Born 01 - Born

was taken there. He doesn’t work there because of the special perks." I gag at the way she says perks and raises her eyebrows. "He's a doctor. All the doctors were taken."
    I don’t feel better at the thought. I feel myself panicking at the idea of the breeder farms.
    "Girl, you're going to have to wow me for me to give you some of this."
    I pull out the big guns on the first try. I would try to bargain but I'm in a hurry to get some sleep. I have to sneak out of the town in the middle of the night. The wolves at the gates have changed my initial plan.
    I pass the small blue bottle to her. Her eyes light up instantly.
    "Is it still sealed?"
    I nod. She snatches it and kisses the bottle. I feel my nose scrunch up.
    She eyeballs me with her crazy eyes. "How did you get this?"
    "My father had a health food store. He left me a couple bottles. This is the last one." I hate that I've given it to her. It's not really my last one but it's still priceless.
    She pushes three vials at me from the white chest and points to the door. "Leave and tell no one what I've sold you."
    I nod. "Likewise."
    She hands me the slip I need to get a night’s sleep at the Inn.
    I leave feeling her eyes on me, but when I look back, she is hugging the bottle of pure tea tree oil like a nut. Her messy long white hair makes her look like the evil queen from Snow White, hugging the poisoned apple.
    I walk out into the broken concrete street and look around. I see the Inn in the far corner of the shops. I keep my eyes low to the ground as I cross.
    "Bread, miss? Eggs?"
    I look at a young man pointing to a house. I shake my head. I don't eat anything that comes from other people. Especially not townies. The sanitation here is far below the standards we had as a civilization. I had heard rumors of a new plague the last time I had come through.
    I enter the inn and look around. A woman with bright red hair eyes me up and down. I pass her the slip of paper. Her face brightens up. "Good to have patrons this early in the spring."
    I look around. "How safe is the town?"
    She shrugs. "Depends. A sweet piece of virgin ass like you is going to have troubles no matter where you go."
    I frown. "Thanks."
    She croaks a laugh. "Precious, you are risking a hell of a lot coming here. The hunters are looking for breeders like you. Clean virgins."
    I pass her a diamond ring from my pocket.
    Her dark brown eyes light up. "Luckily, a lady like me runs this Inn. You'll be safe."
    I smile bitterly. "Wait until you see the ring you get when I leave here in one piece. Virginity intact."
    She raises an eyebrow at me. "I'm starting to think maybe you're not too virginal. Most girls who look like you are slightly more fun to mess with."
    I shrug. "I aim to please." I've read the line in a book once and always wanted to use it.
    She croaks again and turns away from me.
    "I'd sneak out in the night if I were you. The things that circle the town have what they want by sundown." She turns back to me and grins a bright white smile. "Like I said, the girls that look like you are more fun."
    I meet her smile. "I'm fun. Just not in a way anyone appreciates."
    I climb the stairs, trying not to let my exhaustion be too obvious.

Chapter Eight

    A hand slips over my mouth. I instantly think of the germs. I squeeze my lips together.
    "Don't move, princess. They've come for you. Those bastards have sold you out to the breeders. Or it was that old bitch. You should know better than to trade with the first person who talks to you. You bush people are stupid." Her bright white smile flashes in the darkness. "Don't look so scared. I have a way out."
    I nod. She pulls her hand from my face and puts it out in front of me. I slip my hand into my sports bra and pull out a massive ruby ring. I took it off a dead woman in a pile of rubble. It's gorgeous. It sparkles, even in the muted moonlight filtering in through the thin curtains.
    She turns her back on me and walks to the closet.
    She opens the door. I follow her. I'm holding my sack close to my chest. She pulls the rod for hanging clothes in the closet, making the wall pop out. She pushes it inside and walks into the wall.
    She enters the darkness. I put my hands out. I hear voices coming to the room. I close the wall behind me, shutting them out and me in.
    I feel her hand grip mine suddenly. I want to scream but I don’t. My pulse is vibrating throughout my body.
    Words are whispered into the darkness. "Stairs." I put my feet down to the