Read Online The Industry by Rose Foster - Free Book Online Page B

mixture of sweat, dirt and fresh air.
    Kirra stayed perfectly still, examining him very closely for many minutes, before she considered him safe and got to her feet. Instantly, he recoiled.
    â€˜Who’s there?’ he demanded, his head jerking around.
    Kirra stopped. He spoke English. She supposed that made things easier.
    â€˜Who’s there?’ he repeated, struggling to stand up.
    Kirra frowned down at him. ‘Stop moving,’ she said quietly.
    He did, and froze against the wall.
    â€˜Good,’ she said, and crouched down.
    â€˜Who are you?’ he asked.
    For a moment, Kirra said nothing, her face very close to his hooded one. She frowned at him, though he couldn’t see, and dropped her gaze.
    â€˜Just stay still,’ she ordered finally, and began to work at the knot keeping the bag secure. He allowed her to take it off and discard it on the cement by his side. The moment it was gone, he squinted in the light, scarce as it was, and looked around.
    His skin was black, his eyes tired and bloodshot and he had a short mop of tightly curled brown hair. His cheeks were dotted with a few of what she supposed were old acne scars. He was older than her, though not by too much.
    â€˜Who are you?’ he repeated, as though Kirra mightn’t have heard him the first time.
    She said nothing.
    â€˜Well?’ he asked. ‘What’s your name?’
    She sighed. He wasn’t going to back off. ‘Kirra,’ she answered.
    â€˜Kirra …’ he repeated, as though trying the word out for size. ‘Where are you from? Why are you here?’
    â€˜I’m from Australia,’ she mumbled. ‘I’m here because I can crack a code.’
    â€˜The Spencer code?’ he asked immediately.
    Kirra looked up. ‘Yes …’
    â€˜That’s why I’m here!’ he said. ‘That man said it’s really rare, being able to do that code. I’ve never heard of anything like it before. Were you kidnapped?’
    â€˜Yes … Were you?’
    â€˜A week ago, I think.’
    Kirra nodded. ‘I’ve been here longer,’ she told him, leaning her head back against the wall.
    He studied her for a long moment.
    â€˜My name’s Milo Franklyn,’ he offered, a crooked smile on his face. ‘I’m from Southampton. That’s in England. I’m eighteen,’ he continued when she said nothing. He seemed to have calmed down considerably, slumping against the wall and looking too long for the small space they were now required to share. ‘How old are you? You look really young …’ He glanced at the bundled-up school uniform serving as a pillow in the corner.
    â€˜Sixteen,’ Kirra said, pinching the bridge of her nose. His chatter was starting to annoy her.
    â€˜Oh. Well … don’t worry. My government is coming for me. When they come, you’ll be rescued too.’
    â€˜I’ve been here for weeks,’ Kirra said. ‘If anyone’s police are coming, it’s mine.’
    â€˜All the way from where? Australia, wasn’t it?’
    Kirra could detect the hint of a sneer in his voice. ‘Yes,’ she challenged.
    â€˜Don’t get your hopes up,’ he countered. ‘Australia isn’t exactly close by. It could be quite a wait.’
    She glared at him.
    â€˜Your people aren’t coming,’ she said flatly, picking at her nails.
    Milo blinked. ‘I’m sure they are,’ he said in a forced tone. ‘I’m surprised it’s taken this long, but they’ll arrive soon.’
    Kirra frowned. ‘They aren’t coming for you. No one’s coming for you. They don’t even know where you are.’
    The truth of it almost floored her, because they weren’t coming for her either and she’d only just realised it.
    Milo was glaring at her.
    â€˜You know what? You’re very annoying,’ he said suddenly.
    Kirra didn’t reply. She