Bound to the Stars

Chapter 4

By the time our lesson ended, I had decided that ignorance really might be bliss. There are certain things I simply did not need to know. The fact that some random Valerathyin could sense me from across a room and essentially follow an invisible trail directly to me is definitely one of them.

Nadine, on the other hand, seems fascinated. "I don't know. I think it's kind of romantic." I stop walking and turn to stare at her. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Not this." She gestures vaguely at everything surrounding us before looping her arm through mine and pulling me along with the crowd. "Obviously, this is horrible. I just mean the mate thing itself. If you take away the whole invasion and imprisonment part."

"That's a pretty significant part to take away." I can't help but laugh at how easily she dismisses the most important detail. "I know that." Nadine bumps her shoulder against mine as we walk. "I'm just saying, imagine if things were different. One person in the entire universe is meant specifically for you. They don't have to date twenty terrible people first. They don't have to wonder if the other person actually loves them. They just know."

I shake my head. "Sounds horrifying."

"Of course you think it sounds horrifying." Nadine releases my arm long enough to give me an exasperated look. "You don't think there's anything romantic about knowing someone was literally made for you?"

"No. I think it sounds like an excellent way to end up with a stalker." My response makes her laugh, and I feel some of the heaviness from this morning's lesson finally begin to lift.

The recreation area is one of the few places in the matching center that almost feels as if it were designed for humans. Almost. There are books, games, exercise equipment, tables, couches, and even several televisions. The televisions don't receive any outside broadcasts, obviously. Everything available for us to watch has been approved by the Valerathyins, which means there is absolutely nothing useful about them.

No news. No information about what is happening outside these walls. No way to know if anyone is still fighting. Mostly, we get old movies, television shows, and documentaries that existed before the invasion. I used to hate reality television. Now I would happily watch twelve straight hours of strangers arguing over who didn't wash the dishes if it meant I could pretend the world outside was still normal.

Nadine releases my arm as we enter the room. "Cards?" I immediately shake my head. "We played cards yesterday, and you cheated." Her mouth falls open in mock offense. "I do not cheat. I'm just better than you."

"You had five aces." Nadine paused, and I could practically see her searching for an explanation. "Maybe it was a special deck." I stared at her until she finally gave up. "Fine. No cards."

We make our way toward one of the couches near the windows instead. The windows in here are larger than the ones in our living quarters, stretching nearly from the floor to the ceiling. They don't open, of course, but at least I can see outside.

The matching center is much larger than the building we live in. Several identical buildings sit across a massive, enclosed property, connected by paved walkways and surrounded by walls tall enough that I can't see what exists beyond them. I know we're still somewhere in what used to be the southeastern United States. That's about it. When they brought me here six months ago, the transport windows had been darkened. Apparently, knowing where you're being imprisoned is another privilege we no longer deserve.

I sink onto the couch and pull my legs underneath me while Nadine sits beside me and grabs a magazine from the table. It's at least a year old, which means it predates the invasion. She flips through a few pages before suddenly turning it toward me. "I miss Target."

I look at the advertisement she's pointing to. A woman is standing in a perfectly decorated living room holding a throw pillow, and something inside my chest aches unexpectedly. "Why would you show me that?"

"Because I'm suffering, and you should suffer too." Nadine gives me a sad smile before looking back at the picture.

"I would sell you to the Valerathyins for a Target run right now," I told her, reaching over to take the magazine.

"Rude." She considers my statement for another second before shrugging. "Although, for two hours at Target? Honestly, fair."

I laugh and turn the page.

I miss stupid things. That's what no one tells you about losing your entire life. Of course, I miss my family. I miss my house. I miss my job. I miss knowing that the people I love are safe. But I also miss Target. I miss getting coffee whenever I want it. I miss complaining when a package took three days instead of two. I miss sitting in traffic and getting irritated because someone didn't use their turn signal.

I even miss folding laundry in my own living room. You never realize how much freedom exists in completely meaningless choices until you don't get to make them anymore.

I am still staring at the magazine when a loud tone sounds throughout the recreation room. Every conversation stops almost immediately, and the televisions shut off simultaneously. "That's new." Nadine lowers the magazine she had picked up, her earlier smile disappearing.

A Valerathyin male appears on every screen. I recognized him immediately. Everyone does. Commander Vaerik oversees our matching center. I have only seen him in person twice, which is more than enough for me. He has the same dark markings as many of the guards, except his stretch farther up his neck and across one side of his face.

"Attention," his voice fills the room. "All residents will return to their assigned living quarters immediately." My stomach tightens. Nobody moves at first, as though we're all waiting for him to explain why. He doesn't. Instead, the screens go black, and the attendants stationed around the room immediately begin directing everyone toward the exits.

Someone near the front asks what is happening, but the attendants ignore the question. That is never a good sign. Nadine reaches for my hand as we stand. "Anna."

"I know." I squeezed her fingers before we joined the crowd moving into the hallway. Something is different. There are more guards than usual. A lot more.

Valerathyins I have never seen before move quickly through the corridors, speaking to one another in their language. Several are wearing uniforms different from the attendants who normally patrol the center. Instead of gray, they're dressed completely in black. Nadine notices them at the same time as I do. "Those aren't our guards."

"No." I watch one of the unfamiliar Valerathyins disappear through a doorway ahead of us.

We are halfway back to our living quarters when a woman walking several feet ahead of us suddenly stops. "Oh, my God." The attendant behind her immediately orders her to continue moving, but her reaction has already gotten everyone's attention. A few people begin asking what is wrong, and the woman turns toward us with wide eyes.

"The royal family. They're coming here."