Read Online Red Handed by Gena Showalter - Free Book Online

to be here, playing cloak and dagger games while answering questions about my life. And they would be about my life, my choices. I knew it. They always were.
    â€œSince you’re so eager to speak,” Roses said, “you can go first, Phoenix. The rest of you will wait here. Don’t try to leave the vehicle. I’ve already posted guards at the doors.”
    Someone reached inside and latched onto my upper arm. I was dragged out of the car and onto my feet. My boots sank into something soft. Grass, probably. The darkness of the hood disoriented me, and I wobbled. “Remove the blindfold, at least.”
    â€œYou’ll wear it until you’re deemed worthy to take it off,” Roses said. “Otherwise, I’d have to blind you some other way.” His harsh tone suggested he’d just go ahead and rip out my eyes.
    â€œThe hood is fine.” Logically, I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Or rather, hoped he wouldn’t hurt me. Camp counselors weren’t allowed to injure their charges, were they?
    That didn’t drain my fear, however. I couldn’t see his expression, didn’t know him and what he was capable of doing—didn’t know if the law even mattered to him.
    I wasn’t even one hundred percent certain what type of camp this was, despite—or maybe because of—Kitten’s explanation. This was like no camp I’d ever encountered before. Everything from the hoods to the laserbands to the absolute secrecy was beyond my realm of experience.
    Roses ushered me inside a building. I knew the moment I went indoors because the air changed. Suddenly there was no breeze. Only sterile-smelling air, as if some kind of cleaner had been used, blocking any hint of fragrance.
    We turned once, twice, stalking down a long hallway, was my guess. I didn’t hear other footsteps, didn’t hear other voices.
    â€œNervous?” Roses asked me.
    â€œNo,” I answered with false bravado.
    He tsk ed under his tongue. “Lying already. I warned you about that.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do? Kick me out?” Pretty please with a cherry on top .
    â€œIs that what you want? To be kicked out?” He tsk ed again. “I expected better from you, Phoenix.”
    He was the first to expect anything good from me then. “I expected to finish the day at school, go home, do my homework, and take a nap in my own bed.”
    â€œThat’s sad. You should expect more for yourself.”
    â€œAnd disappoint myself as well as my mom? No thanks.”
    He didn’t say anything else. A few seconds later, he stopped. He released my upper arm, only to grip both of my shoulders and guide me a few inches to the side. “Sit,” he said.
    Something hard bumped into the backs of my knees. A chair, I hoped. I eased down, concerned that he’d jerk the seat away at any moment and laugh. He didn’t and I was able to settle comfortably on top of it.
    My ears twitched when I heard someone sigh. The sigher was a few feet away, I estimated. There was a shuffle of papers and the squeak of syn-leather.
    â€œWelcome, Miss Germaine,” a deep, scary voice said. “So glad you could make it. Now, why don’t we get started, hmm?”
    â€œGet started with what?” I asked, even though Roses had already told me I’d be interviewed. I was nervous and stalling for time.
    He answered me anyway. “Why, deciding whether you live or die.”

5
    â€œState your name,” the man said only two seconds after he threatened my life.
    I didn’t reply. Couldn’t. There was a lump the size of New Chicago in my throat. This wasn’t right. These people should not be allowed to threaten me like that.
    I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to go home. To what? A mom who’s washed her hands of me? Yeah, good luck with that . Anything was better than this, though.
    â€œState your name,” he insisted.
    Again, I remained silent.