The Last Girl Read Online Free PDF

Instead she fixes a blank expression on her face as they continue down the hall to the cafeteria, slowly letting her hand travel into her pocket to feel the folded scrap of paper there.
    “I need to go to the bathroom,” she says, gesturing to one of the door less rooms on the right as they near it. Simon glances at his watch and nods.
    “Hurry.”
    Zoey steps into the bathroom, a wave of elation sliding over her as she sees it’s empty. There is a camera mounted in the far corner of the room, but it cannot see into the many stalls that line the wall. Slight means of privacy seem to be the only power the women have over the rest of the ARC’s inhabitants.
    She steps into the stall, lowering her pants to complete the charade, but not before she draws out the note. As she sits on the cold plastic seat she unfolds the piece of paper that is not over a half-inch in diameter. There is only one word written in its center.
    Tonight .
    She allows herself a smile before putting the paper in her mouth. She chews it into a ragged, pulpy lump before swallowing it.

3
    “I wonder what the princess is eating right now,” Meeka says, picking at the boiled vegetables and canned meat that were already cold by the time they sat down at their places.
    Zoey eats hungrily, downing the pasty meat without wondering what animal she might be ingesting. She shrugs. “Something special, I suppose.”
    “I’ve heard you get whatever you want,” Meeka says, sipping her water.
    “You can’t have whatever you want if they don’t have it.”
    “That’s the thing. I think they do. I mean, a lot of these veggies are fresh, right? So they’re growing them somewhere, and I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen any dirt or plots of land within the ARC.” It is an old discussion between them, but Zoey indulges her to help patch over their earlier spat.
    Zoey chews, thinking. “Might be on the roof.”
    “Maybe. But I doubt it.”
    “You think they grow them outside the walls?”
    “Have to.”
    “The only ones who go outside the walls are Reaper and the Redeyes.” Zoey forces down the shiver that tries to rise in her from speaking the name of the reclamation unit.
    “They’re the only ones we see go outside. We can’t see in the dark,” Meeka says, widening her eyes comically.
    “No, but . . .” Zoey frowns.
    “What?”
    She shakes her head. “Nothing. We’re going to get in trouble talking like this.”
    Meeka shrugs. “We get in trouble for everything. Don’t speak to the Clerics’ sons, don’t have impure thoughts. We’re not even supposed to touch ourselves—like I’m gonna follow that rule . . .”
    “Meeka!”
    “Well, it’s true. It’s really all we’ve got. Remember when they caught Kelli in the bathroom with that one Cleric’s son? What was his name?”
    “Andrew,” Zoey says in a quiet voice.
    “She went in the box for a day and we never saw him or his father again.”
    “I remember. That’s why you should keep your voice down.”
    “I really don’t care anymore. I’ve got another six months, and then I’ll see whatever they’ve got planned for us. In the face of that, nothing really seems very frightening.” They both fall quiet for a time, concentrating on their meals. “I bet Terra got chicken and mashed potatoes,” Meeka says quietly. “With butter.”
    The mention of butter floods Zoey’s mouth with saliva, and suddenly her meal tastes more bland than ever. They only have butter once a year, on New Year’s Eve.
    Zoey sighs and sets her fork down. “Why can’t you ever be quiet?”
    “Not in my nature.”
    Lily rocks beside Zoey, humming something out of tune under her breath. She watches her movements, dread rippling through her like water disturbed by a storm. Who will watch after Lily when she’s gone? The chime sounds and makes Zoey jump, her hand slashing out, knocking a spoon flying to the other side of the table. Meeka grabs it up, her reflexes so fast Zoey doesn’t