Imprisoned (18 page)

I walked forward with my team. The people in front of me gasped when they got a look at Dr. Tasco’s surprise. As we got closer I saw a shallow trench about four feet across and six feet long, but when I looked inside, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I recoiled violently, running in to Josh, who stood behind me.

Chapter Twenty

Inside the shallow trench were hundreds of spiders—black and brown, large and small—all trying to climb out from under the flimsy screen that was laid on top of them, keeping them from escaping. Several had made it out and were walking on top of the screen.

I flashed back to my trip through the tunnel and the spider that had been hanging from the dirt ceiling. It had startled me so much that I’d dropped the lantern and that’s when I had been plunged into darkness.

“No, no, no,” I whispered as I backed up further, forcing the people behind me to move.

“Get a grip, Morgan,” Josh said through clenched teeth as he squeezed my arm. “You’re giving them exactly the show they want.”

His words penetrated my mind and I looked at the Enforcers who were watching us and saw the look of enjoyment on their faces. My eyes settled on Hansen, who was staring at me with an expression of absolute pleasure and I knew I had to get it together. The people in front of me had moved past the trenches and back to the sidelines. I forced myself to follow them, avoiding looking into the trench as I passed.

“Are you okay, Morgan?” Cassidy asked, a look of concern on her face.

“No, I’m not.” I couldn’t pretend in front of her. I was terrified of falling into that trench and having the spiders swarm up my legs and into my clothing, my hair, my mouth. The idea sent a ripple of shudders through me. “Why do they do this?”

“Because they hate us.”

“I don’t understand this place,” I whispered.

“I know. It’s awful.”

I had meant this world in general, but Cassidy was right too. Camp Willowmoss, and I assumed all of the other F.A.T. camps, were meant to punish, not just to help us establish healthier lifestyles. I wondered if the people outside knew what went on here. Or, when it was time to leave, did they threaten to make you come back if you told? Or maybe people had told but no one believed them. Who would?

Our group stood the furthest from the trenches. I think they’d all noticed my reaction and were somehow trying to protect me. My gaze darted down the long grassy area next to the building and I wondered where it led.

“We’ll begin in a moment,” Tasco said into his microphone. “But first, send up one person from each team to get a bottle of water for each team member.”

“I’ll go,” Josh offered.

I watched as he and twenty-one other people walked to the table where bottles of water were set out. I couldn’t help it, my gaze was drawn toward the trenches and I squinted when I saw movement near the edge of the nearest one. A girl standing near the trench must have seen it too because she jumped back and pointed and those around her backed up a few steps.

Some of the spiders were crawling out of their trench.

A pair of Enforcers walked over to see what was going on, spray bottles in their hands. When they saw the spiders on the grass, they sprayed something at them and swept them back into the hole with their feet. Then they sprayed a fine mist over the first trench.

I fervently wished it was some sort of lethal spray, but knew most likely it was just something to keep the spiders sluggish until it was time to begin the fun and games.

Not able to stop myself, I imagined what it would be like if I was pulled into one of the trenches—spiders crawling up my bare arms and legs, into my hair, down my shirt. How many of them would bite me? What if I wasn’t able to get rid of them once I got out of the trench? Would they stay in my clothing?

Horrified at the idea, the urge to escape became overwhelming. Looking around wildly, I saw that several Enforcers were managing the spiders in the trenches while others were watching the kids who were gathering the water bottles. Still others were moving the tug-of-war ropes so that they were lying on top of the open trenches.

I took a deep breath, then darted away from my group and toward the long stretch of grass shaded by the tall building. I didn’t hear any voices yelling at me to stop and I wondered if they’d noticed me running away. I kept running, staying in the shadow of the building and after a moment I reached the end of the building and stopped.

I peered around the corner, looking at my surroundings. A path led from the large glass front door of the building to a gate. A pair of Enforcers patrolled the area near the gate, but next to the gate was a parking lot. And beyond the parking lot, freedom. My heart pounded to be so close to a way out.

I forgot about the spiders and instead focused on how I could escape. I would have to get past the Enforcers, but if I managed that, I could get out the gate.

“Going somewhere?” a voice said behind me.

I spun around, startled, and saw Hansen standing there, a grin on his face. My gaze darted behind him, but he was alone.

He looked back the way he’d come. “Nope, it’s just me.” Then his grin widened. “Time for a little payback.”

Then he balled up his fist and slammed it into my stomach.

“Ohhh,” I gasped as I doubled over, then fell to my knees. This was so much worse than when the basketball had been thrown at my gut. Then, I’d been able to catch my breath after a brief moment. Now, in addition to not being able to breathe, I thought I was going to vomit. On my knees, I held one arm across my middle and pressed a hand into the grass, desperately trying to draw a breath.

“You didn’t really think we wouldn’t notice you running off, did you, Morgan?”

Hot tears of defeat sprang to my eyes as I looked at the blades of grass inches from my face.

Hansen pinched my upper arm, hard. “And with this little beauty tucked into your arm, we’ll always know
exactly
where you are.”

The chip
. I’d forgotten about the stupid chip in my arm. I’d been so panicked about the spiders that I hadn’t thought things through.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Still kneeling on the ground, I stayed in place for another minute until I started to feel marginally better.

“Time to go back.” Hansen grabbed one of my arms and pulled.

I let him pull me up, but found I couldn’t stand straight because my stomach still throbbed with pain.

“You’re such a wimp,” he said. “Work harder in the gym and maybe you’ll toughen up.”

Was this supposed to be a pep talk? A way to motivate me? The only motivation I had was to get stronger so I could fight back. I imagined driving my knee into his groin again and felt a small smile form on my mouth.

He kept a grip on my upper arm as we walked back to the field. All eyes were on me as we came into view.

“There she is,” Mr. Tasco said into the microphone.

Heat flooded my face to be the center of attention. My gaze met Billy’s. He had a smirk on his face, but he gave a slight nod, like he approved of what I’d done. Somehow that made me feel better, even though I had obviously failed in my attempt to escape.

Hansen walked me up to Dr. Tasco, then held onto my arm as we stood there.

“What’s your name?” Tasco asked, his hand over the microphone.

“Morgan,” I said softly.

Tasco held the mic to his mouth. “Morgan here doesn’t seem to like our Saturday Challenge.” He looked at me. “Why is that?”

It was then that it occurred to me that they didn’t know my fervent desire was to escape this place. All they knew was that I had run off—they didn’t know why. I could use that to keep them from knowing the truth. “It’s just the spiders,” I said. “I don’t really like spiders.”

Tasco smiled. “Ahh. I see.” He looked at the assembled group. “Morgan doesn’t like spiders.” He glanced at me then looked back at the group. “Maybe we should let her sit this one out.”

Oh yes, I thought, my hopes surging. Please let me sit this one out.

“Who thinks it’s fair to let Morgan not participate in the rest of our Saturday Challenge?”

My gaze frantically looked for raised hands, but not one was raised.

“Sorry, Morgan,” Tasco said into the mic as he looked at me. “Looks like you’ll have to join in, just like everyone else. No special treatment for you.”

My heart sank at his pronouncement.

“Now, go join your team.”

Hansen let go of my arm and I walked over to Cassidy, who had a look of sympathy on her face.

“Time to get started,” Tasco said.

I looked at him and felt pure loathing wash over me. He was evil. He was in charge of this place and he allowed his staff to treat us like prisoners.

But you are a prisoner, a criminal
, I reminded myself.
They’ll treat you however they want.
Black despair settled over me and I struggled to keep my composure. All I wanted was to curl up into a ball and disappear.

“The first team to compete will be Morgan’s team,” Tasco announced.

Anxiety crept up my spine and I found I couldn’t move. The rest of my team had begun to walk toward the closest rope, but I was paralyzed with fear.

“Move it,” an Enforcer said behind me, giving me a shove.

Forcing my feet forward, I caught up with my group and stood next to the rope but in the position farthest from the trench. Another team lined up opposite us and I saw Piper and Alyx. We would be competing against them. On their team were two other girls and three boys, so at least we’d be evenly matched.

Six other teams lined up next to the three other ropes.

“This won’t do,” Tasco said, then he motioned with his head toward an Enforcer, then towards me.

The Enforcer walked up to me and grabbed my arm. “Come with me.”

I wondered what I had done wrong now, but the moment he began hauling me toward the front of my team, right in front of the trench, I began panicking. “No, no, no,” I said, desperately trying to wrench my arm out of his grasp.

“You’ll stand where I tell you to, or I’ll throw you in the ditch myself,” he snarled, yanking me forward.

I stood where he told me, having no doubt he’d enjoy throwing me in the trench. My eyes met those of the boy in the first position on the opposing team. He didn’t look happy to be there either. I worried that having me in the front would hurt our team—I thought the strongest people were supposed to be in front—but then I realized that this wasn’t about what was fair, but about what would be the most entertaining for the Enforcers and Tasco.

Using all my willpower, I refused to look at the spiders writhing in a heap in the trench three feet in front of me.

“This will be two out three,” Tasco said. “And each match won’t be over until at least one person is pulled into the trench.”

“Spiders aren’t that bad,” Josh muttered behind me. “Snakes are worse.”

I found both equally repulsive, but I had a special fear of spiders. Now I regretted running away—if I’d stayed calm and under the radar, I could have stayed at the back of the rope and been safe from this horror. Now chances were excellent that I would fall into the trench at least once.

“Get ready,” an Enforcer said, and we picked up the rope and held it taut.

The whistle blew and I felt a tug as the other team pulled us forward an inch. Of its own volition, my gaze was drawn to the trench and the mass of swarming spiders.

“Morgan,” Josh shouted, yanking me back to the task at hand.

I leaned back, pulling the rope as hard as I could. The boy across from me was looking at the spiders now and I pulled harder, trying to take advantage of his inattention.  I felt bad using his distractedness for my gain, but I had to use everything I could to keep myself from falling into the trench.

My strategy worked as a moment later we pulled their team forward enough that his foot slipped into the trench, knocking the screen out of place. The top of the trench was at knee-height and his foot sunk to the bottom. Spiders swarmed upward, desperate to climb out of the trench.

The boy screamed and jerked backwards, falling onto his bottom, but dozens of spiders were already crawling up his bare leg. He yanked his leg out of the trench and swatted at the eight-legged creatures, but that just moved them from his leg to his arm. Frantic now, he jumped up and shook his arms and legs in a dance of terror.

I heard laughter and saw a group of Enforcers pointing and laughing. Disgusted by their behavior, I ignored them and kept an eye on the spiders that had crawled out, careful that none climbed onto me.

A moment later, one of the Enforcers came over with a bottle of spray and misted the spiders, then used a broom to push them back into the trench. He turned to the boy and sprayed the lingering spiders from his skin and swept them into the trench as well, then placed the screen back on top and set the rope in position for the next match.  

Chapter Twenty One

The Enforcer said something to the boy and the boy scurried to the back of his team, to the position farthest from the trench.

I gathered that once someone had fallen into the trench, they were allowed to move to the back and someone else had to take the front spot. I looked at the person across from me.

It was Piper.

Pure terror radiated from her and when our eyes met the look of pleading was clear—she wanted me to take the fall. My heart raced and I imperceptibly shook my head. As much as I liked Piper, I couldn’t help her because that would mean allowing myself to fall into the trench of spiders. My gaze went from her face to the spiders, then back to her and as I imagined the sensation of hundreds of spindly legs touching my flesh, and I shuddered.

“Get ready,” an Enforcer said.

A fine sheen of sweat appeared on my body, making my hands slick. I wiped them on my shorts, then picked up the rope and held it taut. The whistle blew.

Desperately trying not to picture the boy who had slipped into the trench and the way the Enforcers had laughed at him, I held onto the rope and pulled like my life depended on it. For all I knew, it
did
depend on it. What if there were poisonous spiders in there? The thought made me pull harder, but I found my feet moving closer to the trench. The other team was tugging us, inch by inch, closer to their side.