Page 55 of Everything Under the Sun

“To help me,” I explained. “I thought that might be your price.”

“And you were willing to pay that price?”

I couldn’t answer at first.

“Yes,” I decided—anything for Sosie.

Atticus leaned over, rested his arms atop his thighs and dangled his hands between his legs.

“That’s not you,” he said. “I knew that the day you came here.”

I looked up the rest of the way. “What’s not me?” I came back, offended. “I’m not as human as any other girl here?” I waved a hand in front of me in gesture, and my tone sharpened. “I’m not as vulnerable as Petra or any of those other girls in that brothel? Well, I am! I’m human just like they are and I can change, too!”

“Not like that you can’t.”

I cocked my head to one side, baffled.

Pointing at the floor, I said with an edge, “Well this is me changing”—I pointed once more, harder—“this is me begging you to have your way with me if only you’ll help me and Sosie out of this place! I will do anything! I can be like those pretty women in that brothel! I can spread my legs and open my mouth and get on my knees, all you have to do is say the word!”

Atticus stood up and moved toward me slowly. I sniffled and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand. But I didn’t move. I would go through with this if it was what he wanted. My stomach swam with anxiety; my face was hot with shame, my heart broken with guilt.

He stopped in front of me, the tips of his boots nearly touching my bare toes, and I sucked in a breath and held it, waiting, for what, I didn’t know but I would be ready.

“You’re not like the rest of them, Thais,” he said. “You’re willing to give your body up only to save your sister, not to save yourself, and that makes you different from them.”

I swallowed and looked up at his tall height.

Atticus went toward the door, sliding the lock over, then he moved toward his bed, kicking off his boots on the way, and he sat down on the edge of it.

I just watched him, struck by his words.

“Sir?”

“Don’t call me that.” He stripped off his shirt and tossed it on the floor.

“Overseer?”

He glanced across the room at me.

“Call me Atticus.”

I swallowed nervously, my fingers wound together in front of me.

“Atticus?”

“What?”

He laid down against the mattress.

“Are you going to help us, or not?”

ATTICUS

I paused, thinking about the consequences, and the impossibility of her request.

“I’ll see what I can do about getting you and your sister out of the city,” I said, laying my head against the pillow. “I make no promises. But I’ll see what I can do.”

Thais nodded.

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