Fallen Colonies by Ashley Ashforth

Author:Ashley Ashforth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

CHAPTER

9

It is dawn, but the lights in the shelter begin to brighten as the hour passes. Jack awakens. Looking around, he recognizes the infirmary he built ages ago. There have been improvements since his departure, but surely it’s the same one. Killian sits on a stool, resting his head upon his arms on Jack’s bedside, his dark hair shading his eyes. His shoulders shake as a whimper escapes his lips. Jack rests his hand upon his quivering shoulder. With a jerk, Killian raises his head. His eyes are bloodshot with dark circles. Killian rubs his palms into his eyes, wiping away the sleep with a sigh. Jack pities him. Moving to the table next to him, Killian holds his hands between his knees. Unable to make eye contact with Jack, he looks solemnly down at his own hands. It is still early, and no one has risen from their beds. “What happened to you, boy?” Jack says warmly. “You’ve changed.”

“What would you expect?” he says, rubbing at his stiff neck.

“I expect you to respect life as precious. In a world full of death and destruction, I raised you to have mercy.”

“Henry didn’t deserve mercy, though I wasn’t aiming to kill him. And Charlie... I could’ve done a lot worse. I was merciful enough.”

“If I hadn’t said anything, you would’ve shot him dead. Instead, you left him wounded and unarmed. You might as well have put a bullet in his head.”

“He deserves to suffer,” Killian grumbles.

“I know he’s a lousy excuse for a man, but how can you have so much hatred for him?”

With a deep breath he thinks back and begins telling his tale, starting with the death of Violet’s father.

* * *

Violet told him to meet her at the dock of the dark sea, promising him a surprise. He was almost to the edge of the woods when he heard Henry’s voice. He was yelling at someone, but they weren’t responding. A pang in his chest told him something was wrong. When he saw Henry on top of her with his hands about her throat, there was no thinking. No logic. No hesitation. Picking up the largest rock around him, he ran as fast as he could. With one swing he could hear his skull crack. Even though he knew the back of his skull had caved in, he was unable to stop himself. He never wanted to stop bashing the rock into what once was a human skull. Only when Violet’s voice broke through the buzzing in his ears was he able to stop.

Violet pulled him off Henry with tears streaming down her smudged face. Seeing the red marks around her neck, he felt himself crumble. Touching his hands to her neck, he smeared her father’s blood. It was then that he came out of it, and shock and panic had set in. He knew there would be consequences for what he had done. Violet was speaking to him, but he didn’t hear a word until the crank sirens came.

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