Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Eugenia had barely been old enough to drink when the bombs fell. And now sperm might be meeting egg in her fallopian tube where an embryo would bounce around for days on its journey to the uterus… and a midwife was offering her hard liquor.
Hard liquor Eugenia was absolutely not going to turn down.
Bathroom abandoned, she found their positioning was all wrong. Joan had taken Eugenia’s seat, leaving Eugenia to sit where the captain would sit. Not that she was going to say anything, but it felt backward.
Sitting in general felt uncomfortable.
“Drink up.” They clicked tumblers, Joan adding, “I can get you more ice if you need it.”
Swallowing the whole thing, blowing air from pursed lips, it took Eugenia a moment to ask what Joan’s expression made it clear they both knew was coming. “Can you get me off the boat?”
Topping off Eugenia’s glass with another splash of vodka, the older woman curled her lip. “Yes, but I won’t. You do test my patience to no end, but that doesn’t mean I want to see you dead. And that’s all that’s out there, young lady.”
Glancing over her shoulder out the captain’s floor-length windows to the rotting woods, Eugenia asked, “But there’s gotta be somewhere good, right?”
“You remind me so much of my daughter. She had her head in the clouds too. Such a dreamer…” A sad smile, a wistful sigh. “Avery was in LA shooting a pilot—sure she’d be the next big thing. No one who knew her would have doubted it for a minute.”
Vodka worked its magic. Or maybe it was that view, or the company, or the general fucked-upness her life had become. “I’m not sure what to say to that.”
“It’s a big ship, Eugenia.”
“Someone else phrased it in exactly those same words.”
“Tennis and basketball courts, multiple running tracks, playgrounds, three theaters, a massive promenade—every part repurposed to maintain and protect life. The conference center is now a classroom. There’s a medical bay—”
Eugenia raised her hand. “I get where you’re going.”
“I don’t think you do.”
“He forces women to have babies whether they want to or not.”
“He does.” Joan sipped her vodka.
“And you help him.”
Without a blink, she said, “I do.”
“And those little girls on board, the ones in the school or playing games with the little boys at recess, how are you going to explain it to them when they grow up and get dragged to the nightmare on Level 15? How are the boys going to feel to trade tickets to fuck their childhood sweetheart?”
“Have you ever noticed that nature tends to correct itself. Most of the babies born since the fall are female. There is almost an even spread between genders.”
That was mildly fascinating. “Those same little girls will one day grow up and be forced to carry babies they might not want. What if they’re gay?”
“Insemination? There are options we can discuss—”
“Please.” A tipsy eye roll matched Eugenia’s disgust. “Oh, and how about who gets matched with whom. What about love?”
“You found it, and you’re already spoiling the gift, so maybe try another topic.”
Eugenia was about to chuck that lead crystal tumbler right in Joan’s face. It sure would fuck up the woman’s well-done facelift. “I don’t know where you think you get off!”
“You’re even lying to yourself, Eugenia.” Joan sipped from her glass. “I’ve seen the way you look at him.”
“Yeah. Like I’m planning his murder.”
“I’ve seen you two sneak off together.”
“To argue.”
Mirroring the sass, the obstinance, and the tone, Joan laid it all out. “Fine. You’re not in love. Tell yourself that if it gets you through the day. But you are good for morale. You cannot imagine the burden that man carries. The responsibility and tough decisions.”
“He’s a sociopath.”
“The pure fact that he loves you and announced it to the entire deck last night contradicts that statement. Sociopaths don’t feel emotion.”
“Okay, then he’s just evil.”
Joan didn’t even try to argue that one. “Only because he has to be.”
“Ha. Gotcha. You agree he’s evil.” Grinning, Eugenia sipped her liquor, feeling cocky, feeling warm. “I win.” And then it sank in. “Wait, did you just say he announced that he loved me to the deck? Has he lost his mind? The women will rebel. Scarlet has it bad for the prick. So does Faith.”
An overgrown eyebrow that would have been perfectly waxed into an arch when salons were on every corner, lifted. “Why do you think I’m drinking today?”
“Should I anticipate more glass in my food?”
“You’re not going to be allowed back to the party. No need to flaunt what the others can’t have.” After an extended sigh, Joan added, “And to be frank, I’m not sure he’d ever let you near the men again.”
“So it’s to be chains and some breeding post on Level 9 after all.”
“There’s an issue with that as well.”
That deserved a snort. “Only one?”