Chapter 196
- Kaysi -
The farther the van drove away from the testing area by the gate, the quieter everything became.
The screaming crowds faded.
The warning sirens softened.
Even the rain sounded different now against the armored roof above me.
I sat quietly across from the nurse and next to the officer, looking through only two windows, one of which was the rear window.
I watched as the city lights blurred across the tinted back window.
"So, then where are we really going?" I asked again.
The nurse smiled politely.
"Somewhere you'll be safe."
Safe. What a funny word; it felt rotten by now.
The officer beside me suddenly leaned toward me, pulling something black from his vest.
It was a blindfold.
I frowned immediately.
"What is that for?" As if I didn't already know.
"Protocol," he mumbled. He grabbed my wrist before I could slide away.
"Hey—"
"We heard your little radio call." His voice hardened. "We can't take the risk of anyone tracing your location."
My stomach tightened.
So he was afraid someone would attempt a rescue.
The officer tied the blindfold firmly around my eyes.
Darkness swallowed everything instantly.
"Comfortable," he mocked.
I stayed quiet.
Focus.
Count turns.
Feel movement.
The van turned right.
Then left.
Stopped once.
Started again.
Different road texture.
Long incline upward.
Something heavy and metal, like a large iron gate opening.
Then eventually—
The vehicle slowed fully to a stop, and then the doors opened.
Cool air rushed in.
The officer fully took off my blindfold.
"Where here?" He whispered in my ear. "No funny business."
Two maids with umbrellas guided me carefully out of the van and to the ground.
Standing before us was a huge mansion that looked more like a palace.
Massive white stone walls, floodlights, and tall white gates all the way around.
Perfect lawn and garden that looked untouched by the disasters of the flood or any other environmental hazards, for that matter. — Yes, perfect was the best word for it.
The more I reflected on this situation, the stronger a hollow feeling grew in my gut.
People were dying outside while this place still looked untouched, unaware, almost invincible.
More maids were waiting near the entrance, who immediately surrounded me politely.
One smiled softly.
"This way, Miss."
Miss? Why were they so formal... They didn't call me a citizen or evacuee?
The inside was worse, with crystal chandeliers, gold trim, and fresh flowers all around, and warm lighting that lit every corner of the house.
The entire mansion even smelled expensive.
To the people here, the disaster outside didn't exist.
I was guided upstairs into a massive bedroom.
That's when I saw it—
On the bed, a white dress rested carefully across the canopy.
Everything clicked together.
The special selection of the gold band.
The separation and transport.
All the others' comments on compatibility. Women are mainly separated. This wasn't an adoption to improve the people; it was an official marriage pairing like a breeding plan disguised as survival.
One maid stepped toward me carefully.
"We need you to change."
I stared at the dress in disbelief.
"...You're forcing marriages."
Neither maid answered directly.
That was it. Anger burned through me so fast I almost swung at somebody.
But then I noticed the guards. Outside the room, and inside the mansion, is the front door.
Blocking the doors already. They expected resistance.
So instead—
I smiled faintly.
Fake, controlled. "...Fine." I'll play nice for now, waiting for an opening.
The maids relaxed. Good. I want them to keep underestimating me.
They moved quickly after that. Putting my hair up, tightening the dress. I fasten jewelry around my neck and wrists.
Every second felt more and more suffocating.
Like pieces of me were being removed and replaced with someone else.
One of the maids reached for my bracelet with my feather charm.
"Wait," I jerked back.
"It will clash, madam."
"It is a family heirloom," I lied. "At least let me keep this; I'll let them know so they don't get mad at you."
The younger maid nodded and stepped back.
"You look breathtaking."
I looked toward the mirror.
White fabric flowed to the ground. Silver embroidery and long silk gloves.
I looked ready for a wedding, alright. My stomach twisted even more violently. I was ready to puke.
A knock came at the bedroom door. One of the guards opened it.
It was a large, well-dressed older man.
His cold eyes were hidden behind a practiced smile.
The maids lowered their heads and respectfully slipped out of the room, and the guards followed without the slightest glance from the master.
The man approached me slowly.
"Truly, you are remarkable, aside from that bracelet." His brow lifted.
"It is from my family. I apologize; I mean no offense."
He waved his hand as it didn't bug him. "Our families are fortunate for this union. The system found such a strong match for my son."
"This is insane." The words slipped.
He chuckled. "I like your fire. But no, it is practical."
He stepped closer.
"You see, Miss Kaysi, survival requires difficult decisions."
I crossed my arms tightly.
"People are drowning in the lower cities, and you place yourself dressed up in your castle."
His expression barely changed.
"And yet you are as if by design!"
That hit harder than I wanted it to.
He noticed me flinch.
Then his voice lowered slightly.
"I would advise you to cooperate downstairs."
Something about his tone changed.
Less polite now and... more dangerous.
"And what if we don't?"
The father smiled faintly.
"Your friends entered this city illegally, didn't they?"
My stomach bottomed out.
He continued calmly.
"The orange-haired redhead, the pretty caramel-brown country sweetheart, and the young mother and her children. " One single call," he said softly in my ear, "and the Silent Police I fund can have them thrown in the ocean before sunrise."
Cold fury shot through me.
"You touch them, and I swear—"
"I don't want trouble." He interrupted smoothly, "I want stability for my family."
The father stood tall, adjusting his cufflinks.
"So smile and walk down those stairs and say your vows."
His eyes locked on mine fully now.
"And your friends remain well cared for."
I wanted to kill him where he stood. But that wouldn't guarantee my friend's future.
The father stepped aside toward the door. Raising his arm.
"Shall we?"
The ceremony room downstairs looked terrible, with the elegant tables set, flowers, and candles.
The blond son waited near the altar and smiled the second he saw me.
Like he already owned me. I hated him immediately.
"We are gathered here today—" The pastor opened his book politely, not wasting any time."
I barely heard him. My mind was elsewhere, searching with my eyes at the windows and the guards. But I had to remain here for everyone else's sake.
The father watched me from nearby in his seat like he already knew I was calculating escape routes.
The pastor smiled warmly toward us.
"Marriage is a sacred bond built upon trust, survival, and unity through difficult times."
I nearly laughed at the irony.
The son reached for my hand.
I didn't take it. Silence followed awkwardly.
The father cleared his throat sharply.
Slowly, I placed my hand into his son's.
His smug face lit up, and his smile widened instantly.
I wanted to break his nose.
The pastor continued nervously.
"Finally, if there is anyone who objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Silence fell as my heart raced.
BOOM!
The front doors exploded inward, violently knocking the guards to the ground.
Smoke flooded the room, people screamed, and guards shouted.
Gunfire erupted somewhere near the entrance.
"RAIDERS!" a guard yelled and then was silenced.
Masked figures stormed through the mansion fast and organized.
One tackled a guard through a table.
Another launched smoke canisters deeper into the room.
The chaos swallowed everything, and the smoke blinded all of us.
The father yelled furiously.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
A masked raider slammed him across the face with a rifle stock.
"Community outreach program. Congrats, you have been selected!"
The pastor screamed and hit the floor.
"Spear me, please."
The son stumbled backward, choking through the smoke.
I tried to breathe. I tried to move—
But suddenly someone grabbed me around my waist. Strong arms lifted me completely off the ground.
I tensed immediately as he carried me through the chaos and raced me outside.
"NOT AGAIN!" I retaliated, struggling not so easily to break free.
"Kaysi."
My heart stopped.
"Evan?"
Gunshots echo behind us, and people are frantically screaming. More explosions somewhere deeper in the mansion
The smoke burned my eyes as I blinked, trying to clear them.
The man set me on the ground and rinsed my eyes with a bottle of water and a cloth."
As my eyes cleared, a slowly hazy image came into view.
"Evan, it is you!" I hugged him.
"I got you," he said, hugging back.
The way he said it made my muscles finally release.
Cool night air finally hit, his dark hair soaked from the rain, and green eyes locked directly onto mine.
The relief pooled into me so hard I almost forgot everything else around us.
I jolted. "Oh no," I jerk Becky, Micah, and Mary. The children are in danger there."
Josh appeared beside us, coughing dramatically through the smoke.
Then looked between Evan and me in the wedding dress.
His grin spread instantly, pointing at us.
"Oh, look, you rescued your future wife before she even got a chance to get married."
Evan went immediately red all over.
"I hate you!"
Josh laughed harder.
"Oh, he's embarrassed—"
Evan kicked Josh's leg out from under him, landing him on his butt.
Evan quickly removed a spare, folded blue shell uniform from his bag and handed it to me without looking directly at me.
"Put this one before someone else sees you. And don't worry, we already have Becky and the others."
Josh stood up, dusting off his pants, and raised a brow.
"Oh, wow. Possessive too."
Evan dropped him to the ground again.