He looked at the place on his arm where Ivan had taken a chunk out of his flesh. It was bloody and raw, but oddly enough, it didn’t hurt much.
The other hunters were talking amongst themselves. Why aren’t they talking to me? Nestor wondered. Because they are talking about you.
“Shut up!” Nestor yelled at the voices in his head.
Sergei and the others stopped speaking and looked at Nestor in surprise.
“Who the hell do you think you are, telling us to shut up?” Sergei spat.
“Stop fucking talking about me like I’m not here.” Nestor paused as a new urge struck him. “I’m hungry. I need food.”
Sergei shoved Nestor. “We were not talking about you. And you’re not getting any fucking food until we find Terrier.”
Terrier fled from Vera’s cackling as quickly as he could. He needed to get to a tunnel without a working camera. He tried to remember which one Ryder had broken when she had been working on her latest escape plan. He’d stopped listening when she’d spoken about it because at the time he’d been sure that it was never going to happen. Now, he felt like an idiot for not paying attention.
Ryder had finally gotten out, but he worried that she’d come back for him and the women and children. Actually, he knew she would. He needed to keep himself alive so he could help her when that day finally came.
For the life of him, he couldn’t remember which camera she’d broken. He ran from one tunnel to the next, but they all looked the same. It crossed his mind to go see Natalie in the kids’ room because she might have an idea, but he couldn’t risk her getting in trouble for him.
It did feel odd for Terrier not to go to the kids’ room because that was what he normally did. It was the only reason he and Ryder went down to Level Six. At least, that was what he told himself.
Terrier had always felt more at home down here than on any of the other levels. He’d been taken by Afana’s men so long ago, he’d forgotten how many years had passed. His little sister Tilly had also been taken, and her spirit was still down here, even though she was no longer among the living.
Many children died when they first arrived at the bunker due to the treatment and the conditions. Terrier had been unable to save his little sister. That was why he came down each day: to make sure other children didn’t suffer the same fate as Tilly.
Terrier heard sobbing coming from one of the tunnels. It sounded like it was coming from a child. He headed in that direction, but there was barely any light in the tunnel. He used the crying as his beacon.
Girls sometimes went missing, and their bodies would be found in the tunnels hours or days later. They had no protection from the men. The tunnels creeped Terrier out for that reason.
Down at the end of the tunnel, he could just make out the dim outline of a little girl huddled against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest. Her body shook with sobs.
Terrier walked quietly, trying not to scare her. “Are you all right?” he asked gently.
The little girl’s head jolted up, and the whites of her eyes bulged in fear. Kids weren’t supposed to be down here, and for good reason.
He knelt a few paces away from her, close enough for her to see him but not close enough to be threatening. “It’s Terrier. Are you hurt?”
The girl got to her feet. It was Samantha. She’d only been in the bunker for a few weeks, but she already knew the big man from his visits to Level Six.
She dived into Terrier’s arms. “Tell me it’s not true. Please, Terrier, tell me.” Her head shook against Terrier’s shoulder, and he felt his shirt grow wet with her tears. She felt so small and frail in his arms. His hand covered her entire back as he patted her comfortingly.
“What’s not true, Samantha?” Terrier asked.
“That I’ll never be allowed outside.” Samantha looked up at Terrier, and he felt terrible. He didn’t know what to say. The truth would hurt too much, but he didn’t want to lie, either.
Terrier lifted Samantha into his arms. “Dry your tears, little one. We never know what will happen tomorrow. We should only concentrate on today. Natalie told me you’re a very good reader,” Terrier added, hoping to change the subject to happier things. He headed out of the tunnel with Samantha in his arms.
“I like to read,” Samantha said through her sniffles.
“You know you’re not meant to be out of the classroom without Natalie or one of the other teachers, right?”
Samantha lowered her head. “I know. David was teasing me. He said that I’d be locked down here and he’d be free up there.”
Terrier knew that was a lie. No one was free in the bunker. So many thought they were, but deep down, they were all Afana’s slaves.
“David said that?”
Samantha nodded somberly.
“David?” Terrier asked. “The rat-faced boy who smells like sour milk?”
Samantha gasped like he’d said something wicked. Talk like that wasn’t allowed in the classroom. Then, a smile lit her face, and her laughter echoed through the tunnel. She buried her face in Terrier’s shoulder to stifle her giggles.
“Yeah, David doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Terrier said. “Don’t listen to him.” They reached the mouth of the tunnel, and Terrier set her down. “Now get back to class. I bet Natalie will be worried sick about you.”
Samantha wrapped her tiny hand around Terrier’s index finger. “Aren’t you coming with me?”
“I will soon. I just have something to do first. I’ll watch from here to make sure you get to the kids’ room safely.”
Samantha looked up at Terrier. “Was David telling the truth?” Samantha pointed at the glass ceiling above them. “There’s no women up
