Free Pahnyakin Rising by Elisha Forrester Page A

what’s going on.  Why won’t anyone tell me why I’m here?”
    She took a step in Minni’s direction and the woman hopped back.  “Please don’t hurt me.  I’ve had another baby since you’ve been gone.  She’s twelve weeks old.  I can’t leave my kids without a mother.”
    “Gone?”  The volume of Dresden’s voice rose and she grew irate.  “I’ve never been here.  I don’t even know where we are.”
    “And why are you so afraid of me?” she demanded.  “You’re all treating me like I’m some sort of killing machine.”
    The girl dipped her head and her auburn hair wrapped around the curves of her face.  She was almost too nervous to ask, “Aren’t you, though?”
    Dresden shook her head and exclaimed in an exasperated voice, “No.”
    “Look,” said Minni, extending her arms.  “I’m just here to give you something to wear.  Dodge said all of this will fit.”
    “You talked to Dodge?”
    She nodded.  “He gave me these clothes from a box of your stuff.”
    “A box of my stuff?  But I’ve never seen any of this before.”
    Minni shrugged.
    “What else did he say?  Did he tell you to tell me anything?”
    “No,” her voice quivered.
    Realizing Minni’s trepidation was sincere, the teenager stepped backward and eased her body to the ground.  She leaned over her drawn legs and gently pressed at the knot that was her ankle.  Tears formed in her eyes but she was so exhausted and confused that they stayed at bay. 
    “You know, Dodge told me I should’ve waited,” she said, raising her head.  “But I couldn’t wait.  I was just so excited.”
    “When you took those people scouting?”
    “What are you talking about?” the teenager snapped.
    “Nothing,” said the girl.  She dropped to a squat and placed the pile of clothes on the floor.  “Put these on.  They’re going to bring you outside after you get dressed.”
    “Do you think they’ll let me go after my trial?” Dresden asked softly.  “I want to go home.  My mom and dad are going to find out I’m gone and come looking for me.”
    Minni offered a sad smile and walked away in silence.  Dresden leaned forward and lifted the untied leather boots in the air to examine them.  She placed them on the floor to her right and continued to pick through the pile.  The black tank top, she thought, would fit her, but the long-sleeved red and black flannel button-up shirt was a little too big and hung loosely around her arms.  She inspected a pair of tight wide-leg jeans that had holes shredded up and down the fronts of both legs.  Her socks were mismatched; one was thick and black, while the other was yellow and thin.  At least the undergarments matched and were in fair condition, but she felt skeezy wearing someone else’s bra and underwear. 
    “Stop stalling and get dressed,” Brent ordered.  He approached the open cell with his hand on the brown butt of a pistol that was sticking out of a leather pouch attached to his belt loop.  “Shepherd will make you pay if you make him come down to get you.”
    “I can’t change if you’re watching me.”
    Lyle laughed.  “We’re not leaving.  Nice try.”
    “This isn’t fair.  What could I do to you if I’m getting dressed?  Close the door, I don’t care.”
    Brent looked to Lyle for approval and Lyle nodded.  He motioned Brent to pull the door shut and it clanked closed.  Dresden placed her hands on the bottom of her pink tank top and glanced to her right.  Brent was smiling in anticipation.  Lyle, she thought, looked nervous.  She twisted her buttocks on the floor until her back was turned to them, and she removed her shirt so she could put on the black bra and black tank top.
    “Wanna make a bet?” she heard Lyle ask Brent.  “I think she’s lying.”
    “I don’t know,” Brent replied in a low whisper.  “She could’ve made a move by now.”
    “If she’s not lying, I’ll cover you on the next run.  There’s no way she’s