Chương 152

The doorbell rang near dusk. Louis woke without immediately recognizing the sound. The blinds had lowered while they slept, leaving only a narrow band of evening light across the floor. The bell rang again. Maeve's head was still resting on his shoulder, with Donya asleep against his other side. Louis eased Maeve away, grabbed the M1911 beside him, and pushed himself upright. Savannah was already off the loveseat with the Swiss Army knife in one hand. Across the room, the crowded bed shifted beneath the blanket.

Gladice climbed down from the outer edge, completely naked, and reached toward the floor for her pistol. Cherish pulled the blanket over her chest while Angelique and Willa struggled awake behind her. The bell rang a third time. Louis crossed to the door with the pistol held low.

"Don't open it," Savannah whispered.

"I'm not." He looked through the peephole. A small white delivery robot waited in the corridor on four wheels. A dark sensor band circled its top above a rectangular storage compartment. The screen on its front read: DELIVERY FOR UNIT 1401.

"It's the delivery robot," Louis said.

"For fuck's sake," Gladice said.

"It scared the shit out of me." Willa picked up a damp towel and draped it over her forearm.

"It has a camera. Probably a delivery confirmation lens. I'm going to block it."

"Do it." Willa opened the door only far enough to reach outside. She reached through the gap and dropped the towel over the robot's sensor band. The robot emitted a warning chime.

"Visual obstruction detected," it said in a pleasant voice.

"Good for you," Willa muttered. Once the camera was covered, Willa pulled the door wider and crouched beside the robot. As she leaned into the corridor, Louis saw the side of her breast and the curve of her bare ass. He watched for a moment before forcing his attention back to the robot. Willa opened the storage compartment and pulled out a large gray delivery bag. A sealed envelope was taped to the top. She pulled both inside, then shut the door with her heel.

A chime sounded in the corridor, followed by the fading hum of the robot's wheels. Willa carried the bag into the room and tore it open. Inside were sweatpants, T-shirts, socks, underwear, sports bras, leggings, jeans, hoodies, and two light jackets. Most of the clothes were oversized, and the mixed sizes made it clear that Donya's father had guessed. Donya picked up the envelope and opened it carefully. Inside were her bank card, her ID, and some cash. She held the ID and looked at it for a moment.

"What is it?" Maeve asked.

"My life." Donya's eyes filled with tears.

"I am back." Angelique rose from the bed.

"So we have clothes."

"Finally," Gladice said.

"I was starting to miss being dressed." Cherish blinked at the pile of clothes, still half asleep.

"Do we get dressed now?"

"I need a shower first," Louis said.

"I haven't taken one in days."

"Same," Savannah said.

"I smell like a whole damn coal mine." A few of them laughed. Savannah folded the Swiss Army knife. Maeve looked through the pile and picked up a pair of cotton panties.

"These are nicer than anything I have ever owned," she said.

"You earned them." Louis set the M1911 on the kitchen counter.

"Take what fits. We need to look like real people again." Donya sorted through the clothes for a moment, then picked up a pair of sweatpants, a plain gray T-shirt, a sports bra, and a pair of panties. She walked to the bathroom.

"Can I join you?" Louis asked, already picking up a set of clothes for himself. Donya hesitated, then nodded.

"Sure." Louis followed her into the bathroom. He closed the door. The small room smelled of steam and soap. Donya stripped and folded her dirty jumpsuit in the corner. She glanced at him in her white bra and panties, then lowered her gaze as she took them off. He watched her for a moment, the way her breasts settled, the curve of her hips, the dark triangle of hair between her legs. His cock hardened as he undressed. Donya noticed and flushed.

"Louis…" she started, then shook her head and opened the glass shower door. He stepped in after her, his cock brushing her hip as she moved to make space. He closed the door and turned on the water. The spray hit them both, hot and strong. Donya tilted her head back, closing her eyes as the water ran over her face and body. He watched the water drip from her nipples.

"This is… nice," she said, opening her eyes.

"Yeah," he said, his gaze following the water trails down her stomach to her thighs. She smiled.

"You keep looking at me."

"I like what I see." He stepped closer and put his hands on her waist, pulling her against him. His erection pressed against her belly. She tensed, then relaxed into him.

"I've missed you," he said, his lips close to her ear.

"I've missed this."

"Me too," she whispered. She wrapped her arms around him, her breasts pressing against his chest. He lowered his head and kissed her. Her lips parted, and his tongue met hers. The water ran over their faces. He deepened the kiss, one hand sliding down her back to cup her ass, pulling her even closer. She moaned softly. He broke the kiss and looked at her. Her dark hair was slicked back against her head. He reached between them and found her clit with his thumb. He circled it slowly, and she shivered.

"Louis…" she gasped.

"Touch me," he said. She wrapped one hand around his shaft. Her fingers were warm. She stroked him slowly, her thumb spreading the pre-cum over his head. He groaned and pushed his hips forward.

"More," he said. She tightened her grip and stroked faster. He reached down and cupped her breast with the other hand, rolling her hard nipple between his fingers. She moaned louder, her hips bucking against his thumb. He pressed harder on her clit, rubbing in tight circles. Her breath hitched.

"I'm… I'm…" she gasped. She threw her head back, her body tensing as she came. She cried out, her back arching, her hand still wrapped around his cock, pumping him faster. He groaned, his balls tightening as he neared his own release. He pushed his hips forward.

"Donya," he grunted.

"I'm going to cum." She pumped him harder, her thumb swirling around the sensitive head. With a final groan, he came, his cock pulsing in her hand. His cum shot onto her stomach and pubic hair. He leaned against her, breathing hard. She held him, stroking his back as they both caught their breath.

"Wow," she whispered.

"That was…"

"Intense," he finished.

"Yeah." She looked down at the cum on her stomach.

"I'm a mess." He laughed.

"I like it." She smiled, then reached for the soap. She washed the cum away, then washed his cock. Her hands were gentle. He watched her.

"I love you, Donya," he said. She looked up at him and held his gaze.

"I love you too, Louis. I always will." He was relieved to hear it. Even with Donya in his arms, he was thinking about the others. He loved all of them and wanted them all, but he did not know whether he could give each of them what she needed.

"Donya."

"Yes?"

"Do you think this can last?" he asked.

"All of us together?" She looked at him.

"I have faith in us, Louis. You should too." He nodded.

"I'm trying. But sometimes I want everyone to feel loved. And I worry I'm not doing enough." She put her arms around him again.

"You are doing more than enough, Louis. You are the reason we are all here. You are the reason we are alive."

"Is that enough?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

"It is for me," she said.

"It has to be. For all of us."

"Okay." He kissed her forehead. He applied shampoo to her hair, working up a lather with his fingers. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

"Will you go back to your family in Chicago? Once we are safe?" he said as he rinsed her hair.

"I… I don't know. I think I would like to stay with you." She hesitated.

"In the Dominion."

"What about your parents?" he asked. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Baba will be upset. But he will understand. Maybe." She kept her head low.

"And Mama will be sad."

"Do they know about… us?" Louis asked, squeezing her shoulders.

"Not in the way you mean. They know I care about you. They know you saved me. They are grateful for that. But…" She looked up at him as she wiped soap from her eyes.

"But they don't know what we have become. What I have become."

"You have become stronger," he said.

"And braver."

"And more… confused." She looked away.

"Sometimes I don't know who I am anymore. Before, I had a plan. Finish university. Find a husband. Have children. Raise them in the faith. That was all I wanted. Now… I don't know."

"Maybe it's better that way," he said, turning off the water.

"Now we can experience many new things before making decisions." She stepped out and accepted a towel.

"Maybe."

"What's your dream, Donya?" She smiled.

"I used to dream of world peace. And ending poverty."

"Nice." He dried himself.

"But I mean… your personal dream. For you." She paused for a moment, then she smiled.

"I want to be the best chef in the world. To make food that makes people happy."

"Is it halal?" She hesitated.

"I don't think I can be the best chef in the world if I only make halal food. After everything we went through, I… I think I will make a special non-halal menu just for you, Louis." He smiled.

"And for others?"

"For others too. But you are special." He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"You are special too, Donya."

"I know," she said with a smile as she put on new panties and bra.

"But it's nice to hear." Louis dressed in a new T-shirt and sweatpants.

"Did your baba know my size?"

"Of course he did," Donya said, drying her hair.

"He must have read everything about you and your family since he knew you were with me."

"I hope he didn't read the bad things," Louis said.

"There are many."

"Maybe he has," Donya said, smiling.

"But he loves me. And he knows I love you. And I told him you were a good man." Louis kissed her forehead.

"I try to be." They finished dressing. When they stepped out, Savannah was waiting by the door.

"Having fun?" she asked dryly.

"Yes," Louis said.

"We talked about world peace and halal food." Savannah laughed.

"Sure you did." She walked into the bathroom. The others were already dressed in their new clothes except Maeve, who sat on the floor, staring at a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt. Gladice had pulled on clean leggings and a baggy sweatshirt. She raised an eyebrow at Louis and Donya.

"You had fun without me?"

"Join us next time," Louis said. Gladice laughed.

"Maybe I will." She looked at Maeve.

"You can join too, Mae-Mae. The more the merrier." Maeve blushed and looked away.

"I am fine." Gladice sighed.

"Boring." Donya sat beside Cherish on the bed.

"Cherish, can I braid your hair?" Cherish looked at her.

"Yes, please." Donya began to work on her hair, her fingers nimble.

"Your hair is so beautiful."

"Thank you," Cherish said.

"Mama used to do this too." Louis sat between Willa and Angelique on the loveseat.

"What's the plan for tonight?"

"We can take an overnight bus to Chicago," Willa said, looking at the phone.

"Only one ID is required for booking. We can use Donya's ID. There's one leaving at midnight. It arrives at six in the morning."

"Perfect," Louis said.

"We can be at the embassy by seven."

"Then we can go home," Angelique said, leaning her head against Louis.

"I can't wait," Gladice said.

"I'm going to eat the biggest steak I can find. And then I'm going to fuck Louis all night long." Cherish blushed.

"Gladice."

"What? It's true."

"Try to be more considerate," Angelique said.

"At least for Cherry's sake."

"I'm just being honest," Gladice said.

"I can't wait to get back to the good life. This survival shit is getting old." Savannah came out of the bathroom in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, her hair wrapped in a towel.

"Y'all planned everything already? What about food? I'm starving."

"I can order something," Donya said.

"I want hot food," Gladice said.

"I don't care where it comes from."

"But the system will track the order," Willa warned.

"Because someone orders food in this city?" Gladice said.

"What a crime."

"The delivery system is connected to the municipal network," Willa said, her tone clipped.

"If we order food here, it creates a data point. A data point someone can follow. We entered this country illegally, in case you forgot."

"We'll be gone in a few hours," Gladice said.

"Who cares?" Willa frowned.

"I do. It's a risk we don't need to take."

"Better taking a risk than starving," Savannah said.

"I am with Glads on this," Angelique said.

"I need something real to eat. Not that dried crap. And I'd rather not have any of us go out before the bus."

"I'll order for everyone." Donya took the phone and brought up the food delivery app.

"We'll pay with my card. And we'll be careful." Willa opened her mouth to argue, then closed it.

"Fine."

"Go take a shower, Maeve." Gladice pointed toward the bathroom.

"You are the last one." Maeve stood, clutching the jeans and T-shirt.

"Okay." Gladice watched her go. When the door closed, Gladice laughed.

"Our little mountain girl is shy."

"Give her a break," Angelique said.

"She's had a hard life."

"Haven't we all?" Gladice said. Donya finished her order.

"Food will be here in thirty minutes."

"Good." Savannah lay down on the floor.

"I need to rest for a bit." Willa looked at Donya.

"Let's book the bus tickets too."

"Okay." Donya switched apps. Willa sat by her side, looking over her shoulder. Louis sat down on the couch next to Angelique.

"Are you excited about going home?"

"Yes," she said.

"And nervous."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I feel different. After everything."

"We all do." Cherish came and sat on Louis's other side.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Louis?"

"Of course." She looked down at her hands.

"I'm scared about going to the Dominion."

"Why?"

"I don't know how to act there. I've never been anywhere like that." She looked up at him.

"Will I fit in?"

"You will fit in with us," he said, putting an arm around her.

"We will help you." Cherish smiled.

"Okay." Angelique leaned against Louis's other side.

"And you will have new clothes, new shoes, new hair. We will give you a makeover. You will be the second prettiest girl in the Dominion."

"Who's the prettiest?" Cherish asked.

"Me, of course," Angelique said. Cherish giggled.

"Okay." Savannah rolled her eyes.

"Y'all are ridiculous."

"Come here, Savvy." Louis held out a hand. Savannah came over and sat by his lap. He wrapped an arm around her.

"You will be my princess too," Louis said.

"When we get home. I promise." Savannah's expression softened.

"That's sweet, Louis. But I'm not a princess."

"I will create the title for you," he said.

"Princess of Atlanta." Savannah laughed.

"Okay."

"I want to be a princess too," Gladice said from the bed.

"You are the Hurricane Queen," Angelique said.

"True." Gladice smiled.

"And the racing champion. And the best fuck from New Orleans to Sacramento."

"Done." Donya showed the phone.

"Eight tickets. Eleven-thirty pm. Platform Six."

"Perfect." Willa stood up and stretched.

"How do we enter the embassy, Louis?"

"Just tell them who I am," Louis said.

"They will let us in."

"And then?"

"Then we wait for my father to send a plane." He paused.

"I think he will be… surprised to see me."

"Surprised to see all of us," Angelique said.

"Yeah. He must have worried a lot since we lost contact." Louis felt a pang of guilt. He had been so caught up in survival that he hadn't thought much about how his parents might feel.

"Constantine will have faith in us," Angelique said.

"He knows we are strong. And he will be proud of you."

"I hope so." Louis looked at the others.

"All of us." The bell rang again. Willa checked the peephole.

"Delivery bot." She covered the camera and brought the bags inside. The room filled with the smell of roasted meat, garlic, and herbs. They sat on the floor as Maeve came out, clean and dressed in her new jeans and T-shirt. Her red hair was damp, and she smelled of soap. She stared at the food containers on the floor.

"You all eat like this?"

"Yeah. I am craving home food," Donya said.

"Please don't judge me." She passed a chicken döner wrap to Maeve. The others made space for her to join the circle. Maeve took the wrap and sat on the floor.

"Thanks." She looked at the wrap, her fingers hesitating. Then she took a bite. Her eyes widened as she chewed.

"It's good." Donya smiled.

"I'm glad you like it." Louis opened a box of lamb kebab and rice. The smell made his stomach rumble. He ate quickly, enjoying the spices and the tender meat. He watched Maeve. She ate her food with a focused expression.

"I have never had anything like this," she said.

"This is what bourgeois eat?"

"More like middle class food from a restaurant," Willa said as she ate her own wrap.

"I want some lamb," Gladice said, reaching for Louis's box.

"Anything for you, Gladie." He passed the box to her. She took a kebab and a large spoonful of rice.

"Thanks, loverboy."

"Loverboy," Maeve repeated, looking at Louis.

"It's a nickname, Mae-Mae," Gladice said. Maeve blushed and looked down at her food.

"Oh." Cherish ate a piece of bread, her cheeks flushed.

"This is really good."

"I am glad you all like it," Donya said.

"It's one of my favorite chain restaurants."

"I would eat this every day," Maeve said.

"If I could afford it."

"You will eat even better in the Dominion," Louis said.

"And you don't have to pay for it." Maeve looked at him, her eyes wide.

"I can't let you pay for everything. I will work for it."

"No, you don't pay your family members," Angelique said.

"We take care of each other." Maeve blinked.

"Sounds like communism." Gladice laughed.

"Only the good parts. Without the starving and the shooting." Maeve smiled a little.

"I see." She took another bite of her wrap. Savannah took a spoonful of yogurt and ate it.

"This ain't bad for Alliance food."

"We eat well in the Alliance," Donya said, tearing a piece of flatbread.

"Even if everything else is boring."

"It's not boring," Willa said.

"It's just orderly." Gladice laughed.

"That's the same thing." Angelique sipped her tea.

"It works."

"It works if you like being watched." Maeve chewed slowly.

"I don't."

"Neither do I," Louis said.

"That's why I live in the Dominion."

"The Dominion watches too," Willa said.

"They just smile while they do it." Louis shrugged.

"Maybe. But they let you have fun."

"Fun." Gladice snorted.

"That's the best way to keep people distracted." Cherish ate quietly, her eyes bright as she listened. Louis smiled at her.

"Do you like the food, Cherry?"

"Yes." Cherish smiled back.

"It's so… different from what I'm used to." She looked down and her smile disappeared.

"I wish my parents could taste this." Louis squeezed her hand.

"We will find out how they are doing once we get home." Her face brightened.

"Really?"

"Of course." He paused.

"And we will get them out of there if they want. We have better lands for farming in California. They will like it there." Tears filled Cherish's eyes. She blinked them away.

"Thank you, Louis."

"You are welcome, Cherry." Maeve watched their interaction.

"Do you help everyone like that?"

"Only people I care about," Louis said. Maeve's cheeks flushed.

"Oh." Donya passed hot tea in paper cups. Maeve took one and held it between her hands.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome," Donya said.

"It's Turkish tea. I miss it a lot."

"It's good." Maeve took a sip.

"Better than the coffee we have in Beckley."

"Worst coffee I ever had," Gladice said.

"Tasted like battery acid."

"Some people can't even have coffee," Maeve said.

"It's rationed."

"Don't remind me," Savannah said.

"We left that place behind." Maeve looked down at her cup.

"Yeah. I guess we did." Louis looked at all of them eating, drinking, and talking. He felt a surge of affection for them all.

"I love you all," he said suddenly. They all looked at him. Angelique smiled. Gladice raised an eyebrow. Willa blinked. Donya's cheeks flushed. Savannah's expression softened. Cherish leaned closer. Maeve looked down.

"You're such a fucking cheeseball." Savannah smiled.

"But I love you too, Louis."

"Okay, cheeseball," Gladice said.

"I love you too. Now pass me that yogurt." Louis passed the yogurt to her.

"I mean it."

"I know," Angelique said, squeezing his knee.

"And I love you too. I love us."

"Yeah," Cherish whispered.

"Me too."

"Me three," Donya said. Willa looked at him.

"It's kind of cringe, but… yeah. I love you too." Maeve stayed silent, still looking at her cup. Louis got up and sat beside her. He put an arm around her. She didn't pull away.

"How about you, Mae-Mae?" Gladice asked.

"Do you love our cheeseball leader?" Maeve flushed.

"I… I don't know." She looked at Louis.

"I'm trying."

"That's enough for now," Louis said, pulling her closer.

"I want to know you better, Maeve." She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Okay."

"I want to know all about you. Your dreams. Your fears. What you like."

"I don't have many dreams." Her voice was quiet.

"Just… to be free. And to have a bike of my own."

"What kind of bike?"

"A Ducati. A 916. Red. Like in the old posters." She paused.

"I used to have a poster of one. On my wall. Before they took it down."

"I happen to have one in my garage," Louis said, smiling.

"I can give it to you." Maeve's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Wow." She looked down at her hands.

"Thank you. I guess."

"You don't have to thank me for gifts between friends," Louis said. She hesitated.

"Then what do I do?"

"You can think of something later. When you're ready."

"Okay," she said, her shoulders relaxing a little.

"I will." Gladice raised her cup.

"A toast to Mae-Mae and her new Ducati!" Savannah laughed.

"And to our cheeseball leader."

"And to us." Angelique raised her cup too.

"To the family." Donya and Willa raised their cups. Cherish raised her cup too. Maeve looked at her cup, then at Louis, and raised it too.

"To us," Louis said, clinking his cup against theirs.

"To home." They finished their food and packed up. Willa deleted the browsing history on the phone and erased the apartment codes from its memory. They left the gray bag in the apartment with their old clothes and went out together into the cool night.