E by Wrath Kate

Author:Wrath, Kate [Wrath, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-05-03T07:00:00+00:00

***

In the morning, Jonas is gone when the rest of us wake. I wonder how he managed to sneak out without me noticing. I clean Apollon's wound, dressing it with a fresh pack of Neveah's herbs, and breathe. It's late morning by the time that Oscar and I start out. We say we're going to hunt rats, and I'm sure that Oscar believes we are. But instead of heading to the back alleyways, we walk toward the Rustler.

As we turn the corner onto the main road, we see her immediately. Hanging. Oscar and I stop in our tracks and stare. At the intersection in front of the corner store, dangling from some sloppily constructed contraption attached to an old metal pole, is Sarah's body. Her eyes are open, bulging, her tongue thick and protruding. She's clearly been there for a while. A Sentry stands in the intersection, but it must not have been there when Sarah was hung. Clearing up after a murder-- not its job. Either it has caught and swiftly punished the culprit, or it's missed its chance and focused on other things. I stand there and gape at the picture of dysfunctional justice before me. Sarah hanging. So I didn't like her, but I want desperately to cut her down. I wonder what the Sentry would do if I did. I wonder what Matt would do.

Oscar's fingers, thin and cold on my wrist, stop me from moving. "Don't," he says softly. "Eden, don't."

I remember him, and I'm clamping one hand over his eyes and hugging him to me with the other.

"It's OK," he mumbles into my stomach, making me realize that he's calmer than I am. How much death he's seen to be this calm?

In the intersection, the Sentry turns its blank face, then takes off down the side street. I let Oscar go, but turn his face away from the horror with a swipe of my fingers on his cheek. "Don't look at that." I catch his hand and run for the Rustler. We duck inside the door. I wipe my hands through my hair as we walk to the stools. There are no card games, and even if there were, I don't have the money to play.

Arthur sets a drink down by me. I ignore it. If I take it, I'll need another twenty after that. Instead, I try to breathe, and scan the room for Jonas. He's not here. And if not here, then where? Panic rises in me. I know he's gone to see Matthew today. That's why he left before any of us were up. Now, I need to stop him. The panic swells larger. I'm probably too late. I have to stop him.

"C'mon." I turn toward the door, just as it opens. I fall short.

Eight of Matthew's men walk in, eyeing the room, followed by Matt himself. Behind him is another five of his crew. They all wander in slowly, like they own the place. They group at two empty tables, except for Matt, who sees me.

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