I took one step outside the dining area and would’ve fallen if Rhett hadn’t steadied me. The guys had swept the floor with an old-fashioned worn mop. It was rare to see a mop, let alone four of them in one place.

“Conserve water guys, please,” Rhett said.

The boys gave him a thumbs up and went about their business.

“You have mops? How did you get them?”

I kept my steps even with Rhett’s, Ozzie and Reyna lagged behind.

“They were already here. You’ll see many things that are no longer manufactured and items from the past.”

Reyna pushed a button on the side of the rocky structure. “I’m in charge of agriculture. You’re visiting my domain.”

I entered an old elevator. Thick wires dangled through the cracks above. I gasped when the elevator rattled and jerked before ascending. Rhett focused his eyes straight ahead at the metal door with his fists tight.

“You’ll get used to it,” Ozzie said. “It only broke down twice this week. Just don’t get trapped inside with Rhett.” He snickered softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Rhett twisted his neck, pushed back his shoulders, and let out a small grunt. His sound of annoyance made me want to know more. When the door opened, Rhett released a sigh and the tension in his shoulders eased. Then earthy and citrus scents spiraled through me.

“I see. Claustrophobic,” I murmured.

“Welcome to my favorite place.” Reyna burst out with her arms held up high and her head tilted back. Soaking in the dim sunlight filtering through the fiberglass ceiling, she sauntered on ahead with Ozzie.

Surrounding the outer layer of the ceiling were solar panels, except for where the crops grew under man-made lights that hung every few feet. Stepping out into a field of green, I marveled at the trees and various fruits I hadn’t had the pleasure to eat. The other half of the field held a planted vegetable garden—carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and cabbages.

“This is amazing.” I observed their teamwork. “I’m very impressed.”

Though I should be fuming with rage for being taken against my will, I allowed myself to step back and submerge in the curiosity of my new environment.

Don’t get attached. I belong to ISAN.

“Don’t be too impressed.” Rhett peered up to pick an orange from the tree.

Just then the sunlight kissed his hair, highlighting the tips to a shade lighter, and his amber irises glowed, reminding me of a sunrise bursting to a new day. He peeled the orange and handed me half.

“Thanks,” I said.

“My favorite.” He pinched his lips and drew his eyebrows to the center, as if in concentration.

If I hadn’t known better, I assumed he waited for me to say something. Did he hope I would remember oranges were his favorite fruit? When I didn’t say anything, his face relaxed.

Rhett bit into a piece. “We didn’t build this place. We’re only utilizing what was already here. It’s amazing how they planned the details of what they needed to survive.”

“They were brilliant.” I chewed and swallowed, savoring the orange. I hadn’t had one in so long. The sweet juice going down my throat felt like heaven. “Water is so expensive. How do you get water?”

“There’s a filter pump down in the basement. All the water goes through a pipe that leads to a special pumping system to purify the water.”

I parted my lips to put another piece in my mouth, when I stopped to think about the restroom. “Any chance of getting a toilet? Not that I plan to stay here, but squatting down to pee is not my cup of tea.”

“I’ll make a note of that.” Rhett pursed his lips together. His eyes glistened in the light again when he caught mine.

I glanced away when I realized I’d stared too long. Needing to focus on something else, I crossed my arms and shuffled my shoe in the dirt. Juice squirted onto my face and I squeezed my eyes shut. Before I could block Rhett, he reached out to me.

“Sorry.” His finger traced my cheek, wiping the juice off my nose and then my lips.

The intimate gesture unsettled me. I kept my eyes closed and enjoyed the warmth of the sun as chills waved through me in the wake of Rhett’s touch.

“Are we interrupting?”

I opened my eyes. Three men stood before us.

“No,” Rhett said.

The dip in his tone told me otherwise.

“We don’t know each other well, but I want to thank you.” The first guy extended a hand to me.

“I don’t know what I did, but you’re welcome.” Not knowing what he meant, yet wanting to be polite, I shook his hand with a smile.

“My name is Quinn.” He pointed to his friends. “This is Kai and Drew. We work here every day. Will you be training with us?”

“Training?”

“In case we have to go to war with I—”

“Everyone should know how to defend themselves,” Rhett said.

Was Quinn going to say ISAN? I would have to ask him when I got the chance.

“Anyway ... we watch old movies after dinner. Would you like to come?”

Before I answered, I glanced at Rhett, seeking permission because he was my jailer. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes narrowed. Was he jealous?

“That’s nice of you, but Ava will be busy.”

“Sure. You can hang out with us some other time when you’re free.” Quinn backed away with his friends. “You too, Rhett. We gotta go back to our station. Bye.”

“He’s cute.” I watched them run across the field.

Rhett hiked an eyebrow. “Who’s cute?”

He stood with his feet apart and arms crossed, reminding me of Mitch.

“Who I think is cute is none of your business.” I pierced my eyes into his.

He didn’t reply. Instead, he rested his hand on my back. “Let me show you something.”

Rhett and I took the elevator down and stopped at floor level X. The sound of soft moving water caught my attention. When I got off the elevator, cool mist drizzled and tickled my face.

Trekking down the pebbled path, I trailed my hand over the rocky surface to keep steady. Even the walls felt cool and dewy to the touch. The trail ended, and a stream prevented us from going farther.

“This is where we do our laundry.”

The water seemed to be about three feet deep. Rhett’s friends washed clothes and laid them on a boulder to dry. The boys hung some on the bridge netted with rope, connecting one side to the other.

“The old-fashioned way? Unbelievable.” I shook my head because I couldn’t believe my eyes. I almost laughed.

“The old-fashioned way.”

“Hi, Rhett. Hi, Ava.”

A few of the boys waved from across the bridge.

I waved back to be nice, but they said my name as if we were friends. It only added to the strangeness of everything I felt, happening over and over again. I clenched my teeth from the frustration of being unable to remember. Rhett certainly couldn’t have convinced everyone to pretend to know me. But even still, I didn’t want to believe he told me the truth.

Rhett shuffled small rocks out of the path. “I’m giving Ava a tour.”

“She can help us with the laundry if she wants,” one said, holding up a wet shirt.

“We can teach her,” the second guy with dark hair chimed in. “Then we can go for a swim.”

“Trying to get out of doing your job?” Rhett hopped onto a boulder.

“We’re always trying to get out of our duty, Rhett.” The third guy wrung the shirt he pulled out of the water. “We’re lazy. Don’t be surprised if we can’t get the stain out of your favorite shirt next time. We’re thinking if we do a crappy job, you might reassign us.”

Rhett let out a boisterous laugh. “Okay, guys. Let me see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Rhett,” they said in unison and continued what they were doing.

Rhett jumped off and rubbed the back of his neck. “Where was I? Oh, yeah. Once they get dried, it all goes to one room. We all share. There’s no mine or yours. It all gets recycled. However, they do keep in mind my favorite shirts. And some people fight for things that fit better. They’ll even trade for something in return, like taking a shift in vegetation or cooking.”

“That explains why the clothes feel so rough.” I thought about the softness of the clothes from ISAN. “What do you wash the clothes with? I didn’t see soap scum.”

“We don’t believe soap is a top priority.”

“You mean you can’t find any to steal.”

Rhett’s lips parted in a light chuckle. “I’ll never admit that.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” I shrugged, and took a few steps to hike back up, passing him. “You’ve gotta do what you gotta do. Whatever it takes, right?”

I halted and planted a hand on the rock jetting out from the wall. Why did those words haunt me as if they were a physical being, someone I should remember?

When Rhett didn’t respond and I heard no footsteps, I gazed over my shoulder. His eyes darted in my direction, but he didn’t acknowledge me.

“Did I say something to offend you?” I broke his daze. Not that I cared.

“No,” he said softly. “You just said, ‘whatever it takes.’” Rhett passed me, shaking his head. “We need to get going.”