CHAPTER FOUR

EVELYN HEARS HIM BEFORE she sees him enter the room. Eyes narrowed, fists clenched in the sheets, she puts all the defiance she can muster into her glare as he walks in. She has a lot of yelling to do, and he has a lot of explaining if he hopes to shut her up. She had planned on getting answers a couple days ago when she first awoke and discovered he had saved her, but when she couldn't hold her tongue after he indulged her on the phases of his plans, he called in a woman and had Evelyn sedated. All because he got offended at some of her words.

And it might have to do with the fact that she lunged for him, dug her nails into his cheek, elbowed him in the ribs, demanded to be placed back with her people, and nearly kneed him where it hurt before the woman came in and saved him just in time.

But she still thinks sedating her had been a bit unnecessary. She would've calmed down--eventually--if he had just listened to her.

The woman had been there when Evelyn woke shortly after she caused a scene, and had repeated apologies Evelyn didn't care to hear. Her name is Mercedes, a pretty girl with long black hair and hazel eyes that gleam with whatever emotion she happens to be feeling at the time. Her rounded cheeks are always tinged red naturally, her lips always pressed thin. Apparently, she had been the one caring for Evelyn during her unconscious state, which made Evelyn feel a bit at ease considering it hadn't been Micah.

Mercedes overwhelmed Evelyn with kindness, and had no problem sharing last night that Micah planned on another visit this morning.

So Evelyn made sure she would be ready.

He catches her stare almost immediately, his posture straightening. He doesn't speak, nor does he step further into the room after closing the door. The somewhat awkward atmosphere only ignites Evelyn's frustration more, and she wishes her legs would stop throbbing so she could throw herself on him again. She would not miss those damned red eyes with her nails again.

She raises her eyebrows expectantly, curious as to what his first words to her plan to be. She's sure it'll stretch a few of her nerves more than they already are.

As if reading her thoughts, he holds his hands up innocently. "I didn't want to do it," he says, as if he's negotiating with a madwoman.

In a sense, he is.

"It was for your own good," he adds, unwavering as he holds her cold gaze. "I said I wouldn't hurt you, so the only other option was a sedative."

She inhales sharply, her eyes impossibly narrowing more so than before.

He takes a cautious step towards her. "Let's just talk, yeah? To make up for it, I'll answer whatever question you'd like to ask."

She clicks her tongue, tilting her head slightly. "Only one question?"

His own eyes slant. "Depends on the questions."

"Where am I?" she blurts. Not the most important question of the century, but certainly one that needs to be addressed. She's been cooped up in this room for heaven knows how long.

"The governor's mansion. Or at least that's what I've heard it is."

Evelyn considers this. "Heard from who?"

Micah offers a shy smile, his lips barely curving. "The people, of course. This lot has many guesthouses and the mansion itself is filled with rooms. I thought it to be the perfect place for refuge."

She quirks a brow. "Refuge? You mean to tell me you're saving people now?" She can't help but to scoff at the thought. She may have only seen him once before, but he had been absolutely cruel and atrocious. People don't change--nonetheless that quickly.

"Not exactly," he admits. "May I?" He gestures to the edge of the bed where he had sat a few days ago.

She lifts her chin. "No. You may, however, help me around the place. I want to see this mansion for myself."

He frowns. "You're still too weak to--"

"I'm not weak," she snaps. "Help me up or I'll do it myself." It's hard enough asking help from him. She doesn't need his belittling and discouragement. Let her prove just how weak he thinks she is. One wrong move on his part and she won't hesitate, no matter how disadvantaged she may be.

Somewhat reluctantly, he sighs and holds out his hand. Evelyn tosses off the sheet, and doesn't hide her cringe as she places her sweaty hand in his freezing one. She bites down on the inside of her lip as pain courses through her legs when she slides them over the side of the mattress. Micah grips her hand firmly, his other arm securing around her waist. He practically lifts her off her feet so she doesn't put pressure on her wounds.

At first, it seems like he's leading her to the door so they can exit the room. However, he veers to the right side of the room to a small table with two chairs sat on either side in front of large curtains. She goes to snap at him, but he gently sets her down on one chair and stuns her momentarily when he snatches back the curtains. She squints against the sudden brightness, shielding her eyes. She forces herself to face the sunlight when she hears a handle click.

It's a balcony.

She cocks an eyebrow at Micah. "This isn't--"

"What you meant, I know," he finishes for her. She thinks she sees him roll his eyes. "But I don't think dragging you down stairs and through countless hallways is what you mean either. You know you can't walk around like you want to."

She grumbles, narrowing her eyes at him. "So is this a tease? Sitting me in front of a balcony where I can only catch glimpses?"

He sighs heavily, dropping into the chair across from her. "Actually, I was considering your last words spoken to me, and I thought about being a slightly decent person. I was thinking you ask, I answer. Simple yet effective, in light of your predicament and all."

She studies him a long moment, though his eyes don't waver from hers. He doesn't seem to have an ulterior motive, but of course she can never be sure. She raises her head, leaning her forearms on the table. "What's in it for you?"

He clicks his tongue. "Well, a sincere 'thank you' would suffice. Of course, I don't expect one."

Evelyn maintains her glare as she hesitantly asks, "Is this a beast camp?"

Micah raises an eyebrow at his given title yet does not flinch with it. "Of sorts, I suppose. I told you I'm in the middle of forming a government, and what's a government without people to govern? There's 'beasts' here, sure, but there's also Normals occupying the extensive space. In fact, I do believe we're about even now in population."

She scoffs--she can't help it. "So you're taking in strays now, huh? Part of your 'decent person' movement?"

He chuckles, leaning back in his chair. "Not exactly. I mean it helps, obviously, but I like to think of them as 'rescues.'"

She perks up with this, her spine straightening. "Are you saying...?"

"The people from your camp are here," he clarifies with a curt nod. "In good health as well."

If she could've, she would've shot out of her chair and marched for the door. Unable to do so, though, she settles for gripping the edge of the table. Her head hangs with this new knowledge, thoughts flooding her. She doesn't realize she speaks them all aloud. "Robbie. My God, I need to find Robbie. And Sasha, she's here? Are they really all here?"

Micah stands, offering his hand to her yet again. "They are."

She pauses, raising her head to meet his red gaze. "Wait a minute. Robbie was taken. Children were taken. You mean to tell me, you kidnapped them all just to throw them here?"

At this, Micah deflates, his arm falling to his side. "Evelyn..."

"Eve," she states firmly. "You call me Eve."

"I didn't know--"

"Bullshit," she snaps, hardly managing to keep her voice down. "Enough with the mind games, or whatever the hell this is! I want truth. Now."

Micah rubs his forehead as if this ordeal is exasperating for him. Oh, how she wants to punch him. "All right. Mostly everyone from your camp is here. Not every child was taken. The only thing I can tell you is that the boy is unharmed."

Evelyn scoffs, amazed at his audacity. "I want to see him."

"You can't."

"Excuse me?"

Micah challenges her harsh glare. "You can't," he repeats simply, as if she's hard of hearing.

Evelyn's teeth grind as she clenches her fists. She pushes herself to her feet, her legs wobbly and aching but she ignores the pain that pierces through her entire body. Micah stands the same time she does, like it had been instinctive. "I'm not staying in this room a second longer. I don't care if I have to fall down the stairs to search every inch of this place. I'm going to find Robbie, and if you have a problem with that, you'll have to kill me to stop me."

Again, he sighs like he's in great distress. "Eve, please. You can't even make it to the door."

"All I need to do is make it to you to knock your teeth out and I'll be satisfied."

"I understand you don't like me very much. Not many people do. I'm used to it, so don't hide behind a mask of bravado. Punch me if you'd like, but you know that won't help you a bit."

"You allowed it," she says before leaning across the table and swinging her arm.

He catches it, red eyes darkening. "Stop acting foolish long enough to think through what you're doing."

She struggles to snatch her arm away, but he holds firm. "Let go of me."

"I promised you answers, not authority. Either sit back down and cooperate, or I can carry you back to bed and leave you curious. You're making it excruciatingly difficult to be nice."

She matches his stare for a few moments before inhaling sharply, dropping back into the chair. Her legs throb in relief and Micah lets go of her, taking his own seat once more. He leans back in the chair as he once was, clasping his hands on his stomach and raising his eyebrows at her. Her nostrils flare, but she maintains as much composure as she can.

She shouldn't ask, but she can't help it.

"What did you do to Harry?" Her voice is hardly audible but of course that's no problem for Micah. She feels a knot twist in her stomach for some reason.

"Harry?" His eyebrows lower to knit together.

Evelyn bites the inside of her cheek, remembering the number he showed her that's tattooed on the back of his neck. "748."

"So that's his name, eh?" Micah presses his lips together, then says, "I don't know where he is, and that's the truth."

"I didn't ask where he was, I asked what you did to him," she snaps.

"I reunited him with an old friend, that's all."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"He's none of your concern anyways, Eve. Why are you bothering?" Micah practically snorts, rolling his eyes. "You'll never see him again."

Her jaw tightens. She knows that's probably true, but she can't deny the way her shoulders slouch at the thought of never knowing what happened to him.