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Hailey

I can’t believe she followed me to the bathroom.

My mother. The one time she wants to follow girl-code and accompany me in here rather than letting me go off alone.

It’s almost like she knows about the wad of cash tucked away in my bra–just enough to buy me a train ticket out of this city and far away from these people.

“You’re acting strange today, Hailey.” Her eyes narrow at mine in the mirror as warm water runs over my hands.

This bathroom break was supposed to be the perfect moment to escape.

I intended to walk out the front door while my father held everyone’s attention with the organization’s earnings this year.

“I didn’t get enough sleep last night.” I shrug.

“Well, quit letting it show. This is a very important day for your father.” She turns off the sink, scowling .

“I’m sorry.” I meant for that to come off as sincere and not sarcastic. I failed.

She huffs, eyeing me up and down. She can tell I’m hiding something, I just need her to suspect I’m anxious about anything other than the escape I’ve been planning for months.

I follow her like a zombie back to the hotel’s auditorium. It smells nice in here. Clean. There’s even some natural lighting. I’ve grown used to the dark, stale environment of the compound. If I wasn’t so nervous about leaving, I’d probably be enjoying myself.

As we enter, the audience roars with laughter at something Dad says. Behind him, a presentation displays our record profits for the year–we’ve started recruiting internationally. Apparently, rich foreigners are eager to learn telekinesis and mind reading.

I can’t fathom how it took me this long to realize every single thing I was bred to believe is bullshit.

We take our seats in the front row with the other leaders. Normally I sit in the back for this annual celebration, but my father decided to reward me this year. So, here I am, wedged between my mother and Kaiser Moore.

Kaiser heads the Punishment and Rehabilitation program in the compound. He’s also my father’s best friend.

I try to stay away from him as much as possible.

“You missed a funny joke,” he hisses in my ear.

His icy blue eyes narrow, but I can tell he’s suppressing amusement.

“You seem so nervous tonight.” He plucks a piece of lint off the shoulder of my dress, inspecting it between his fingers.

“I thought you would be happy on this little vacation away from the base.”

“I’m fine.” I fake a tight smile. “But I think I caught a stomach bug.”

“Should have been more careful,” he shakes his head. “Especially today.”

Illness is a weakness in our belief system.

My paranoia grows, and I wonder if he or Dad has caught on to my plans.

That would explain the last-minute change in seating.

I tried to be as subtle as possible–using Google Maps to manually plot directions to the train station from the hotel rather than searching directly during late nights in the office.

I wrote the directions on a piece of paper, hiding them in my pillowcase to memorize every night.

I’ve been slowly stealing money by overcharging new recruits with nonexistent fees and pocketing the difference.

Of course, the consequences of getting caught are horrific. But I had no choice.

I glance at the clock. Seven.

Dad’s presentation was scheduled to end at five, but going a few hours over is expected. Still, I don’t know how much time I have left to get out of here.

I catch myself fidgeting, my knee bouncing up and down as Dad drones on with his life story—a tale I’ve heard a billion times.

Mom glances at me from her seat beside me, no doubt my movements are driving her insane.

My gaze fixates on the digital clock, paralyzed as minute after minute ticks by.

Wondering where I’m going to sleep tonight: my bunk bed in the compound or somewhere else?

In a way, my anxiety works in my favor as I actually start to feel sick. Clutching my stomach, I shift in my seat until I feel Kaiser and Mom’s attention on me. Then I fake a retch and rush out of the auditorium.

Glancing back, I see Kaiser stalking me through the hotel hallway. I pause like a deer in headlights outside of the auditorium, bile rising in my throat.

“You okay, Hailey?” he asks. To any outsiders walking past, he probably seems sincere.

But I know from experience that Kaiser doesn’t have any capacity for empathy. “I think I just need some air. I’m feeling faint.”

I shuffle towards hotel’s front entrance in my heels.

He’s only a few paces behind. I can sense him.

I knew he wouldn’t let me walk out so easily.

A woman working behind the desk looks up at me and I’m sure that she is sensing my distress.

But I wouldn’t even know what to ask for if she offered help.

There are enough police officers paid off by my father that calling the authorities wouldn’t do me any good.

Pushing through the gold revolving door, I step out into the night air of Chicago. It’s a warm night that would usually feel nice, but with my nervousness, it feels like walls are closing in on me.

I clutch my arms against my chest and hear the door whooshing behind me. No need to look back—I know it’s Kaiser .

Cars pass by and people hustle on the sidewalk, unaware of my crumbling plans. I hear him behind me, a looming presence, a silent threat.

I focus on trying to get my anxious breathing under control. It shouldn’t be this hard to simply walk away. But as Henry Burke’s only child, leaving this belief system behind would be a stain on his reputation, and that’s more important to him than my safety or well-being.

“I know you’re planning on walking the seven blocks to the train station. I’m assuming you managed to find some cash somewhere.” He takes a few steps forward so he’s standing next to me, uncomfortably close. “Or maybe you’re planning on selling your body to get a train ticket.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as he smirks.

“I watched you grow up,” he shrugs. “I’d rather not have to punish you. Walk back into that hotel and this conversation never happened.”

My mouth goes dry as I try to decide if he’s being sincere. I’ve known him my whole life, but I’ve never felt any familial bond with him.

“You’re just trying to manipulate me,” I say.

“I’m giving you a choice. If you want to label that as manipulation, it doesn’t matter to me.”

I think back to the non-stop sixteen-hour days in the recruiting office for the past two years. The verbal abuse I received if I ever under-performed. The prison-like sleeping conditions. The fact that this yearly banquet is the only chance for me to get out of the secured, gated-off compound.

I don’t say a word as I continue towards the train station. There’s no use running; he’ll catch me easily, especially in these heels.

A firm hand grips my arm. “So, this is your choice?” He chuckles. “I guess we’re going to be spending a lot more time together.”

His hand tightens and his fake-friendliness vanishes. My heart hammers, he wanted me to run all along. “Let go of me!” I jerk my arm away.

Kaiser glances around at the crowded city block. I can sense he’s nervous. Being in a busy city is to my advantage.

I turn and march away, daring him to stop me. He does, of course, digging his nails into my arm. Feeling trapped, I throw a punch at his nose.

I expect a crunch or blood—anything—but all I get is a sinister smile. “Get away from me!” I shriek. In my gut I know using my current surroundings is my only shot at escape.

“Is there a problem here?” A deep voice booms behind me. I turn and see a man, at least six and a half feet tall, standing next to his wife, holding a baby.

“Yes. He won’t leave me alone,” I say. The man takes a few steps forward.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Kaiser growls .

“Like hell it does, man.” The stranger retorts before launching into a rant about how he doesn’t want to deal with this shit in front of his kid after a long day of work.

Seeing my moment, I jerk out of Kaiser’s grasp. This time I’m fast enough to rush around the stranger. I turn in time to see him blocking Kaiser from getting to me.

“Thank you!” I yell as I sprint for the train station. Without memorizing this path, I might not have found it. Adrenaline pumps through me as I reach the train station, ready to buy the first ticket out of this city—far from Kaiser and my family for good.