Merciless by Lilli Carlisle

Author:Lilli Carlisle [Carlisle, Lilli]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Dystopian
ISBN: 9781951055677
Google: p9Z-zQEACAAJ
Amazon: B08711YLS8
Publisher: R R BOWKER LLC
Published: 2020-04-09T23:00:00+00:00

***

Marie knew what she was doing was all kinds of stupid, but the driving need to make sure Ben was all right had forced her to this point. He’d left the meeting hours ago and hadn’t returned. She couldn’t hope to understand what he was going through, considering the lack of a relationship she’d had with her mother, a mother who caged her child, and inflicted all type of torture upon her. Even though Marie couldn’t empathize, she could be his sounding board if he needed to talk.

Following his scent was easy. Hell, her entire body was honed in on it by now. Given the hour, it was no surprise when she found the courtyard in their private area dark. She had brought Tim to stay with Hope and the other children when they’d first arrived back at their base. Marie wished his parents were still alive, but didn’t have a good feeling about it. Knowing he’d be well cared for was a comfort, but it’d take him a long time to get past the grief of losing his family.

The low hum of anger pulsing through her body throttled up at the thought of all of the orphans and the dead who had fallen at the hands of the demons.

When she reached his room, Ben’s door was ajar, and she could hear a guitar softly playing. She didn’t know if it was him or a recording. When she knocked on the door, there was no response, but the chords played on. Slowly she pushed the door all the way open until she could get a better look inside. The rooms were dark except for a single lamp glowing softly in the far corner of the living room beside the couch.

A lone figure sat with his broad back to her, strumming what sounded like a familiar song. Where had he found a guitar? Then the song’s name came to her, “What a Wonderful World” made famous by Louis Armstrong. The chords seemed sad and vibrated deep inside her as the words floated through her head.

“I see skies of blue…”

“And clouds of white…” Ben replied through the link, but he still hadn’t turned around to look at her.

“Can I get you anything?” That’s the best I can come up with? Marie didn’t think he’d appreciate being asked if he was okay. Clearly, she hadn’t thought this through.

“No. I’m fine. Thanks for the offer.” His voice was cold and lifeless.

She was so unpracticed at social nicities she felt beyone awkward. Certain his mind was back at the zoo, she didn’t know how to comfort him, but she figured if he had company he might feel better. “Do you mind if I join you?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Sit if you want.”

She’d had worse offers, and that he hadn’t sent her away was a good sign. “Okay, for a bit.” Marie walked around the back of the couch and sat on the end opposite Ben. “Who taught you to play the guitar?”

The words were out before she’d actually thought it through.

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