All Bleeds Through by Bartholomew Lander

Author:Bartholomew Lander
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789198733419
Publisher: Lunarium Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

V

The television broadcast the next afternoon was interrupted by a breaking news report. Lena had been sitting in her room, drowning in malaise, when she heard that all-too-familiar brass fanfare from the living room, where Clive had been watching cartoons while her parents bickered over finances. She already knew what the report would contain, but still she found herself wandering, against her better judgment, into the living room. The brandy-colored wood paneling seemed to entomb her as she entered, and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

“This is a Channel Four breaking news broadcast,” the anchor announced in a hasty stream. “We have just received word that local hemo-hunter and hero Tyler Lamm has been found brutally murdered in his Sonora home this very afternoon. Also counted among the dead are his wife and three young children. This brings the total death count this weekend up to six, including Rick Yeoman of Butcher’s Block, who was reported dead late last night.”

Her mother gasped and covered her mouth with one hand at the news. Her father stood abruptly to his feet. Lena did everything she could not to reveal the turmoil brewing inside her.

“Due to the fact that these ghastly murders have targeted Lamm and those around him, law enforcement officials have issued a statement that the slayings were likely committed by hemomancer agents. Police have elevated the hemomancer threat level to red for the county. Police are asking that everyone stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and to report any suspicious activity to their hemomancy hotline. They further ask that anyone with connections to Tyler Lamm contact them immediately, stressing that those associated with the hemo-hunter may be in mortal danger. Meanwhile, Channel Four advises all families to immediately go over your hemo-terrorism preparedness plans with a—”

Her father glided a step forward, bent down, and turned the TV off mid-sentence. The room became still.

Clive, clearly confused, looked back and forth between Lena and their father. There was a static tension building, one which the eight-year-old was somehow more attuned to.

Their father turned his gaze directly upon Lena, and his slate-gray eyes held hers. They tunneled straight through her stoic exterior, piercing right into the well of her internal conflict. “This was you,” her father said. His voice bristled with indignation and shock. “You killed them.”

Her chest was heavy. The silence scraped at her withered resolve. “He killed Rebecca,” she answered. “All I did was return the favor.”

A gasp crashed down on her from her mother.

Clive stared at her, his brow wrinkled. “Who’s Rebecca?” he asked. The rest of the room ignored him. The brewing storm had nothing to do with him, and Lena had intended to leave him to his innocence in any case.

“How could you do this?” her father demanded. “Your… We tried to raise you well. After all we’ve fought and bled for, you reject it all and go off to slaughter half a dozen people? For what?!”

Her mother’s calm imploded at the outburst. “Those were innocent people, Lena!” she screamed.

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