Free Fighting for Infinity by Karen Amanda Hooper Page B

The whole body of things observed or assumed. See universe.” She tilted her head back and winked at Evelyn. “And your favorite. Magic. The power to control natural forces through supernatural means. See us.”
    “Shh. Remember the rules.” Evelyn finished detangling Rina’s last section of hair. “Your clothes are filthy. I’ll bring you a clean set tomorrow.”
    Rina turned in her chair to face Evelyn. “I have a favor to ask.”
    “Anything, darling.”
    “Tonight, keep Dedrick from coming here.”
    “I suspect that will be impossible. He’ll want to check on Maryah.”
    “After that. Keep him occupied for a few hours. No matter what, don’t let him come back here a second time.”
    Evelyn tensed. “That is asking a lot of me.”
    “I know. I’m sorry, but please.”
    Evelyn bowed her head as if thinking. She tightened the drawstring waist of her pants then replied, “Anything for you, but what are you up to?”
    “I can’t say. Not yet.”
    Evelyn licked her thumb then wiped a smudge of something from Rina’s chin. My own mother used to do that, and I always hated it. Judging from Rina’s scrunched up face, she hated it too. But now, I missed my mother so much that I’d happily let her spit-shine my face a dozen times a day if it meant she’d be alive again.
    “Be careful,” Evelyn warned. “You know how Dedrick gets.”
    “I’m always careful,” Rina assured her.
    Evelyn seemed a little too willing to grant Rina’s request. The whole interaction was a bit too Hallmark moment-ish considering they were both Dedrick’s prisoners.
    Mistrustful. See Rina and Evelyn.
    Manipulated. Antonym: Maryah.
     
    ∞
     
    Rina wouldn’t tell me anything about her plan. She barely spoke to me at all from the time Evelyn left until the time she returned much later with another tray. Rina’s dinner wasn’t much better than what I assumed was her breakfast earlier.
    Just like a fter breakfast, as soon as Evelyn left, Rina’s mouse friend scurried across the floor, and she scooped him up.
    “You and Evelyn look a lot alike.” I tested Rina’s story, watching her carefully for any indicators that she had lied to me. “So much alike that she could easily pass as your mom.”
    Rina’s face remained relaxed as she fed the mouse a few saved cracker crumbs. “Evelyn is pretty, so thank you for the compliment.”
    “You don’t see the resemblance?”
    “We both have black hair. We’ve both been defiled and treated like scum. We’re both pale because we never see the sun. If that’s what you mean, then sure, I see resemblances.”
    She didn’t rapidly blink, or fidget, or talk fast, no sign whatsoever that she had lied. Maybe it really was just the prisoner lifestyle that made them look so much alike. After thinking about it, River had the same dark and dejected look as Rina and Evelyn.
    Rina scratched the mouse’s head.
    I hoped Na than was taking good care of Eightball while I was gone. I had to find a way back to my kindrily. I had already put them through so much grief and worry, and now this.
    “What’s wrong?” Rina asked me.
    “I miss Nathan. I miss all of my family. I keep messing up and ruining lives.” Or lives ended because of me. I swallowed down the never-ending guilt of being the reason my parents were killed.
    Rina cupped her mouse in her hands and hugged him to her chest. We were silent for a long time. She had her mouse, and I had no one.
    Dedrick didn’t visit us after dinner like Evelyn said he would. Even after the mouse scurried into a crack in the corner, Rina sat on her mattress, waiting for what felt like two more hours.
    The silence became unbearable. “Maybe he’s not coming.”
    “He’ll want to check on you.” Rina sneezed.
    “Bless you.”
    She wiped her nose on her wrist. “Why do I need to be blessed?”
    “I don’t know. It’s what you say after someone sneezes.”
    Rina’s forehead wrinkled. “Why do you say that?”
    “It’s not just me. It’s