(Aubrey’s POV)
I finish putting the frosting on the last muffin and smile pleased with myself. Suddenly, I feel Baxter’s moist nose on my calf. Baxter has stayed by my side since the moment I started baking the muffins. Every now and then he whines a little to remind me that he is here and that he wants me to give him a piece of muffin. I’m moved by his sweet round eyes and, after what happened last night when I thought he was going to die, I want to spoil him as much as I can, but I have no idea if dogs are allowed to eat muffins and I fear he might get sick.
The muffins look good and they smell even better. The whole house smells great, like sugar and butter. I eat one of the muffins to see how they taste. It is soft and buttery… its been a while since I ate something so good. Bearers are supposed to eat healthy food all the time, but the Matro
Mrs. Jordan walks to the kitchen and I follow her to see if I can be of any help.“Thank you very much,” she says as I help her make the coffee. “I am sorry we haven’t seen each other more, I was under the impression that Leopold didn’t want you to socialize much and I prefer not to snoop. I know he is a very private person that doesn’t like when others intrude in his personal life so I always try to respect that. I am glad he changed his mind, I’ve been so eager to get to know you better, my son has told so much about you...”“Like what?” I ask flushing with the idea of them talking about me.“Jareth has told me everything that happened to you, he feels so ashamed for his part in it… I’m glad he
Every Bearer from group 11 brought varied types of desserts and pastries except for Eliza, who came in empty-handed. The room is filled with chatter from the girls who talk incessantly about what they brought. The Matrons pay no attention to us while they get ready to start with the selection.“Ok, Bearers, that is enough. Silence, please. I see all of you brought something delicious to share with us,” Matron Mary Ann says as she looks at us with a smile.“Eliza, how about you? What did you bring?” Matron Constance asks when she notices her empty hands.“I tried… I wanted to make cookies, but they burnt in the oven… I really tried…” she explains disappointed in herself.
Once I get home I start with what has become my daily routine: cleaning, sweeping, cooking, and playing with Baxter while I wait for the commander to arrive. The hours go by and he doesn’t come home. I get really hungry so I eat a little by myself. Once the hunger is gone, I realize how bored I am. I go upstairs and I turn on the huge flat-screen TV. The television I had back home is tiny compared to the commander’s. It is a shame he never uses it.I feel a little nervous to be watching his TV. The truth is I don’t feel at home here, I am a guest and I don’t feel comfortable using the amenities in this house. Everything here is his, his house, his bed, his TV, even me… his Bearer.The evening news appears on the screen and I immediately understand why the commander is not home yet: there was a shooting downtown. The reporter on-site from the Ministry of Pres
I go in the house with my heart pounding against my chest. I can’t believe we were about to kiss… or maybe I just imagined it. I don’t know if he was going to kiss me or not, but what I do know for sure is that I wanted to kiss him. Something inside of me longed to feel his lips on mine, I don’t get why I feel like this I just know I do.The commander walks to the living room and gestures for me to follow him and take a seat.“Aubrey, I’ve been thinking about a way of repaying you for what you did that night when the men attacked me… but I can’t think of anything and I think it’s best if you tell me how would you like me to compensate you,” he says.“Compensate me in what way?”&ldquo
Shortly after, Jareth leaves, I go into the bedroom as silently as I can and I close the door. I don’t want Mortensen to know I was listening to his conversation.The commander walks in a few minutes later and looks daggers at me. “Did you hear everything all right or do you want a recap?” He asks angrily. I panic. I look at him unsure about what to say. I can’t deny I was eavesdropping, lying would only make things worse. “When I tell you to do something, it is not a suggestion, it’s an order! Do you understand?” He says with a scowl on his face.“I understand, commander. I’m sorry,” I say shyly.The commander rolls his eyes and then he tosses a document on his nightstand. I assume it’s the copy of the report Jareth brought for him.
“Good morning, Bearers, how are you all doing today?” Matron Constance says as she walks into classroom 11.“Good morning,” we all reply in unison.The air feels heavy with expectation. Today the Matrons will announce the members of each team. Obviously, every Bearer already knows which team she prefers to be in, obviously, none of them want to be in mine, the Eel team.“I can see you are all very excited, so let's get started!” Matron Mary Ann says with a big smile.My heart is in my mouth because I know what’s coming and I know how Alice is going to react.“The first team is going to b
(Leopold’s P.O.V.)I play with the food on my tray distractedly. I feel restless. The doctors from the Ministry of Health are clueless as to how to fight this new virus the Eels have created and that leaves my men in a very vulnerable position. Maybe it would be wise to cancel any future raids until the Ministry of Health develops a cure for this new disease, but I can’t afford to do that right now, not when my promotion is so close. I have to show results and I have to do it soon: I must find the traitor inside the Sharks and I have to arrest Xander Norton once and for all. I know General Schubert promised to make me Major if I changed Aubrey into a faithful Bearer but I also want to prove to everybody that I deserve this promotion. The problem is, I would hate to lose one of my men because of this virus… Sharks from other Units have already died from it because they got infected. I don’t want that happ
(Aubrey’s POV) I help Eliza put another batch of blueberry muffins in the oven, let's hope this one is better than the last one she prepared. I watch her worriedly, she has barely said a word since this morning. Things at home are definitely not okay and I wish there was a way I could help her. “Eel!” I turn around to see Wendy and she throws the batter mix she was preparing to my face. “Eel” she shouts again and laughs hysterically. The batter is all over my face, Eliza hands me a napkin so I can remove some of it from my eyelids. Alice laughs discreetly behind my back. “Wendy!” Yells Matron Mary Ann. “This is not proper Bearer behavior!” The Matron clasps Wendy’s arm and drags her out of the room. “Aubrey, go to the restroom to wash y