Part 35 (2/2)
”Dr. Cable? What's going-”
Tally turned toward the voice, her eyes taking in the young woman before her.
She was tall and elegant, every feature perfection. Her eyes-deep and soulful, flecked with copper and gold-widened with a troubled look. Her generous lips parted wordlessly, and she raised one graceful hand. Tally's heart almost stopped at the beauty of her confusion.
Then recognition filled the woman's face, her broad smile illuminating the darkness, and Tally felt herself smiling in return. It felt good to make this woman happy.
”Tally! Itis you.”
It was Shay. She was pretty.
Rescue
”Shay...”
”You made it!” Shay's stunning smile faded as she looked down at the crumpled form of Dr. Cable.
”What's with her?”
Tally blinked, awed by the transformation of her friend. Shay's beauty seemed to snuff out everything inside Tally; her fear, surprise, and excitement fled, leaving nothing but amazement. ”You...turned.”
”Duh,” she said. ”David! You're both okay!”
”Uh, hi.” His voice was dry, his hands shaking as they gripped the powerjack. ”We need your help, Shay.”
”Yeah, I guess you do.” She looked down at Dr. Cable again and sighed. ”You guys still know how to make trouble, I see.”
Tally averted her eyes from Shay's beauty, trying to focus her thoughts. ”Where's everyone else?
David's parents? Croy?”
”Right in here.” Shay gestured over one shoulder. ”All locked up. Dr. C has been totally bogus to us.”
”Keep her here,” David said. He pushed past Shay and through the door. Tally saw a row of small doors inside the long room, each with a tiny window set in it.
Shay beamed at her. ”I'm so glad you're all right, Tally. The thought of you all alone in the wild...of course, you weren't alone, were you?”
Meeting Shay's eyes, Tally was overwhelmed all over again. ”What did they do to you?”
Shay smiled. ”Besides the obvious?”
”Yeah. I mean, no.” Tally shook her head, not knowing how to ask Shay if she was brain damaged.
”Are any of the rest of them...”
”Pretty? No. I got to be first, because I made the most trouble. You should have seen me kicking and biting.” Shay chuckled.
”They forced you.”
”Yeah, Dr. C can be a major pain. It's kind of a relief, though.”
Tally swallowed. ”A relief...”
”Yeah, I hated this place. The only reason I'm here is that Dr. C wanted me to come by and talk to the Smokies.”
”You live in New Pretty Town,” Tally said softly. She tried to see past the beauty, to find whatever was behind Shay's wide, perfect eyes.
”Yeah. I just came from thebest party.”
Tally finally heard how slurred Shay's words were. She was drunk. Maybe that was why she was acting so strangely. But she had called the others ”the Smokies.” She wasn't one of them anymore.
”You go to parties, Shay? While everyone here is locked up?”
”Well, I guess so,” Shay said defensively. ”I mean, they'll all get out once they turn. Once Cable gets over her stupid power trip.” She looked at the unconscious form on the floor and shook her head. ”She's going to be in a bad mood tomorrow, though. Thanks to you two.”
The sound of complaining metal came from the detention room. Tally heard more voices.
”Of course, sounds like no one'll be around to see it,” Shay said. ”So how are you two doing, anyway?”
Tally opened her mouth, closed it, then managed to answer. ”We're...good.”
”That's great. Listen, sorry I was such a pain about all that. You know what uglies are like.” Shay laughed. ”Well, of course you do!”
”So you don't hate me?”
”Don't be silly, Tally!”
”I'm glad to hear that.” Of course, Shay's blessing was meaningless. It wasn't forgiveness, just brain damage.
”You did me a big favor, getting me out of that Smoke place.”
”You can't really believe that, Shay.”
”What do you mean?”
”How could you change your mind so quickly?”
Shay laughed. ”It took exactly one hot shower to change my mind.” She reached out and touched Tally's hair, tangled and knotted from two weeks of camping out and riding all day. ”Speaking of showers,you are a total mess.”
Tally blinked. Hot tears were forcing themselves into her eyes. Shay had wanted so much to keep her own face, to live on her own terms outside the city. But that desire had been extinguished.
”I didn't mean to...betray you,” she said softly.
Shay glanced over her shoulder, then turned back and smiled. ”He doesn't know that you were working for Dr. C, does he? Don't worry, Tally,” she whispered, putting one elegant finger to her lips. ”Your ugly little secret is safe with me.”
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