Chapter Seven

  "I've volunteered already."

  Ayo watched as Efiok's eyes dropped to his Slab, her Slab blinked as her heart raced.

  "When?" Efiok asked, his eyes still fixed to the device. Her fingers froze, "hours ago." He looked up at her.

  "Just before your message during the cascade." She forced herself to maintain eye contact. She searched his face for something, anything but it was a blank slate. She thought she saw something in his eyes maybe hope, she didn't know.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "You're not going anywhere." He whispered. She tore her eyes to his knee, his hand was squeezed tight around it. Her chest ached as she moved her gaze back to her Slab.

  "You know that's not possible. The moment I get picked, I'd be locked out of the system."

  "No. We can't be sure you'd get picked." He hit his fist on his knee, his face squeezing a little.

  "Effie, we on the darkside always get picked." She said to him softly. Efiok's face was down turned, his hands trembling. More red light streaked past the cell as the timer ticked in the silence.

  "Effie, come with me."

  Efiok didn't respond. The cup hit the floor as he brought his trembling hands up to his face. They both sat there facing each other, their Slabs flashing from red to green with a chime.