The Testimony of Bendigo Fletcher by Keira F. Jacobs

Author:Keira F. Jacobs [Fenzel, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Keira Jacobs

Seventeen

While the crew argued and agonized over a plan, the streets of Orenda cleared. A storm grew on the horizon. Thick, black clouds moved in across the sky, and a biting chill came with them.

Safe from suspicion in the now empty streets, Bendigo dragged his feet back to Sophia’s house. He hung back behind the others while Willy slunk next to him. No one said a word.

Confusion and understanding clashed in his brain, clouding his judgment. He hadn’t treated Sophia with the respect she deserved, and in turn, everyone had questioned her. There was guilt in his conscience yet fury toward her lack of empathy. To kill their own kind? Fight them like the manipulated weren’t once good?

Though Bendigo struggled with this concept, Dagon hadn’t pushed back on it. He hadn’t come up with a different plan, backed Bendigo up, or even scolded Sophia for suggesting such a thing. That made Bendigo wonder if he himself wasn’t thinking clearly. Did he perhaps not understand the evil they were dealing with?

Thunder rumbled in the distance as Sophia unlocked her front door. She paused with her hand on the knob, her head hanging low. “I’m really sorry.”

No one spoke.

She turned to face them. “I wish it were different.”

Dagon stepped in front of the others. “It isn’t your fault that the Twilights have consumed our own. It’s a reality that we must face, painful or not.”

“It is painful.” She looked at the row of skinny houses down the street. “Some of my neighbors…” She blinked, brought her focus back, and zeroed in on Bendigo. “You have a good heart.”

The rage he held faded, leaving a gaping hole filled with regret. He couldn’t respond with a thank you because he didn’t believe it. He wouldn’t have treated her the way he did if he had a good heart. Instead, he looked down, ashamed.

Splats of rain flattened against their skin, urging Sophia through the door. Everyone followed. The entry hall was dim, waiting for the lanterns to be lit for the evening. Shem maneuvered through the door, bumping into her arm. She dropped the book that was cradled in her elbow, and loose papers spilled out onto the floor.

“Oh.” He bent down. “I’m so sorry.”

She crouched, joining him. “It’s okay. It happens more often than not.”

He swiped up a stack of papers and realigned them between his fingers. He glanced down at the paper resting on top and stopped short. Like he had seen a ghost of his past.

“What is it?” she asked.

He held up a piece of brown paper, smaller than the rest of the papers in the pile. “Where did you get this?”

Seeming unsure, she took the slip from him. She held it out in front of her, gazing over the written words, and then looked up at him again. Her lips slightly parted as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Feeling lost, Bendigo peered over her shoulder, deciphering the words in her hand. But upon reading it, he realized they weren’t just words but a note.

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