee in my hand.
I saw other women leaving their cabins and walking in the same direction as I was. When we passed another cabin, I saw several girls file out of the same doorway, at least a dozen of them. That seemed to be the case more often than not, that several girls bunked together at once. “Why do I have my own cabin?”
He kept walking.
“Hello?”
“You ask questions like you’re entitled to answers.” He walked slightly in front of me, like he wasn’t afraid of turning his back to me, like there was nothing I could do to defeat him. He had broad shoulders that hinted at his strength underneath the layers of dark clothing. He was tall, much taller than I was, and when he moved his shoulder, the fabric hugged the individual muscles of his arm.
I might have had a chance against him if I knew a few moves, but since I didn’t, I really had no shot at overpowering him. He’d have me pinned down and bloody so quickly. Also, taking him down wouldn’t get me any closer to escape. Pickpocketing something worthwhile was probably a better use of my time.
I noticed he didn’t carry a gun. That knife seemed to be the only weapon he possessed.
I looked around and saw more women file out of the buildings and head to work, like it was a normal day in this hell. How did the men keep all these women in line with no guns? How did they get so many to submit when they were outnumbered ten to one?
Maybe I needed to orchestrate an uprising.
When we approached the clearing, most of the tables were already full of women working. Other men dressed identically stood around the edges, to keep an eye on the women. They were all wearing black garments with gray cloaks, their faces hidden.
Why did they hide their faces?
The guy walked me to the table full of brown boxes. “Open the box.” He ripped through the tape and folded back the edges to reveal the white powder. “Replace the empty boxes along the table. It’s that easy.”
I glanced at the women, who were already filling small plastic bags with carefully measured amounts. “And I’m just supposed to do this all day, every day?”
“You catch on quick.” He turned to walk away.
“Why do you hide your face?”
He halted in his tracks, taking a second before he turned around and regarded me once more. “Remember what I said about the weeds?”
I crossed my arms over my chest, still cold despite the heavy jacket they’d provided me.
“Don’t be a weed.” He walked away, moving to the edge of the clearing to speak to one of the men. Then he entered one of the cabins and disappeared from sight.